[TowerTalk] soldering station

[k2cb at comcast.net]

Mike, 
  
I guess I need to bite my tongue!  Glad to hear that they are still around.  I used to pass their factory quite often, as my wife's family used to live around the block. 
  
The one I had was called the Therm-O-Trac 1002, I believe. At one time, (after my friend became SK), there was an older ham that worked there, and if you knocked on the door and asked for him by name, he would sell you whatever you needed at a "ham friendly" discount.  I actually went there a few times to buy tips and parts.  He even gave me a tour of the plant once. Nice guy. I can't recall his name, however.  It is nice to know that there is still something being made in the USA! 
  
Eric 
K2CB 
  
  
__________________________________________________________ 
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:06:54 -0400 
From: Michael Clarson < wv2zow at gmail.com > 
To: K2CB < k2cb at comcast.net > 
Cc: " towertalk at contesting.com " < towertalk at contesting.com > 
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] soldering station 
Message-ID: 
        < CAFx0t25HBToxmAbXD8urXvM=dCGykOaDEpqrV60rP9az_7XjrA at mail.gmail.com > 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 

Eric: Hexacon is still around. Love their irons. The S series is their 
assembly line industrial grade. These are not temp controlled, but the 60 
watt one that takes 1/4" tips will do a fine job on PL259s, all day, day 
after day. They do cost around $100. --Mike, WV2ZOW 

http://www.hexaconelectric.com/ 

On Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 12:43 PM, K2CB < k2cb at comcast.net > wrote: 

> I have been using a Weller WES51D  for years. I must've soldered hundreds 
> of PL259 and N connectors. I have a few different style tips on hand, and I 
> change the tip according to the job at hand. 
> 
> I also use the "tin the braid solid and cut it to a clean edge with a 
> razor blade" method for PL259s. Then I solder the holes of the connector. 
> The main thing is to use good quality silver plated connectors, not the 
> garbage typically found at hamfests nowadays. Something like the Amphenol 
> 83-1SP, or even the silver connector sold by DX Engineering, which is 
> basically a rebranded RF Industries sIlver Teflon PL259. This past fall I 
> think I installed close to 60 of the DX Engineering connectors, and I was 
> quite satisfied with their quality. 
> 
> The WES51D always provides enough heat. It is all just a matter of skill 
> over time, and selecting the appropriate tip for the job at hand. 
> 
> There are are a number of style tips available for this particular 
> station. I use it for anything from surface mount work to heavy connectors, 
> and it just keeps on going. They run about $150. Tips run about $4 each. 
> 
> My first one lasted about 10 years. The first thing to fail was the cord 
> where it enters the pencil. Due to the age, I just found it more 
> cost-effective to replace the entire station. My second unit is now about 
> five years old, and still running strong. It sees almost daily use. 
> 
> On another note, about 25 years ago a good friend of mine worked for a 
> company called Hexicon Electric in Roselle Park, New Jersey. They made some 
> really nice military grade soldering stations in the day. A repair job or 
> two would always result in him reciprocating with some nice soldering 
> equipment every now and then. Unfortunately, he became a silent key a 
> number of years ago, and I think the company eventually had the same 
> misfortune. At that point I switched to Weller. 
> 
> Eric 
> K2CB