I have owned one of the WLC100

I have owned one of the WLC100 soldering stations for over 6 years. I have built many, many electronic projects with it and it has always provided excellent service. My shop is in my basement and has no AC or Dehumidification. Changes in temperature are in line with the season even though I have hot-water baseboard heat. The soldering station provides a wide range of power for those soldering jobs that need just a small amount of heat up to those that require a bit more persuasion. I have gone through at least 4 tips of the needle-pointed style needed for PC board work. Weller is a solid and trusted name with me. My first soldering gun was a Weller 100 / 150 Watt gun and it is over 40 years old. Besides a cracked case, it still works great. You can't go wrong with this tool.

 

Nick Kulp

Product available at...

MRH advertiser Micro Mark sells this product at a discount.

See:

http://www.micromark.com/Electronic-Soldering-Station,7632.html

Don

Weller WLC1000

I have had this one for sometime. I bought the conical tip at the same time for DCC and PC board work. The RS tip cleaner is a great asset and the Cardas Quad Eutectic solder is the best solder I have used in over forty years.

Rich

Plugs

"The only thing I wish this iron had was a longer cord.  A few times I need to get to a far section of the layout and I end up dragging the station off the bench."

Because the iron plugs into the base, it's easy to use an extension cord (of a suitable rating) between the iron and the base station.

Also, the base station accepts a grounded plug, so you can substitute an iron with a three-connector plug if you have one for electronics.

Because the iron plugs into

It should be noted that the use of an extension cord will change the heat output vs the setting on the station.  We aren't talking something drastic but due to voltage drop there will be a mild change. 

Not necessarily.

"It should be noted that the use of an extension cord will change the heat output vs the setting on the station.  We aren't talking something drastic but due to voltage drop there will be a mild change."

If you use a heavy duty extension cord that is 6 to 9 feet long and at least 14 ga wires, you probably won't see any voltage drop.  Look for the "contractor grade" medium duty or heavy duty cords at your local big box home improvement store, not the house hold type 18-2 or 18-3 light duty extension cords.

I agree however not everyone

I agree however not everyone uses said cord.

I just posted so that people would be aware, or take it into consideration.

Like in Welding we often get these formulas and knob settings down for certain material and just tune them as the material dictates. 

So I pictured a guy who builds switches or track work at the bench with a defined setting, suddenly needs to repair a piece on the layout.  As suggested he plugs in an extension cord he finds in the closet or on discount at the store (your typical 16 awg cord always on sale).  He leaves the settings where they are because he's fine tuned that mark over the years and it works perfect.  He then becomes frustrated that things aren't the same 50' away on the layout.  Solder doesn't flow as well and the ties begin to melt because he needs to old the iron to the track work longer.

It's a what if scenario but if it reminds one guy that his mileage may vary away from the desk it serves its point.

So guys like you and I may have common sense to think ahead and use a proper sized cords but much of America and the world has lost "Common Sense".  Otherwise we wouldn't need warnings on Holiday lights, Bologna and the Thanksgiving turkey.

Cheers

Another Vote

I use this station too.  I have yet to have any issues with soldering static sensitive parts with the non-grounded iron but static is not a big issue for me usually.  A quality, inexpensive, adjustable soldering iron.  You can't go wrong for the money with this one!

I'd take a picture of mine and post it too... but I tore the ligaments in my left foot and the workbench is in the basement.  That's too much like work on crutches!

PLug

The plug for mine is very clearly seen in the photo I posted.

I got mine at a $24.95 discount.

Rich

No photo

Sorry about no photo. PB did that to me. Surprised to see this discussion.

Rich