The International Cessna^® 170 Association

George my duck tape has worked nicely for the last 35 years.

Just came home from the local ACE Hardware store where they stock the Weller 550 and a smaller version. $54 plus 6% tax. Guess it pays to live in PA where we can get Weller soldering guns.

BTW the Weller 550 is made in Mexico.

George, the Ham Radio community makes generous use of tools like
soldering irons. One first class outfit is:
http://search.cartserver.com/search/sea ... ering+iron

Among others, they feature: WEL WTCPT WELLER 60W SOLDERING STATION $139.99
WEL W60P WELLER 60W TEMP CONTROL IRON $70.99


and another even closer to home for you, is:

Austin Amateur Radio Supply
Serving customers for over 30 years!
5325 N. I-35 - Austin TX 78723
Orders & Quotes 800-423-2604
Map with Directions

And then there's Texas Towers in Irving! http://www.texastowers.com/

Good luck in your quest. While you are talking with the Amateur Radio Community you might want to check into getting your Technician license so that you can enjoy using ham radio while you commute in your 170.

Thanks, Bob!
I actually gave up and ordered a replacement housing for my unit and have installed it. I've moved on to the next complaint topic now: I can't stick-weld worth a dang! (I'm gonna have to take the wrappers off my new MIG welder!

gahorn wrote: I've moved on to the next complaint topic now: I can't stick-weld worth a dang! (I'm gonna have to take the wrappers off my new MIG welder!

Hey! That's cheating! You aren't allowed to use a MIG until you can demonstrate good stick technique.

lowNslow wrote:

gahorn wrote: I've moved on to the next complaint topic now: I can't stick-weld worth a dang! (I'm gonna have to take the wrappers off my new MIG welder!

Hey! That's cheating! You aren't allowed to use a MIG until you can demonstrate good stick technique.

Ha! Yeah, I'm really disappointed in myself.

I can't seem to stick-weld consistently. One project... it's great. Six months later... it looks like someone was using steel stucco.

Basically, I find I can weld quite satisfactorily if I'm using 7018 rod in normal position, and straight DC. That rod is the easiest for me,... almost like a hot-glue gun.... just put the rod into the puddle and let it melt-and-move along. But if I attempt anything out-of-position, or if I use 6011 rod, or AC, it really makes a mess and I can't always get it to stick at all....just lots of smoke and splatter (and holes if it's thin work.)

I was welding a tab onto a damper inside my fireplace. It was overhead, and it either would not strike an arc (and therefore stick the rod to the work, using 60 amps) or it'd just make a huge arc and blow out (using 90 Amps.) I was using a magnetic holder to hold the piece in place, and I wonder if that was affecting the DC polarity.

So I removed the magnet, and clamped the piece into a crescent wrench's jaws and held it in place with one hand, and held the rod with the other hand, while welding upside down/overhead and letting globs of steel drip down and splatter all over the place. (I had a welder's drop-cloth.) I eventually got enough stuccoed into place to get out the angle-grinder and remove most of the evidence and still leave enough there to hold the tab in place.

The only saving grace is that few folks will ever be inside my fireplace looking up at the damper operating mechanism.

(I'd have already unpacked the new MIG machine if I had a long-enough 240-volt extension cord.)

George,

I have to admire your fortitude. If the damper in my fireplace chimney had anything other than a genuine certified weld, I wouldn't be able to sleep nights.

George,
For the price of a case of Pauli Girl Ole Gar says he will certify your chimney damper weld. For two cases he will do it over the phone.

It is my understanding that there are a hell of a lot of things "Ole Gar" will do for even a twelve pack of Pauli Girl.

Seems like there's a lot of online retailers who carry it if you don't mind mail ordering.

http://www.google.com/products?q=Weller+D650

Edit: I was about 2 pages late.