Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bonneyman on March 15, 2014, 04:18:52 PM

Title: Latest find: USA-made soldering gun
Post by: bonneyman on March 15, 2014, 04:18:52 PM
A Wen "Quick Hot". Since it was USA made and worked (tested before buying) I thought it was worth the (discounted) price of $6. Anybody else have a Wen gun?
Title: Re: Latest find: USA-made soldering gun
Post by: rusty on March 15, 2014, 04:36:46 PM
You might like this fellows page.... http://www.stevenjohnson.com/soldering/guns.htm
Title: Re: Latest find: USA-made soldering gun
Post by: Lostmind on March 15, 2014, 04:45:02 PM
I've had two of them since the 70's. Still work fine.
Title: Re: Latest find: USA-made soldering gun
Post by: bonneyman on March 15, 2014, 04:48:48 PM
Shoot! That guys site says this model is from 1965!
It looks hardly used.
Title: Re: Latest find: USA-made soldering gun
Post by: Batz on March 16, 2014, 01:13:27 AM
You might like this fellows page.... http://www.stevenjohnson.com/soldering/guns.htm

Thanks for that link Rusty, I'll find that interesting.
Title: Re: Latest find: USA-made soldering gun
Post by: scottg on March 16, 2014, 12:39:44 PM
The posts and tip screws will be the key to this. Clean them well and it will probably work good.
 I keep Weller guns for my own use, the light duty 100 watt model and the heavy duty 200 watt models both. I use them several times a week on average.
When you get into it there is always something broken that could work again, if you make a good solder joint.
 Just yesterday I had a broken chainsaw part I didn't want to spend the 25 dollars for a replacement, (I bought the whole saw for 5 bucks at a yard sale! 25 dollars for a little part, as if!)  so I repaired the old part.
  I was afraid the screws would vibrate loose on a chainsaw so I cleaned and soldered them tight.
  Seems I am always soldering something or other.

I have to take the tip nuts all the way off and clean them every 3 years.
  Generally though, twice a year, I just loosen the nuts and crank them down again, and get a fresh bite on the tip.

    Uncorroded contact is the key. When its clean you get high heat quickly.
   yours Scott
Title: Re: Latest find: USA-made soldering gun
Post by: Nolatoolguy on March 16, 2014, 06:32:41 PM
I just sold a Wen model 450 for ten bucks. I still have my grandfathers Wen soldiering,  but would have to check and see what model.