I was wondering, what is the procedure for bit-change?

There's this diagram in the user manual, but (to me) it didn't explain how to change the bit. Presumably the diagram marked "NO!" actually does need to be done, otherwise how will the bit (indicated in red) be removed from the bit-sleeve (indicated in blue)?

Also, isn't both the bit and the bit-sleeve going to be hot? Sliding out a hot bit from a hot bit-sleeve seems not right (in case the hot bit accelerates sliding through the bit-sleeve and rolls off onto the table or lap.. unless there's some container or space to catch it?). So I'm guessing a second bit-sleeve should be purchased or supplied? So that a cold bit can be placed in a cold bit-sleeve while the hot bit cools off in the hot bit-sleeve, placed as in the "OK" diagram until it cools, and then the diagram labelled "NO!" can be used on the now-cold items?

I'm not sure, but my interpretation is that it's probably advising against changing just the bits by dumping them out onto the sponge ...

It seems to me, they're trying to say that in order to use the "holders", you should have a sleeve for each tip you intend to use and swap the whole sleeve + tip assembly.

I know Metcal irons (as I have one) come supplied with a silicone pad which they say can be used to grip the collar and undo it, removing the whole assembly while hot. It seems potentially dangerous, so I usually wait until cool, but I guess it means "hot" swapping isn't entirely taboo.

- Gough

Ah, I see. That makes sense, and seems a good solution having an extra sleeve. Also maybe it may cool reasonably quickly anyway since the bits are small. The silicone pad method makes sense too.

I did replace my iron bits while hot, but eventually just got two separate iron handles since they were not crazy-expensive (and manually disconnect and plug in the other).

EDIT: Just saw the price of the Weller iron handle on its own.. that's quite expensive, so the extra sleeve method would make more sense.

EDIT 2: Found the WSP 80 barrelWSP 80 barrel.  It's just £10 so worth getting for hot-swappability!

You guys are following my train of thought. Tapping hots bits out of a barrel or waiting for a cool down to make a change didn't seem practical. I can see me tapping the hot bit out, it rolling of the desk and me trying to grab it or falling on the floor burning my vinyl.

The one downside of this plan on my mismatched setup is the barrel with bit is to long and touches the sponge. I'm curious on the matched Rest and pencil units does this problem exist.

Hehe yeah it was a mystery to me too. The consensus seems to be that an extra barrel is used to do the hot-swap.

I've been thinking about it, and it seem a good solution, since the black part of the barrel looks like it won't be hot, and will allow unscrewing. It's a nice implementation, but it would be annoying for users placing a second order, not realizing that a barrel is needed to be added to the order the first time around.

They should just add an extra barrel to the kit and increase the price by £5-10, it solves some confusion and encourages the user to buy and experiment with more bits to make use of the extra barrel.

It still doesn't solve the sponge and barrel with bit length issue though.

I guess some users still require sponge capability so they've left that feature in the stand, but personally I'd throw away the sponge if it means the hot barrel and tip won't collide with the base. I'm wondering if in the wool mode, they do not expect the user to simultaneously also have the sponge there.

The only downside would be if it is a shared iron where some users prefer sponge and others prefer wool. But I guess that's an unlikely use-case, and could always be solved with a separate pot (like the one in the photo below) for the wool or for the sponge. I use a separate pot anyway, I don't think my stand has an area for wool to be inserted.

colporteur - I don't have access to the unit, but on looking at the design of the tip holder tray in the pictures posted earlier - I'm wondering whether the tray could be accidentally assembled upside down, reducing clearance by a small but noticeable amount:

If that were reversed, I could definitely see there being about 5mm loss of height. Probably worth a check ...

- Gough

Weller indicates the Safety Rest can be configured either way. Dry and wet preference facing forward with the pencil holder. If that is an option then the barrel length is a shortcoming. But wait?

The barrel length anomaly has yet to be confirmed on a Safety Rest that is matched to the solder pencil. My Safety Rest is for a WTP90 pencil but my kit came with a WSP80 pencil.

I was hoping someone with the matching set would determine if the barrel in the holder touches the sponge? 

Yes, I understand it can be configured with the sponge or wool facing you as one of its features. What I meant (and apologies if I was not clear) was the actual holder piece with the holes could be potentially placed upside down at the point where it attaches to the unit (which was circled in red)? I'm not sure if this is a part you had to assemble, which is why I asked the question ...

- Gough

The Safety Rest came in three pieces. The base, pencil holder and the ring. The pencil holder can be positioned is reversible.

I guess since words fail me, I will let my poor Photoshop skills have a try -

EDIT: Forgot to say ... sorry if I'm being a bit persistent with this question ...

EDIT-EDIT: Just looked up the technical data. Indeed, it seems the WSP 80 uses a different barrel (T0058744710) and is compatible with KH 18, WDH 10, WDH 10T safety rests, whereas the WTP 90 uses T0058768724 and is compatible with the WSR 200 you have. Very interesting they should send you that combination, but ordinarily, higher-wattage pencils tend to have longer barrels, so I'm not sure why it seems that your lower-wattage iron barrel and tip seems too long for the holder ...

- Gough

Hi Gough,

I don't think it can because the locating pins are underneath...mine assembled like the photo you have shown (although I opted for brass wool at front, sponge in the rear)

Hi Sean,

Mine too hits the sponge:

However if that were a spare barrel and bit the bit would ride up inside the barrel. Not sure you'd want it sat long term on a wet sponge though. The iron seems to cool fairly quickly anyway (pressing up and down together whilst displaying the tip temperature). Probably a better method as at least the heating element can dump the excess heat into the tip still.

How do you know what model stand you have - I cannot see any part number on mine ?

Hi Sean,

Mine too hits the sponge:

However if that were a spare barrel and bit the bit would ride up inside the barrel. Not sure you'd want it sat long term on a wet sponge though. The iron seems to cool fairly quickly anyway (pressing up and down together whilst displaying the tip temperature). Probably a better method as at least the heating element can dump the excess heat into the tip still.

How do you know what model stand you have - I cannot see any part number on mine ?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The picture is exactly what I would like to have provided myself. I am currently unable to get to the site where the Weller I received for the RoadTest is located.

Earlier on in this blog, I posted the labels attached to the Weller components I received from my RoadTest. There is a mismatch between the Safety Rest and soldering iron that was shipped in the kit. A Weller WT1012N system contains a WSP80 pencil and a WSR201 Safety Rest. I was provided for the RoadTest a WSP80 pencil and a WSR200 Safety Rest. The WSR200 Safety Rest is for a WTP90 solder pencil.

My components have no markings compared to what is on the labels. If I didn't have this documentation I wouldn't know what components I have.

I noticed with my system assembled (i.e. the sponge positioned as it is in your picture) the barrel with tip touched the sponge. I have been struggling to confirm if the issue is related to my mismatched components or is this the way the unit functions. It appears from your posting, it is a flaw in the design.

The Safety Rest is designed to accommodate the sponge behind or in front of the pencil. The fact the barrel touches the sponge when behind the pencil to me is a design flaw. If you provide the optional position of the sponge, nothing should be compromised.

This thread of mismatch components and design issue has been ongoing for a week. Your picture answers my question. The problem is not related to the mismatch. I wish to express my thanks to the RoadTest committee and the vendor for providing me the equipment for the review. The posts have been in no way a means to harp about the mismatch. I identified the issue before I started my review and proceeded. The mismatch in no way has taken away from the experience, only enhanced it. I am concerned this thread has gone on to long. All I was attempting to find was an answer to a question.

My thanks again, to 14rhb  for providing a picture that puts my question to rest.

You are very welcome. I also have no worries regarding this slight oddity - especially as I only have one barrel and, as you can see in my photo, the spare tips fit the other holes OK. I'm happy to take a break while the iron cools off in the stand for 5 minutes so I can change the bit over (time for a cup of tea, leg stretch etc).

Hehe it's a mystery. I reckon it's a not-expected use-case, for the wool-user to also want the sponge, i.e. sponge to be removed if the stand is oriented for the wool side to be used.  It might also be awkward to get arm around to use the sponge.

But the idea that it's for cooling is also a good possibility. I'm still guessing they don't expect the sponge to be there and let it air-cool, because the wool-user won't want to have to also wet a sponge.

They didn't realise that us sponge users want nothing better than to migrate across to the wool (we've heard such great things) but we're a cautious folk and so still want that satisfying sizzle sound occasionally during a tip clean .

I've now managed to swap mine around 180 degrees as part of this conversation and currently its stuck in the sponge position ! I like the sponge as I can see where all the bits of old solder have gone including anything with fine metal wires or old SMT parts.

You have been a closet sponge user? Keeping the moist damp membrane behind your solder stand for fear you will be recognized. Do you not fear, now that it is up front for easy access, you will lose the wrist dexterity so well developed from years of reaching behind. You my friend, are a patient man.

I was initially trained to use both, dab in the sponge and stoke the wool to prepare the tip for use while it regains its temperature.  My exit from electronic maintenance and repair into computer system design and support isolated me from industry changes. It is now appears you use one and only one but not both.

A nice demonstration, that users often know the product better than the manufacturers, or will use in ways not expected.

I remember reading about some company who released a ready-meal style food product in Asia which was intended for rapid-heating in rice cookers.

It didn't sell well, and they couldn't figure out why.. eventually they realized that rice cookers are used to permanently contain rice all day in some countries - there's no time to insert another product!

14rhb and now you know the reason that I will not go near  Weller, I have never liked their lack of quality. Going back to the '60s when I bought my first iron it was an Ungar Imperial, it was a grounded tip and stayed cool, and very light. When I was at Airearch in California I got bit yet again by the Weller plage, as I was troubleshooting something it would fire for no reason. A day later it was lead to the solder irons mag snap switch in the tip!  Again while at Hughes I was trying to figure out why a new HP digital spectrum analyzer failed in the rack but worked in my lab! Well you see there was this 100amp pull-out for power. And you could see both ends. But no avail it still failed intermittently in the rack. So I said maybe something is up with the cable. what uncovered was FUBAR! The 100amp pull-out from the wall went about 10 feet behind a sound baffle. Well between the two cables was a multitap box and between the box and the test stand was a large Variac! and guess was plugged into the tap? Yup a Weller Soldering Station just idling away. So every time the iron needed to reach temp the switch would close and the voltage would fold back!!

BTW here is my stand!

Hi phoenixcomm. Not sure I understand what was going on there. Would that system have behaved in the same way for any other soldering iron/load i.e. it just so happens in this case it was a Weller?

I'll try and get my roadtest report written soon.

14rhb No, I think that they finally retired them?? 

they had a bi-metallic temperature thing.  and when it turned on you could 1) hear the click, 2) have an induced load, remember that you have a transformer and a load!