Still my favorite ...

[CrystalPistol]

I found this advertisement awhile ago, my Dad found it in 1954 I guess because he used this same make - model soldering gun in his business in Del Rio, Texas when I was but a brat, he had "Queen City Radio & TV" and he did maintenance work for USBP & TDPS & local PD & Sheriff's office, installs, trouble shooting, tower maintenance, repeaters, etc. This little Weller Junior was like an appendage, even after we moved to Va in '59 and he was hired at GE … he worked a lot with this gun.

I still have the gun and his work bench which has a transformer under it which powers a bench gun. Dad died in '69, I have other soldering guns, but this thing still rocks. Every time I use it, it's like Dad is there. I've used it on home projects, kits, slot car chassis as a kid, stereos in cars, the bikes, etc. I can hear him telling me to be careful or to put it down when I was in my early years like even just 4-5-6-7 years old, being an inquisitive brat with his dad on a service call. "Son, that's not a toy" … I liked seeing the lights come on, it was like "a ray-gun" in my mind then.

Bakelight housing, probably used up 50+ tips? No telling the yards of Kester Flux Core Solder it's melted. I think it's been dropped before, but it works. No Velcro used, but yeah … zip ties & duck tape … and some 3M Super 33 too. Like an old friend it is.

[Fearless]

I still have my Father's as well in the tin carrying tool box. Still works just fine I don't use it often though. Stay Safe Stay Home an Stay Healthy Fred

[1dn5up]

I still would like to meet the guy that stuffed that tiny roll of lead with flux

[Fearless]

I still would like to meet the guy that stuffed that tiny roll of lead with flux

me too how they do that?

[rhino 2]

me too how they do that?

Magic .......................

[BillR]

I still would like to meet the guy that stuffed that tiny roll of lead with flux

me too how they do that?

Magic .......................

The old saying "All electronics is FM".

I still have, and use the one I got as a teenager to work on my band equipment.



A piece of 12 ga. solid copper wire makes a good emergency tip.

[CrystalPistol]

A piece of 12 ga. solid copper wire makes a good emergency tip.

Good idea there.

[kwkride]

Unfortunately their quality has really tanked. I remembered how good my father's Weller soldering gun and iron were, so I went straight for that brand about 10 years ago when I needed new tools. Within a 6 month period I bought 2 different Weller soldering irons and a Well soldering gun. They all died after 2 or 3 uses.

[rhino 2]

Unfortunately their quality has really tanked. I remembered how good my father's Weller soldering gun and iron were, so I went straight for that brand about 10 years ago when I needed new tools. Within a 6 month period I bought 2 different Weller soldering irons and a Well soldering gun. They all died after 2 or 3 uses.

I still have his...New ones made in China no doubt.....But one consolation they did cost less.....

[CrystalPistol]

Unfortunately their quality has really tanked. I remembered how good my father's Weller soldering gun and iron were, so I went straight for that brand about 10 years ago when I needed new tools. Within a 6 month period I bought 2 different Weller soldering irons and a Well soldering gun. They all died after 2 or 3 uses.

Yeah, I've got two newer ones, one is a junior, one is a dual wattage one, 100 / 160 watts maybe? They both have plastic bodies, not bakelite … they work but the one newer Junior is low heat and the other one doesn't seem much hotter than this 1954 version, even on high. I sometimes think I'll repair the body with JBWeld, but then I ask myself "why"? The old frayed duck tape and 3m S-33 tape with zip tie backup seems to do the job … besides, the bakelite might crumble when I snip the zip ties & pull the tape off? .

$7.95 ?

I think that between us, "Dad & I", we got his money's worth out of it long ago.

[BillR]

Yeah, I've got two newer ones, one is a junior, one is a dual wattage one, 100 / 160 watts maybe? They both have plastic bodies, not bakelite … they work but the one newer Junior is low heat and the other one doesn't seem much hotter than this 1954 version, even on high. I sometimes think I'll repair the body with JBWeld, but then I ask myself "why"? The old frayed duck tape and 3m S-33 tape with zip tie backup seems to do the job … besides, the bakelite might crumble when I snip the zip ties & pull the tape off? .

$7.95 ?

I think that between us, "Dad & I", we got his money's worth out of it long ago.

Mine is the dual wattage, not the Junior. Another band member left it at my house when he quit the band so I guess it was free back in the mid Sixties. I keep solder in my tool box on an old typewriter ribbon bobbin. I refill it about once a year. This will be a lifetime supply for me. The bakelite on mine is kinda rough, too.