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by Peter Brett - September 2005
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The Weller SP 40L soldering iron is a very simple tool, and apart from a few new design tweaks Weller has probably not changed its appearance much in the last fifteen years. You get a more brightly coloured ‘high-visibility ‘ red handle, a more sophisticated and safer cord protector where it enters the handle and a glowing LED that will indicate that it is hot and beware where you get hold of it.
With a 40W rating I was not surprised that it came to solder melting temperature in about a minute and a half, so it is possible to have it ready to use in a short time, and not necessary to keep it on all the time while you are working with it.
Different types and shapes of soldering bits are available and these are replaced quite simply by unscrewing the screw at the business end and removing the bit.
You also get a dinky little aluminium stand that bends to hold the soldering iron off the worksurface and stops it setting light to the table.
So far, so ho-hum. Why review a soldering iron? It is an essential piece of equipment for electricians and some other trades, and can be useful in the home, but they are by no means intrinsically interesting.
But it is what this soldering iron represents that makes it a useful way of passing on information to end users and retailers. We all know that the Brussels has been making a lot of rules that either make us retreat into our Little England shells or are a good way of ensuring that standards in manufactured products are adequate. How you respond to the edicts will depend on your point of view, but the truth of the matter is that they will apply to you if you live and work in Europe and if you are making or marketing certain kinds of products it is best to be aware.
In fact all Weller products are ahead of the game, because the company’s distribution centre is based in Holland, which adopted the new WEEE regulations in August.
The LED? Well that is a way of enhancing the safety of the product by ensuring a visible means of telling you that the tool is hot. Previous models have not all had this feature, and while most users know that it is in the nature of a soldering iron to get hot, there seems to be much more pressure on manufacturers to protect us from our own stupidity.
The quick, energy efficient heating time of this little Weller uses less power and does its bit to save the planet as well as making it easier to use.
Another example of how a simple design change can improve safety and usability is the improved cord protector between cord and handle. This improves the longevity of the cord and the safety of the user. I remember my father having to repair the cord connections of many household appliances like irons because the cord frayed and became dangerous. I haven’t had to do the same task more than a few times in my working life because these things are simply so much more robust and safer. Still feeling as though the regulations are strangling enterprise? The Good old days? Frankly, I disagree.
We should not forget about the solder too. Lead is established as being a dangerous and slow acting poison. Therefore it is being phased out. We no longer have lead pipes, nor lead in petrol or in paint. Lead is to be replaced as a component in solder too.
Wholesalers, tool companies and retailers need to be aware that lead-free solder should now be being stocked and sold. Education is needed to make sure that the new regulations are being implemented.
When I chatted with my 20-plus year old children about this they were unsurprised and faintly cheered that the baby-boomer generation such as myself have now finally to get to grips with a more sustainable lifestyle. They feel as though they are picking up the tab for our wasteful ways in the past.
No doubt there are many further examples, both big and small, where tool manufacturers in particular will need to review their products and see how they will need to be changed and improved to meet existing and future regulations. It costs money and time, but maybe its not too late, and it may mean a lot of new opportunities for redesign and new materials and products.
My thanks to Cooper Tools for the education process, it has been useful and it will make me consider the ‘green’ aspects of new tools and products that come my way.
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Airstream Communications