4 Nov
2012
4 Nov
'12
2:45 a.m.
On 02/11/12 19:19, Ethan Dicks wrote:
I love my Weller. If I saw an inexpensive Metcal,
I'd jump all over it.
One specific thing I loved - lots of (quickly) interchangeable SMT tips
vs one or two pointy or chisel tips on my Weller.
There are a few things I like about my MFR-1100 -
* Hot pluggable (and easily interchangeable) tips. A 20-minute wait
with an Antex becomes a power-off-swap-power-on cycle with the Metcal.
Very handy when you're building a few boards.
* "Auto set-back" as standard. Put the iron back in the stand and the
temperature is ramped down. Very useful with lead-free solder - you
still need e.g. a Multicore TTC-LF to remove the oxide layer, but you
don't have to use it anywhere near as much. I notice Pace charge extra
for this feature... (no comment!)
* Powers off if the iron has been left in the stand for more than an
hour. This has saved my bacon a few times after I forgot to switch off
the iron (!)
The only real problem I've had is when tinning PVC insulated wire - the
SmartHeat feature ramps up the power, tins the copper perfectly... and
melts the insulation. The trick is to tin from the very end of the wire
and use a heat shunt or a set of "Helping Hands" to keep the insulation
cool.... then cover the whole mess with heatshrink sleeving :)
--
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/