Re: [TowerTalk] Soldering Stations

[Jim Lux <jimlux@earthlink.net>]

On 7/28/15 9:09 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
> On 7/28/2015 8:56 AM, Paul Christensen wrote:
> > Been enjoying the discussion...
> >
> > Questions concerning the Metcal heating technology:  (1) In the event
> > the RF
> > heating element fails, what is the typical replacement cost?; and (2)
> > should
> > the RF heating element last longer than traditional controlled
> > temperature
> > elements as used by Weller, Hakko, and others?
> >
> > Paul, W9AC
> Good question.  A Metcal factory rep told me that the secret to long
> life for Metcal tips is to use almost no water on the sponge.
> If fact, better to wipe the tip with a dry paper towel.  If you
> hear a sizzling sound when you clean the tip, you are using way
> too much water and causing a severe thermal transient that will
> over time if done repeatedly destroy the tip.  This failure
> mechanism is specific to Metcal.  AFAIK, you can dunk Weller tips
> in water all day long without damage.
My latest Weller stations for working with SMT parts (tweezers, etc.) 
have a sort of weird metallic sponge to wipe the tip on. It kind of 
looks like a brass scrubby for cleaning pots: a tangled mass of thin 
ribbons. So it's great at removing globs of crud on the tip.

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