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Picked the old Weller station over a new Hakko last month
I had a chance to grab a used Hakko FX-951 for $120 but stuck with my beat up Weller WES51 that I've had since 2005. The Hakko heats up faster and has better tip control, but I just know every quirk of that old Weller after thousands of joints. Anyone else hang onto older gear just because you're used to how it feels?
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hunt.nora3mo ago
I read that old Weller irons just keep going, no matter what newer stuff comes out.
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finley_price243mo ago
The "just keep going" part is true for some of them, but not all. Those old unregulated Weller irons like the 8100 series are built like tanks, but they don't have temperature control so they can easily overheat tips. You're better off with a newer station that actually lets you dial in the heat for different work.
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veraj533mo ago
Respectfully, I see it differently. That old Weller WES51 might feel like an extension of your hand, but it's actually a pretty basic station compared to what's out there now. I used to swear by my Metcal until I tried a Hakko and realized I was just used to the slow warm-up and tip drift on the old iron. The temperature control on the 951 is way more stable too, so you're not guessing when you switch from a big ground plane to a tiny pad. You can learn new quirks in a week, but you can't fix a station that's fighting you on precision work.
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