My POS soldering iron died - fix??

[screw3d]

It's such a simple thing I don't know how it could go wrong. It just won't heat up.

I opened it up, and there's nothing that looked broke.

To the trash can and to radioshack? :frown:

 

[ElFenix]

time to buy a new one

 

[dighn]

use a continuity tester?

if you think it's worth the trouble to fix a "pos soldering iron"

 

[element]

You're screw3d.

You can fix it, but you'll need a soldering iron...

 

[screw3d]

LOL. It's just a live-ground connection on a heating element right? How on earth something so simple can get screwed up? confused;

 

[brxndxn]

$7 to replace.. Your time isn't worth much if you wanna fix it.

 

[Zorba]

I got a craftsman soldering iron for 9 bucks 5 years ago, with a good stand. Never had a problem

 

[simms]

Probably something wrong in the connection. You may want to solder it back together.

hehehehe... i'm too funny.

 

[NeoPTLD]

it's simple as a lightbulb. The element burnt out. Time to replace it.

 

[Analog]

I moved away from the simple ones, I have owned a Metcal for over 10 years now, and it has run flawlessly.

 

[cerebusPu]

I recently got a Weller digital soldering station at work....and man oh man...it really beats my radioshack iron. Soldering is now fun!! I didnt understood the point of buying a $300 soldering iron but now i know its totally worth it. Now Im looking for a unit for home use. It needs to be temp controlled and performs like the weller but costs <$100.

 

[element]

Originally posted by: simms
Probably something wrong in the connection. You may want to solder it back together.

hehehehe... i'm too funny.

Not to mention 4 posts too late.

 

[shekondar]

Originally posted by: cerebusPu
I recently got a Weller digital soldering station at work....and man oh man...it really beats my radioshack iron. Soldering is now fun!! I didnt understood the point of buying a $300 soldering iron but now i know its totally worth it. Now Im looking for a unit for home use. It needs to be temp controlled and performs like the weller but costs <$100.

Like this?

 

[Baboy]

time to buy a new one.

 

[arcas]

I bought a relatively inexpensive Solomon soldering station from MPJA. Much better than the POS single-temperature Radio Shack iron I'd been using before. Probably no comparison to a $300 Weller station but at $50, I'm happy.

 

[AlienCraft]

Ok kids, here's the deal.....
If it has a removable / replaceable tip, over time the heating and cooling cycles can cause it to loosen slightly eliminating it's soldering capabilities. Also, scale can build up depending on the quality of metal, length of time left on, etc. reducing heat conducting ability.
Here's how to fix it......
Take the tip off of the element. Take steel wool to the threads and replace the tip, or clean the threads of the tip and re-use. A little wd-40 will help on that first re-heating.

 

[sillymofo]

What kinda soldering iron? Does it have a power supply box with a "fuse" holder?