Any Weller WX smart users here? And JBC too

[Isir Elektronika]

Hello,

i wanted to share experience with other Weller WX smart users. I upgraded my almost decade old WX2 with soldering handles for new WX smart and proprietary smart soldering handles and regret this decision. The WX2 heaters have lasted thousand hours of working time, without any problem.

Problem is tips die in short time, some tips last not more than 5 minuttes before the heater dies. I use WXMPS, WXUPS and tweezers WXMPS, all have the same problem. The Weller replaces them under warranty with credit letter, then you can order new ones. It usually takes few months for them to approve the return. Every tip that dies needs to be sent to international Weller agent at your own cost. The agent told me that many customers have this problem, and Weller has redesigned tips to solve the problem. I purchased the new improved models and they lasted shorter than the old models... The send and wait for approval has becomed tiresome already, because Weller will not contact you about it. You need to write them an e-mail every month or two and remind them about the return.

I use my soldering irons at average 3-4 hours per day, two weeks ago i had 6 tips die in one day and thats more than 300 EUR! Especially RTUS032S, i did not have even one that lasted more than 30 minuttes. Especially the expensive soldering tweeezers tips, they last no more than 10 minuttes. I have tried returning the unit to Weller and buy JBC instead, but they did not approve it. So im stuck with this tip eating monster! I guess i will need to regret my whole life the decision when i bought the new WX smart. It seems its made to be high cost mainteance soldering iron, generating high profit in selling new soldering iron tips.

I would like to hear first hand experience from other users of this soldering iron. In the end i will be forced to stop using it and buy a JBC, so i would like to hear some experience from other does the new soldering irons from JBC have same problem? What is the heater life on them?

[nigelwright7557]

I bought a cheap Weller soldering iron and the tips lasted about a day before coating came off.
It was running far too hot.
So I bought an Antex er30 and had that for years now. It rarely needs a new tip.
And it was cheaper than the Weller.

[tooki]

I bought a cheap Weller soldering iron and the tips lasted about a day before coating came off.
It was running far too hot.
So I bought an Antex er30 and had that for years now. It rarely needs a new tip.
And it was cheaper than the Weller.

That’s all fine and dandy, but 100% irrelevant since OP isn’t asking about “fire stick” soldering irons (where Antex has a stellar reputation), but about modern cartridge-heater soldering stations, which Antex doesn’t even sell, and where tip temperature is a user setting.

[tooki]

Hello,

i wanted to share experience with other Weller WX smart users. I upgraded my almost decade old WX2 with soldering handles for new WX smart and proprietary smart soldering handles and regret this decision. The WX2 heaters have lasted thousand hours of working time, without any problem.

Problem is tips die in short time, some tips last not more than 5 minuttes before the heater dies. I use WXMPS, WXUPS and tweezers WXMPS, all have the same problem. The Weller replaces them under warranty with credit letter, then you can order new ones. It usually takes few months for them to approve the return. Every tip that dies needs to be sent to international Weller agent at your own cost. The agent told me that many customers have this problem, and Weller has redesigned tips to solve the problem. I purchased the new improved models and they lasted shorter than the old models... The send and wait for approval has becomed tiresome already, because Weller will not contact you about it. You need to write them an e-mail every month or two and remind them about the return.

I use my soldering irons at average 3-4 hours per day, two weeks ago i had 6 tips die in one day and thats more than 300 EUR! Especially RTUS032S, i did not have even one that lasted more than 30 minuttes. Especially the expensive soldering tweeezers tips, they last no more than 10 minuttes. I have tried returning the unit to Weller and buy JBC instead, but they did not approve it. So im stuck with this tip eating monster! I guess i will need to regret my whole life the decision when i bought the new WX smart. It seems its made to be high cost mainteance soldering iron, generating high profit in selling new soldering iron tips.

I would like to hear first hand experience from other users of this soldering iron. In the end i will be forced to stop using it and buy a JBC, so i would like to hear some experience from other does the new soldering irons from JBC have same problem? What is the heater life on them?

JBC has an excellent reputation. Their tips are not THE longest-lasting (Pace and Ersa outlast them), but they’re not bad either, and I’ve never even heard of a JBC cartridge’s heater failing. JBC’s cartridge quality control seems to be excellent. (Pace has let bad tips sneak through here and there — but they’ve been MUCH better about replacing them than how you describe Weller doing it.)

[AndyC_772]

I've not been impressed by the tip life on my JBC irons. My usual choice is a C245-774 and I do seem to get through more of them than I'd expect given the amount of use it gets.

Bizarrey, I also have a smaller iron which uses a C210, and that cartridge seems to last forever. I actually can't remember when I last unwrapped a new one. Both irons are set to about the same temperature, and are used with the same technique by the same operator.

I've no idea what's different between the two, but the lifespan of the smaller cartridge is incredible compared to the larger type.

[thm_w]

I've not been impressed by the tip life on my JBC irons. My usual choice is a C245-774 and I do seem to get through more of them than I'd expect given the amount of use it gets.

Whats failing the plating or the heater? If its the heater that makes sense, C210 max power is much less.
Plating, don't know unless someones actually measured them.

[AndyC_772]

It's the plating that fails. Heaters are fine.

Maybe I just don't actually use the smaller iron for as many hours, even if both get switched on together when I have a soldering job to do.