Weller WLC100
electronic soldering station
pencil iron has a two-prong plug that plugs into the outlet on the side of the base station. The outlet works with irons up to a maximum of 40 watts.
E
– by Joe Brugger
ven in the ready-to-run era, soldering is an essential skill for model railroaders. DCC wiring and decoder installations, rail power feeders, and scratchbuilding projects all can involve metal-to-metal joints best made by soldering.
The plastic-cased unit has an on/off switch with a “power-on” indicator light. Also included is a leaflet with operating instructions, tips on soldering, safety instructions and a listing of available interchangeable tips.
The included SPG40 iron is supplied with a 1/8” wide screwdriver profile iron-plated copper tip. Additional tips can be purchased separately, including small conical tips for circuit boards and connecting small wires, and screwdriver tips up to about 3 millimeters wide.
NOTE: This soldering station does not feature a grounded tip. Take care when soldering electrostatic sensitive components.
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Retail pricing for the WLC100 kit ranges from $40 to $70.
Weller’s WLC100 electronic soldering station kit includes a variable power control, a sturdy holder for the iron, and a cleaning pad that needs to be moistened with water. It also comes with a nicely-balanced, lightweight 40 watt pencil iron which has a cushioned foam grip and a replaceable heating element. The variable power control allows modelers to match the heat to the job. Settings range from 5 to 40 watts. Heavier work like attaching power drops to a buss cable will need the higher wattage setting. For really heavy duty soldering though, you’ll need a higher wattage iron, soldering gun, or even a torch. This unit is really two separate pieces. The iron is not hard-wired to the base station. Instead, the included SPG40
Page 97 • Issue 11-12• Dec 2011
First Look – Weller soldering station kit, page 1
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