On 8/3/2021 3:50 PM, Ethan O'Toole wrote:
I think everyone should have a WES/WESD51 on their tool shelf. They are awesome, built like tanks, easy to train on, simple, work well, portable, and you can feel OK loaning out. I love my metcal 500, but it's not leaving the bench. Jim
I had one of the Orange Wellers growing up. I dunno, for the price point I think I like my Hakko more. The downside on the hakko is the UI is a little strange and it would be easy to knock the calibration off. The WESD51 is the digital readout baby blue thing? Yep. WES51 lacks the digital readout. The UI being strange would be the killer for me. I have high school students often help with stuff, and send the iron home with them.
A friend swears by the Pace setups. He has the extruded aluminum box thing that drives 3 tools, a soldering and desoldering tool for it. No hot air.
I have one as well (nice unit), but my point was about having one ready to use ina pinch or pitch in a box if you needed to make a house call. The hakko, metcal, pace, etc. units are great bench units, but I don't think I'd want to lug around a metcal or pace or larger Hakko. A really small Hakko (like an 888) might be OK as a swap for the WESD51, but I don;t think it looks as robust mechanically. The Weller is sturdy. Mind you, I don't often use my Weller anymore (my metcal and Pace are more useful), but I loan my WESD51 out all the time to folks working with me. Jim -- RETRO Innovations, Contemporary Gear for Classic Systems www.go4retro.com store.go4retro.com