Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This iron is a great entry-level buy, I have used one of these at work almost every day for four years, and it always gets the job done! For everyone who complains about replacement tips; Weller has a tip (PL111) that works fine.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I would recommend it for causal users. I used it to wire XLR connectors and found the dual power levels handy. Because it was stiff the soldering iron cord kept getting in the way.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Was a gift from my father as a graduation gift from a vocational school, been used in Muilt project, the tip had to be sanded clean and re-shaped, spong does not clean and has now been demimed useless. Had to use an ordiary mondain house spong as a replacement, does the same quailty job either way.. not a shocked that there is no replacement from R.S. found a possable replacement on a component site.. Once the tip is nothing more then a Nub i will sand down to the dome and drill a poilet hole and tap to make a thread.. will experiment on different tip size.. mainly used for small electronic.. will throw in a control nub on the side for more control of heat to the pencil.. R.S. is starting to be very dissapointing..it has now become a verizon phone company and accessory for ipod then a component store.... either way components on .R.S are redicously Expensive..

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

quality iron, but unable to find new tips for it which makes it useless.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I was able to verify that there is a replacement tip. I dont see it on the website but you can call your local store and have them check for part # 64-2089.
hope that helps

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Regardless of care, the tips will not last you more than an hour or two of active use. You are on your own for replacements. (See earlier review about possible sources.) I think it might make a fine tool if you are into crafts such as woodburning. If you are seeking a soldering iron, do yourself a favor and make another choice. You get what you pay for - but in this case, even less.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This is the most rediculous thing I have seen. No replacement tips. One of the best irons you sell & have no tips for it. Thats just stupid. I go 30 miles to another radios shack & find the same thing. They have an even better digital gun in stock, That I would love to own I might add, But not the first replacement tip for it either. Best irons on the sheft & might as well be thrown in the trash. Without replacement parts they are worthless !!!!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I've used this iron in a large variety of projects ranging from audio equipment repair to wireless robotic/small component soldering.High/Low-switch power is very useful when you are dealing with more sensitive components and don't want to use 2 irons.Replacement tips cannot be found in stores. [...]

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I was simply doing some soldering for a radio control car. The tip will not tin, the handle gets HOT, and the quality is generally poor.

It is asking me if I would recommend this to a friend. I wouldn't recommend it to the biggest jerk I know.

Also, the only reason it got ONE star is because I can't rate it lower.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I bought one two days ago. The tip run out quilkly. I want to buy one on line or in the stores buy all can't found it. Bed service.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

No Tips makes it worthless. Go to [...] and order a much better iron for less anyway and you'll be able to get tips.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I have had this unit for ~4 years, used it on 10ga down to 22ga wire work and a lot of small micro controller/pcb work. After replacing it with a Weller Station I came across replacement tips for RS Dual Power station. The tips are Cooper/Weller part number PL111 and PL100 and PL113. You can buy them on [...] or other places that sell Weller/Cooper spare parts. I bought a new tip and moved this unit out to the garage and still gets the job done.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I like the wire coil to hold the hot soldering iron, but it is too short.

When you put the soldering iron into the holder, it sticks out behond the bottom end and comes in contact with the power cord.

The power cord is a problem, because it does not lay flat, it is so stiff, it stays in the way, and often right where the hot iron is stored.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The tip was never quite right on this unit. It started disintigrating and then the plating started coming off. Only used a couple weeks. Went to buy a new tip and discovered they are not available.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Do not recommend.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This is an ok soldering iron. They don't sell a replacement tip, however. So once the tip goes (won't take long), It's [$] in the trashcan. [...]

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Can not get replacement tips localy!!
I tried 3 locations.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I am a radio control model hobbiest, this tool is more than adequate for the amount of soldering I do. When I leave it on for a long time on the 40 watt setting the finger grips get pretty warm but tolerable. If I had to do alot of soldering this would be a definite negative.

I noticed in many previous reviews,the main complaint is that there are no replacement tips available.I have recently purchased tips at my local RS. #64-2089 light duty iron clad chisel tips 2-pack and #64-2084 copper Lt., med.,and hvy. duty 3-pack.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I've used this Iron for a few months on many small electronics projects. The tip is holding up fine for now. I just found out that I can't get replacement tips for this. Thats not cool. The cord tend to get tangled in the holder and burnt. bad cord location.
I have tried using on larger things with no luck. This seems to be strictly for electronics.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I have used mine for years. Now I can no longer find replacement tips for it, while the iron itself would be servicable for a long time. I feel dissapointed by the lack of customer support.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I was very disappointed to find out that Radio Shack does not carry replacement tips for this iron. The Nickel plating comes off the tips immediately and they wear out fast.

The heat is OK on this iron as long as you are working on small stuff. I'm using it for RC car tasks, and it is just not up to that. Tinning 12ga wire is the limit, just don't try to solder the wire to something else. The iron just can't make enough heat to melt the solder on both a 12ga wire and a contact to complete the joint.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I picked this up out of convenience and it was not worth it. I was looking at Wellers online and should have gone with one of those. I have to use tip tinner literally after almost every connection I make because the tip gets black and corroded very easily.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I needed a soldering pencil for HAM radio projects Ibought this and am sorry I did I went to 3 stores around Philadelphia PA and they don't carry the tips. I should have read the reviews for it but hey its just a soldering pencil not a car. Who would have known

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I need a fine tip for close in work. Not available for this iron.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I could not find a replacement tip for this iron in the radio shack store. The iron takes alot of time to heat up. The handle is short and far away from the tip which gave me poor control and a nice burn. Not a great product. I'll stick with my radio shack soldering gun.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

It worked well for small guitar rewiring projects, for the first few projects over a year. But the tip started wearing/corroding very bad. [...] Of course, I wouldn't bother extending the life of this thing anyway.At 45W the handle gets very hot; yet the tip won't keep a consistent temp, so plan on waiting a lot. The base is light, so it'll move around if you brush the cord, and you'll always worry about the iron tipping over.Spend $45-50 on a good variable-temperature station like Xytronic (like I am about to), or a low end Weller or Hakko (and its clones, like Aoyue). Owners of these claim 10+ years of usability, and rarely require a tip change.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I use this item in jewelry making and it only takes a week to need a replacement tip. Who would have thought that a soldering iron would be made without a replacement tip available? This is unacceptable. The store manager would not take the item back as it had been 'used'. I bought the warranty and can get another...but it will last for one more week before needing a new tip!

Shame on you Radio Shack! I have been a customer for years and am so disappointed in you.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

There are NO replacement tips nor other sizes/shapes available. Customer NO-service will give you a brush-off answer that will look for appliance parts. Of course this is not a TV!So no need to waste your time or effort on them. TOO bad their corporate executives don't read these messages!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The origional tip lasted about 6 months using the iron just a few times.
Why would you not carry replacement tips to the most expensive iron you have in the store? At the same time, you sell tips for irons that are nowhere to be seen! The guy at the store was totally no help at all either. Not a pleasant experience!
Don't waste your money!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Brought this station home, set everything up and switched it to 20watt and within 5 minutes the shaft and the end where the cable goes into the wand started smoking like crazy, the shaft was glowing orange and the tip had turned black. This unit was defiantly defective.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Go to Weller website for information on replacement tips. This iron uses the PL series tips, which I was able to order over the internet.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I bought this for home use. Works ok. Heats up rather fast. Not a Weller.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

[...]

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Tips are orderable through their parts warehouse.[...]

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

all i planned on using this for was basic soldering, like motors for rc cars and such but it struggles to even do that. after the solder has cooled it cannot melt it again. very poor quality they should just stop selling this low quality ****.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

First problem was with the coil. I needed to use a pliers to narrow the hook on the end of the coil, it was just a tiny bit too wide to fit into the slot. I agree the heating element does not work as effectively after a few jobs but i've never used it for anything that needed more than 20 watts of power.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This product is junk. They do not sell replacement tips and the included tip wears out quickly. Mine is being scraped after a month. Shame on you Radio Shack.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

For the price its a good soldering iron station. It would be much better if radio shack carried replacement tips,

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Good luck finding replacement tips for this. There aren't any in the stores and I cannot locate one on the web pages. The entire unit becomes useless since it uses DIFFERENT tips than all of the other models!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

At one time you could buy replacement tips; I did. They still sell the iron, but no replacement tips now!

Don't buy it!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

After a day of on-and-off use at 40W, the metal shaft of the pen was severely blued and slightly warped, and it had literally burned the tip up (looked like welding scale). Why don't RS stores carry Weller irons anymore?

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The iron burned out using the 40W setting. After that, it would only become lukewarm when I turned it on, not nearly hot enough to melt solder. I ended up buying a different product.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The best thing about the cheap RS pens is the ability to buy replacement tips at the local store. With this setup, this is not the case. Don't be tempted by the stand, buy the cheap pens or spend the extra cash for a good setup.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I bought this station to replace my 25 year old 20 watt iron, it works great for the price. Finding Replacement Tips are a hassle though, [...]

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Like the variable heat control & the stand best of all. No comparison to a professional quality one, but it works as expected.

This one replaced an older one I have misplaced - like it just as well as the last one!!!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Good Product Good Price until you need other types of tips or replacement tips. Then the product becomes worthless. I will not buy another Radio Shack Product again. I'll spend the extra money for a product I can buy replacement parts for.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The Weller 'Standard Line Tips' of 0.25" diameter do fit this iron as replacements. I ordered a PL111 for instance from Allied Electronics (digikey, newark, others likely have them too).

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I use unit all the time, up until now, tip wore out and they do not sell replacements.

DO NOT BUY FORM RADIO SHACK

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Great for light duty soldering, like guitars, cables, and stuffing PCB's. Not being able to buy tips is a real drawback.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

NO TIPS AVAILABLE

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This is a good product having used in in my work for several years.

However, the fact that replacement tips must be ordered and mailed to the customer should be stated on the details webpage under accesories with a hyperlink to the current telephone number to place such order.

Radio Shack should provide this, rather than making customers finally find out what the situation is.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Shortly after purchacing this item while I was using while on a ladder it slipped out of my hand. With my luck it landed just right on the tip and damaged it beyond repair. It was not any fault of the unit that the tip was danaged but the problem is I cannot get a replacement tip so now all it is good for is a paperweight.
Radio SHACK SHOULD NOT BE SELLING THESE THINGS IF THEY DO NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT TIPS!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Dont waste your money.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

A decent iron, but replacement tips are not available so after about 100 solder joints it's trash! At [$]/solder joint it's not cheap to operate - just cheap to buy. Do yourself a favor and spend the money for a better unit that you can buy replacement tips for. Otherwise, you'll be buying a new one often.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Works okay at first, throw it away when you need a tip. They should give us a new unit, if they can't replace the tips.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I cannot believe that when the tip get worn out the only thing you can do is buy a new iron.
The cheaper irons at radioshack have $1.99 replacement tips.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This soldering iron is the lowest level iron I'd ever recommend to anyone. It's cheap and quick for a quick project. I wouldn't use it for more (possibly a last resort backup).

The fact that when I did need to use it, the tip bent and broke wasn't so bad. The fact that local stores still sell these as new, but not the replacement tips is ridiculous. Had to pay for two new tips at a store that were then mailed to my house a week later... I had to buy another station to do the work I needed to do that day.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This is my third soldering iron and its really all you need exept for the solder and flux if you really think you need that but yeah you got a great iron which switches between 20 and 40 watts, 20 for small stuff and 40 for heavy duty stuff
there is a cleaning sponge included as well so cleaning is no problem
some people say you cant find tips but the weller pl100 is the tip you look for, i think its a good quality tip, in the future you might need to replace it but i dunno
oh and the iron on 20 watts isnt hot enough to burn you if you barly skiff your hand across the tip i dunno about 40 watts though

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

NO tips available at Radio Shack.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

very frustrating with no replacement tip.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I bought 20 of these for my classroom. The salesperson told me one year ago, no problem to buy replacement tips. I have spent this weekend online, at three different stores and no one is able to find the replacement tips for me to purchase. This product was a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Get a good electronics replacement tip, a Weller PL100, at your local retail store. Much better iron with that tip.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

used in business but tips not available
throw away item after a very short time

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I have been trying to find a replacement tip for some time now - no luck. Which is really too bad, I like the iron fine, just cant find a replacement tip. I have wore out the tip it came with, make soldering extremely difficult.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Just wanted to bump this info to the top of the list:

THIS IS A REBRANDED WELLER IRON SO IT WILL WORK FINE WITH A WELLER PL111 TIP!!!

These are easily ordered on the internet. Just google them. The fact that RatShack doesn't carry them in the stores is downright shameful.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

It's ok. Heat is pretty constant, just the fact that it's made out of plastic I don't like. Also, the cord going from the body to the pencil iron is too short and often gets in the way of my project.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

When the tip wears out replace the iron with 64-2071. Take the bottom cover off the base and wire the new iron in. Takes 10 minutes. At least you have a ready supply of tips at Radio Shack (64-2072), which is what a real tip should look like. And you get a solid base with a place for your sponge, and a dual heat switch. Why would you do this? It's cheaper than a Weller at [$]and works just as good.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This is a decent iron I used for tinning the wires on a huge quantity of 18 guage wires. It took 5 hours of tinning to warp the tip. I was actually impressed. Unfortunately the stores don't keep replacement tips in stock, but a previous commentor was nice enough to give the radioshack model # for the replacement. I just want to add that if one needs a tip in a hurry, the Weller model # PL111 solder tip is the exact same tip. I bought the PL111 and it works the same as the original.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

If you could get replacement tips, it would be a good buy. DO NOT BUY THIS SOLDERING IRON.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I've had this Soldering Iron for a few years and I'm completely sick of this product. There are no replacement tips for the Soldering Iron. The tip only has one spot that it heats up on the tip which makes it very difficult for me to use. the tip is very poorly made and the solder will adhere to the tip indefinetly

The reason why I tried this to begin with was the long cord, and the integration of the soldering iron into the base, which the Iron had a long enough cord to attached to the base. Also the dual power was a nice touch.

But the poor execution of the iron far out-weighed the design. I only wish the iron was detachable and i could add a differen't iron to the base.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I have an older version of this iron with slightly different top design. Replacement tips are NOT. available for it or this version. Spend your money on something with better quality and support that has parts available for it.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Good iron for light jobs. Tips CAN be order from RadioShack store throught the RSU (RadioShack Unlimited) order process using part number 12439154. I ordered two today. If the salesperson is not aware, check with the manager. They can order it.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Bought today. Took me 3 hours to do 2 wires. Tip oxidized aready. Going back tomorrow!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Terrible iron. The tip got oxidized very quickly. Only a very small part of the tip could actually melt the solder. Not buying radio shack soldering iron again!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

NO replacement tips and much better irons with temp controls can be had for very little more. Wish I had known spending $10 less for this iron was not worth the headache! GET A ***** brand instead.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This has been a decent soldering station for light electronics work and I though I was getting a pretty good bargain when I bought it. Unfortunately, I didn't do enough research. Now the the tip that came on it is about at it's end of life, so I went to get a replacement tip. There are none.

Too much money for a disposable soldering station. Not recommended.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Could have been a great gun. Add a reostate temp setting and be able to get RS tip part number 64-2084. This part can not be found on site and can not be ordered at the store so just bite the bullet, throw it away and buy a Weller

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

it's a good set up for a beginner, but eventually you will need to replace the tip. THERE AREN'T REPLACEMENT TIPS AT RADIOSHACK!!!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Good iron for basic soldering. Wouldn't recommend it for fine jobs. Poor heat control since there are only 2 heat settings, but I only need high heat anyway. This is a re-badged Weller soldering station, so any Weller PL series replacement tip can be used. You can order them at www.grainger.com.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

REPLACEMENT TIPS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Major problem getting replacement tips. Not even located on website.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I have used this for 3 years now. It has served me well. I have used it for heavy to light solder jobs. It has never fail. I used it at work everyday and it is just wonderful. No problem with tip replacements. [...].

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

There ARE tips available. You just have to order it from your local radioshack store. Ask the employee to look it up via RSU parts.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I, also, was duped into purchasing one of these as I was looking for a quick solution for a dual-heat iron. [...], I shelled out the [$]. Alas, no replacement tips - and 6 months later this iron is as blunt as a baby's fist. I could have gotten a one year old Hakko Future Product pro station for [$] more - and wouldn't have had to wait 10 minutes for full heat.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Not useful when tips wear out.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I go your tips because I leave them on for hours,
but you can;t find them .

I got a 50w iron and installed that and
run it in lo/hi high setting !

( lo setting simply reduces the AC to the iron )

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The only tips available for this unit render it a flat head screwdriver, just perfect for those spherical connectors that you need to apply hot pressure to!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Works good on electronics
Good heat control
Tips are made to be replaced, but can not get them

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Some of you may laugh, but I have been using this iron for production for about 3 years now, I have owned 2 of them for almost 10 years. They still work, and I have been shelling out bucks for tips. I was just too cheap to buy a better iron. I finally have ordered a better one. Try the Tenma line, they are good and widely availible, from E-bay to M-C-M Electronics, you can find them online. Not really that bad of an iron, and the price is right, [$], with stand, that's not bad. But for about 50.00-100 you can get a much better iron.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Bought this for my son for his birthday with several electronic kits. In no time at all the tip wore out and to my chagrin I found that Radio Shack discontinued the replacement tips. This soldering iron is worthless if the tips can't be replaced. [...]

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Contrary to another review, the tips have changed and do not hold up, not a chance "for ten years". I thougt maybe just a defect so I tried to replace the tip...not available. The old model used the conventional tips which you can replace, the new irons have a totally different tip, incompatible with anything I can find any where.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

No spare tips stocked at [...].Cord too stiffShould have read others comments before buying, I would not have chosen this one.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Sean B's suggestion to move the soldering iron wire to the front is excellent! I had adapted to carefully orienting the soldering iron wire to keep it away from the hot tip for about eight years (date code 05A99)... and wrapping the soldering iron wire with some electrical tape, to be safe!

I had to remove five screws with a Phillips screwdriver, move the Underwriter's knot inward about three inches, and use some diagonal cutters to make a little exit slot for the soldering iron wire in the front of the unit. I attached the Underwriter's knot with some adhesive to the underside of the tip cleaning tray, and reinstalled all five screws. The total time needed for the modification was about twenty minutes. Now, I have an excellent soldering iron... and it is finally time to order a new tip RSU number: 12439154.

73 KE5HXX

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

As radio Amateur, I have many delicate RF projects to solder. I also convert PC Power Supplies into 12 Volt Power Supplies [...].My only problem is finding replacment tips.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Worst soldering iron I have ever used. I have purchased several soldering irons from [...] over the years, and all of them were top notch except this one.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Th first one I bought woudld not keep a constant temperature. The next one worked but the tip started to disentegrate within a couple hours of use. I tried to get replacments but cannot find them and it does not use a standard "nail" type tip. I'm going to try to return this one too. I hope they will take it back. it's a dog.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Why would you buy this when replacement tips are not available? Wait! Why would *I* buy this? No excuse. I should have checked first. Save your money.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Reader reviews concerning available tips are realistic.

However tips are available from supply houses that sell Ungar tips.

The Ungar tip numbers are PL100 PL111 PL113 PLxxx etc etc. for most needs.

These are used on the Ungar UTC100 & UTCSS Soldering stations.

There also is an adapter available from Ungar you can screw onto the 1/4" thread to accept 1/8" threaded end tips that "ARE" Available from RS

The lamp cord type cable is too stiff and is always getting in the way of the soldering Iron tip when in use and gets hung up in the coiled spring holder. I found this very annoying.

I purchased this Iron for an emergency onsite repair where I found myself without a soldering Iron,so no research was done. It did however allow me to make the emergency service call repair
and I now see it as a backup Iron when needed in a pinch

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Sodering iron tips don't seem to be available [...]. Tip does not seem to be iron plated and erodes quickly, even when used with rosin-core solder exclusively. Spring rest for iron clumsy to use. Cord to iron is too stiff, gets in the way.Dual heat is nice, reaches soldering temp quickly. Price is low.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I've had this iron for years and liked it. But as one would expect, even with all the tip cleaning goop and flux, the tip eventually wore out and needed replacement. I didn't expect this to be a problem until I found that none of the available tips fit. Now my 64-2184 is just a bulky holder for my new soldering iron, after less than two years of use.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Tip too large for delicate work. variety of tips would be nice. ANY REPLACEMENT TIP WOULD BE NICE. Use it awhile and throw it away. [...]

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Product works OK. If you are doing more than casual soldering and use the tip cleaner that RS sells the tip will wear out in no time flat. [...] WHAT A PAIN. .UGH I AM RATHER UPSET now in case you could not tell. I should have spent a little more money and get a real soldering iron that is properly supported like a... well, never mind, there are other choies

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

No longer a great deal because Radioshack discontinued the tip for it. A friend and I both own one of these and I had to wire in a new iron just so I could replace the tip as needed.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Tip erodes quickly, cant find a replacement , in 40W handle gets way too hot, not well balanced, cord retained shape from packaging and stays in the way, I guess its good if you only want to use it once a year.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Tips can last awhile however they DO need a lot of care. 20W for standby and OFF if leaving for more than 10 minutes. Use only high-quality silver-bearing solder and when needed, grind the tip back a little to expose new material. The tips are long and with proper care, grinding it back should be a seldom affair. This iron is not recommended for professional use but for the average Joe, will due nicely.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

just ask the sales person to check the RSU parts for the iron. tips are available for any radio shack store to order.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The iron is not balanced well so I find it very clumbsy to use. The tip wears out fast, and from what I read here, you can't find them. Piece of junk!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The unit works well with electronics and small projects. 20W setting works fine but takes a while to warm up; suggest to go to 40W and once hot switch back to 20W. Pen's wire should be attached to right front side instead of rear. Biggest problem: replacement tips are IMPOSSIBLE to find online and in stores.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The 20 watt setting is useless. Can't get a replacement tip. I fixed all these problems by splicing in (with heatshrink) a radioshack 25 watt iron instead. I can not only replace the tip but I use the low setting for standby.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I can't find the tips at the stores or on this site. The 20w setting is almost to low to melt even skinny solder and the 40w is often too much for wiring and electronic work and makes the handle alarmingly hot. The sponge doesn't last much longer than the tips. It's a shame because except for these issues it works very well and I like the setup much more than using an iron with a tiny holder or rest. If they sold replacement parts in the stores, or maybe even on line, it would be a good deal, but...

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

The unit is fine - until it's time to replace the tip. It is not stocked in stores. However, a local employee provided the following RSU number: 12439154.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I wish I would have read these reviews before the tip wore out.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

As mentioned by others - tip fails too quickly and RS no longer carries tips for this unit. Why do they still sell the iron? Good question.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Decent unit, but once the tip wears out the whole unit is junk. No tips are available. Save yourself the time and get a better one if you can.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Do not buy this soldering iron! Radio Shack no longer provides replacement tips for it. As soon as your first tip wears out than you have to get a new soldering iron! Radio Shack should discontinue this product!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

For this price range the iron gets plenty hot, it's good for repairs and small projects. Cord should come out the front, and the iron holder needs to be reworked. Replacement tips are a must, but are unfortunatly hard to find. However some diggin has revield an RSU number 12439154 any RS store should be able to order that for you, its 4.99+shipping and probably tax.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

I think it's a good inexpensive iron, my problem is I can't seem to find replacement tips, and that really makes the value drop.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This isn't so much of a "station" as just a medium sized pen designed for working on electronics. It's just a basic unregulated stick without real temperature control permanently attached to a lightweight base. The power switch is in the base. When switched on to the 20W setting a diode is between the line and pen that reduces the pen's wattage so it doesn't get as hot. In the 40W position it gets full line power. Quality is acceptable for the price. Perhaps the previous reviewer got a defective unit. I found it sturdy and comfortable enough for regular use and the handle did not get hot. Unfortunately while the light-duty tips are plated and will last for awhile, the heavy duty tips are unplated copper and need lots of tending and frequent (and expensive) replacement.I think better values can be found but this unit is not unacceptable. It's occasionally discounted and is a better value then.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

This unit is the WORST unit i have ever used!!! It barely gets hot enough to melt solder. Forget about soldering any wire over 16 gauge. IT IS GARBAGE!!!!!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Soldering tips are ridiculously hard to find. The local stores do not carry & online is impossible to order. It is great if you are buying a disposable unit.

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

Great set up, especially considering cost....I ust this to tinker around with electronics, as well as on the job. Only gripe is that the cord going from the base to the actual iron needs to be in FRONT of the unit, not behind it! Very easy to fix though by cutting two grooves in the base to accomdate the wire. Great product!

Comments about RadioShack Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron:

great iron for hobbies and repairs... A+