Weller WLC100 Soldering Station For Hobbyist And Do-It-Yourselfer

Brand: Weller
Feature

* On/Off switch with “power-on” indicator light.
* Variable power control produces 5-40 watts.
* Quality lightweight pencil iron with cushioned foam grip with replaceable heating element.
* ST3 iron-plated copper tip.
* UL listed. 7 year warranty

Product Description
The Weller WLC100 Soldering Station includes everything you need to start using solder to join metals and create efficient, electrical connections. Designed with the hobbyist and the do-it-yourself enthusiast in mind, this kit features a high-quality, lightweight pencil iron with variable power control, a cushioned foam grip with a replaceable heating element, and a safety guard iron holder. And it’s from Weller, the world leader in soldering since 1945.

Cooper Hand Tools, a division of Cooper Industries, Inc., manufactures and markets many well-known brands of hand tools, chain, and electronic soldering products, including Campbell chain, Crescent brand wrenches and pliers, Lufkin measuring tools, Nicholson files and saws, Plumb hammers, H.K. Porter bolt cutters, Weller soldering products, and Wiss snips. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, Cooper Hand Tools has manufacturing facilities in 16 international locations, and has approximately 4,400 employees worldwide.

Weller WLC100 Soldering Station Review
I purchased this needing to do a very delicate (several hour long) solder job, and I needed more than just the little handheld I keep around the house. I used to work professionally in the electronics repair business, but had long since gotten rid of my tools. This is a very well built soldering station that really holds up. If you are a beginner or professional, you will appreciate the ease of use and nice soldering this station allows you to do. The temperature control makes it great for a multitude of projects. In short, don’t be fooled by the low price. This station will perform as well as any $100.00+ unit out there.

I use a Weller WES51 Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station, Power Unit, Soldering Pencil, Stand and Sponge at work doing work on circuit boards. I’ve got probably 24 hours of use on the WES51 so far. I bought the WLC100 for use at home on hobby and DIY work because it is half the price of the WES51. The biggest differences I have seen being: The WLC100 takes MUCH longer to reach operating temperature(but the WES51 only takes 20-30 seconds) and doesn’t have the same ability to hold operating temperature when doing large joints. With that said, it’s as solid a unit as I’ve used besides my WES51 and can get every job done that should be needed by a hobbyist. If you are planning to use this for long periods of professional work, I suggest going stepping up, but for smaller jobs this is the station to get.

After exrpessing a lot of frustration to our internal tech guy I took his advice and finally broke down and bought a good iron. Wow. This ain’t your daddy’s $3 iron that’s for sure! Tasks that were a huge pain in the kiester become straightforward. Small jobs are an absolute breeze. Do yourself a favor and spend the dough on a good iron. You’ll wonder why you waited so long.

This is a nice soldering station at a fraction of the price of professional models. The temperature control is not as precise as more expensive models but is good enough for general use. The standard tip supplied with the unit is too large for most electronic work, but other tips are available for under $10. When I received the unit, the soldering iron did not fit into the holder. Apparently the plastic collar on the iron was warped. I filed it down a bit, and then it was OK.

Frequently Bought Together
Conical Tip, .031″:WLC100
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SW3 Desoldering Wick
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Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station, Power Unit, Soldering Pencil, Stand and Sponge

Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station, Power Unit, Soldering Pencil, Stand and Sponge

Brand: Weller
Feature

* Designed for continuous production, rework, and repair of through hole, SMT boards, most ground planes, and multi-layer boards
* Wireless temperature lockout prevents operator from raising temperature to levels higher than specified for the board or component
* Station automatically powers down after 99 minutes of inactivity to prolong tip life and save power
* Pencil is fitted with non-burnable silicone rubber cord for added safety, and pencil uses ET series tips
* Slim, comfortable pencil reduces operator fatigue

Product Description
What’s in the Box
1) WES51PU Power Unit.
2) PES51 Soldering Pencil.
3) PH50 Stand, and sponge.

The Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station, with included soldering pencil, stand, and sponge, is the perfect choice for a variety of soldering applications, including industrial manufacturing, rework, repairs, and more. The comfortable foam-grip pencil and variable temperature controls give you complete command of your work for precise results. Plus, with a non-burnable silicone rubber cord, ESD safety, and automatic shut-off technology, the WES51 is safe enough to use in a continuous production environment.

The new, innovative WES51 is an ideal station for continuous production soldering, and its economical price makes it a good station for occasional users. ESD Static sensitive grounded slim profile iron accepts the new miniature tips for surface mount soldering. The 24V soldering iron includes a new heater and sensor combination that allows for relatively quick heat-up and recovery. Temperature is adjustable from 350(0)F – 850(0)F. Temperature stability +/- 10 deg. Includes 50 watt Slim Profile Iron. UL approved. Temperature lockout and tip temperature offset ability come standard, as does an automatic shut off feature that extends tip, iron, and station life. 4 foot long three wire grounded power cord. Net weight: 4-1/2 lbs. Power consumption: 60 Watts. Includes integral sponge and holder. Replacement sponge available.

Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station Review
I have owned Weller products since the 60′s w/am old handheld I purchased at Lafayette Electronics in Baton Rouge, LA. This is an upgrade from the orange station Weller makes, I got at Sears, that eventually died. This particular station really does a quick job of heating and the variable switch make it easy to change when different levels of heat are required. I am really pleased with it. My only complaint is that the cord on the wand could be about a foot longer, but that’s OK. I just move it closer to my work.

I bought this for home and hobby use. It meets those needs nicely. I bought several extra tips and some solder removal wicks as well. This is a big improvement over my older pencil solder guns, which had poor temperature control. The vendor (HMC Electronics) has a good web site for ordering and shipped on time.

Works well. Nice selection and availability of tips. Only negative I report here is the temperature control knob shaft broke on mine. Upon taking off the rubber feet and the 4 screws holding the case together I found the knob is way too flimsy (very tiny plastic shaft) for the tiny variable resistor control it turns. Just poor engineering/quality – the knob to control connection should be much more rugged for the price of the iron. Otherwise a nice functional tool.

The Weller WES51 is without a doubt the absolute best soldering iron that a working man can justify spending the money on. It’s the ONLY heavy duty iron you’ll ever find that allows exact temp settings for under a hundred bucks. It allows you to set the temp only a few degrees above the melting point of the solder, greatly enhancing the quality of your work. And it’s a heavy duty unit, so unlike the cheap lightweight ripoffs. The rugged and user friendly design reminds me of something made in the 1950s or 1960s. Well done, Weller!

We use this model soldering station at our business. We first purchased the previous version of this model and still have it. This version works basically the same way with the only difference being the way that the LED light on the front works. On the older version the LED was just an On or Off indicator, but on the newer version, it also indicates what heating state the iron is in (I.e. heating, or at temperature). We now have 3 of these units. Our company is in the Analog and digital panel meter business, and we are also a modification/repair center, so these units see daily use and sometimes use all day. These units have a great advantage over traditional soldering irons due to the added temperature sensor in the tip. This helps to avoid any overheating that may occur in a standard soldering iron. The price on these units as well as the nice tips they come with makes the choice between a cheap soldering iron and this unit simple. I would recommend this to anyone who uses a soldering iron on a regular basis.

Frequently Bought Together
Weller 1/32″long Conical(eto) Weller Et-series Tips
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Super Solder Wire 60% 1.0mm Diameter – 1lb Spool
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Weller WLC100 Soldering Station For Hobbyist And Do-It-Yourselfer