***** UPDATE Feb 2021 *****
So about a year and a half ago, the handle on the original iron basically came fell apart due to excessive lateral pressure applied by me which added stress to the center point on the iron causing it to eventually come apart and it was no longer useful. Since I was far outside the warranty period, the cheapest replacement I could find was $55 plus shipping so I bought one. However, after about a year with that one, it started doing the same thing, so I thought, maybe I should just try and email Weller and talk to them about it ... maybe they have an idea of what the issue is ... I had ZERO expectations but it's their design so who better to talk to about it than them?
I emailed support and explained the issue ... told them that I already bought one replacement and now it's going to fall apart very soon and could they recommend something to help me avoid the problem or perhaps they sell an iron for this station that is more industrial quality?
The email response I got was COMPLETELY unexpected. They told me straight out that the first design of the iron had a flaw in it and it expressed the exact problem I was having. They asked for my address and within a week, they didn't just send me one replacement, they sent me TWO brand new irons. One for the original that broke and one for the replacement I purchased that was about to break. And they didn't ask me for proof of purchase, or any evidence that I bought a replacement last year ... they just said, "give us your address, we'll take care of it!"
I don't even have words to describe customer service like that. I didn't think it even existed anymore on this planet. But man this company totally has their customers back ... whether you're buying a $125 station or a $10,000 industrial work horse, they simply have your back and it's been THREE years now and I still love this station. There isn't another station out there that I would remotely consider using. It works as good today as it did the first day I got it, and I use it at least 3 to 5 times a week consistently.
***** End update *****
The only thing I don’t like about this unit that I consider inconsequential to its performance is that I would love a backlit display.
I recently tried two units before this one. The ERSA RDS 80 and an Aoyue 9378 Pro. There is no comparison, the Weller is by far a higher quality product. It heats faster than the other units I tried, and it maintains steady heat with seemingly no loss/recovery time.
The wand chord has a very "silky" smooth feel to it, is VERY light, and very flexible... when using the iron, I noticed that I couldn't even tell I was attached to a wire ... where with the other units, I found myself always fighting for freedom because the chords were almost like a chain on the wand... the Weller isn't like that at all ... a very nice touch!
I was initially concerned about the wand holder. In the picture, it looks like a typical cheap stand, but I was very surprised when I held the base of the stand. It is very heavy and very solid. The spring is made of a VERY rigid metal that once installed in the base, it transforms into a TANK. At the wand end of the spring, there is heat resistant plastic that is molded to the shape of the wand so that the wand fits perfectly and STABLELY in the stand. The sponge is vary large (wide in both directions) which allows for more travel distance when wiping the tip across the sponge. So if you’re thinking that they did not put much thought into the wand holder, trust me, they obviously put A LOT of consideration into it’s design and although I don’t like the aesthetics of it, I could not be happier with its functionality. The stand will outlive the entire unit I have no doubts about it.
I bought the ERSA RDS 80 two weeks ago, which is arguably an equivalent station in this class. Then I saw this unit and it is the only Weller brand in this class at this price and is obviously the first time Weller has broken into this market ... it was a no-brainer for me to send back the ERSA and buy the Weller... my main reason for doing so, is because the ERSA tips are hard to find and extremely expensive. Weller tips can be found easily and for less than $10 (ersa tips are over $30 normally). Also, the ERSA unit did not have a sensor in the wand and did not have a timer for automatic cooldown like this unit does. With the ERSA, you have to manually put the unit into standby mode, which doesn’t work for me because I forget... having the unit automatically cool down is a must for me. The Weller does automatic cool down.
This unit also shows you simultaneously your chosen temp and the actual temp in the same display at all times... a nice touch!
As far as all the complaints about the instructions ... The first few pages explain all of the menus and settings ... and if you find yourself struggling with operating simple electronics, perhaps you shouldn't be buying one of these in the first place... just sayin ...
Let’s face it, it’s a Weller ... marginally more expensive than its competitor but the extra cost is well worth it.
******* UPDATE ********
I've been using this unit for over six months now and I go through spurts where some weeks I'll have it on every day for a few hours and other weeks I wont use it at all ... but I would say that I have several hundred hours on this station by now, and it continues to perform like the day I bought it. I still get giddy when I flip the switch and its ready to go long before I am ... In fact, I'm starting to get into the habit of turning it off when I know I will be setting up my next weld and its going to take me a few minutes... since it heats up so quickly, I don't need to leave it on all the time.
You can tell when a piece of equipment has been designed by people who actually use the equipment ... like an Apple product ... the whole experience of using this soldering station .... it's like .... having a tool that totally has your back ... it's a tank!
Without question this is the best iron I've ever owned.
***** 2 years and 4 months into ownership *****
AND THIS IS WHY WE BUY Weller!
The very first soldering station I ever owned was a Chinese knock off of some kind that was $80 and it literally broke after only four months.
Not only have I had this Weller for over two years, but I also designed and installed a custom auto-shutoff circuit that uses a small Arduino and a relay to completely cut power to the unit after a length of time because I've left it on for several days more than once. It does do its own temperature drop based on the timeout that I set in the unit, but still, 4 days at 120 degrees is still a lot of electricity so I needed a more foolproof way to make sure that I'm covered if I forget again.
But throughout the process of designing the circuit, I had this thing apart several times. I blew the fuse once but found a pack of replacements for like $6 on Amazon, and next, I'm going to see about installing a backlight behind the display to make this the most functional unit it can possibly be.
The construction of the unit is absolutely solid. I did break the wand because I was pulling too tightly on the cord and it stretched and got disconnected from the element inside and there's no possible way to fix that. But I found a replacement wand for about $40. Amazon did not have them at the time.
The beauty in Weller products is that they are designed for longevity. Their circuits are engineered - I'm guessing - beyond the standard 10% margin rule, and the construction of the circuit and the components they use along with the button types and connector types ... are simply high quality. The Transformer is solid... this thing will probably outlive me... lol.
I'll post info on the timing circuit I installed when I get some time ... no pun intended :-)
| Manufacturer | Weller |
|---|---|
| Part Number | WE1010NA |
| Item Weight | 5.51 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 5.91 x 8.86 x 12.4 inches |
| Country of Origin | Mexico |
| Item model number | WE1010NA |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 5-piece kit |
| Style | 5-piece kit |
| Material | Plastic |
| Pattern | Digital Soldering Station |
| Power Source | Corded-electric |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Measurement System | Metric |
| Included Components | Soldering station and accessories |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 1 year |
