UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Weller PU81 / WS81

Uncle Bulgaria · 4th Feb 2021, 1:35 pm

I got one from Gumtree perhaps 4 years ago as my first 'soldering station' rather than one of those red-handled Wellers that I always got to eat tips rather than solder.

I think it's fantastic, but then I've not soldered professionally. I've got a selection of tips and haven't noticed the loosening problem mentioned by Max Power, despite it being second-hand and not in the first flush of youth. The only thing I've found difficult is there not being a useful guide table for what temperature to set it at for different purposes. I've dialled it in by eye but don't know if I'm doing it properly.

I wouldn't get one new for hobby use, as Weller stations come up on eBay and the classifieds. I got mine for <£50 with some bits, a couple of stands and two WSP80 'solder pencils'. You could put a 'wanted' on here as perhaps someone has one languishing they aren't using. Posting a 'wanted' on Freecycle/Freegle etc. is the other handy option.

4th Feb 2021, 1:35 pm	#3
Uncle Bulgaria Nonode Join Date: May 2016 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,339	Re: Weller PU81 / WS81 - opinions? I got one from Gumtree perhaps 4 years ago as my first 'soldering station' rather than one of those red-handled Wellers that I always got to eat tips rather than solder. I think it's fantastic, but then I've not soldered professionally. I've got a selection of tips and haven't noticed the loosening problem mentioned by Max Power, despite it being second-hand and not in the first flush of youth. The only thing I've found difficult is there not being a useful guide table for what temperature to set it at for different purposes. I've dialled it in by eye but don't know if I'm doing it properly. I wouldn't get one new for hobby use, as Weller stations come up on eBay and the classifieds. I got mine for <£50 with some bits, a couple of stands and two WSP80 'solder pencils'. You could put a 'wanted' on here as perhaps someone has one languishing they aren't using. Posting a 'wanted' on Freecycle/Freegle etc. is the other handy option.