13-08-2014, 12:18 PM
Metcal uses do seem to be rather evangelical 
For the sake of balance...
I use Weller TCP. In the past, I have worked in places that used Metcal and Weller TCP. At the time, I thought that both were nice - both were good at big and small stuff with the right tips, both had good temperature regulation, and the results I could achieve with either were equally good. Now, this was 20 years ago, with better eyes than today, and surface-mount stuff wasn't as small as today, but I today I don't do anything on a smaller scale, so the comparison is perfectly valid for my needs.
A brand new Weller TCP iron and PSU comes in at around £150. Of course, they go second-hand for a fraction of that. You can DIY the PSU as it's just a transformer, of course. A new element is about £30. The switches in the older irons could be unreliable, but I can't remember the last time I changed one - they are a little over £30 when needed.
I'm no expert on the Metcal range, but the MFR-1110 - which seems to be the entry level - starts at £240. And that's a re-branded Oki, by all accounts. The MX500 range seems to start at £575. And a quick search of Farnell didn't show up any spare parts for these models. Hmm...
I have only had one TCP fail in nearly 30 years of using them. This was about 15 years back, and I dread to think how old the iron was at that point. As it was so old, I just brought a new iron - I remember it cost £45 at that time. However, since that experience - it's horrible to be without - I have bought a few more second-hand. They are so cheap that it's no extravagance to have them standing by with a range of different tips fitted, ready for different jobs. No need to swap the tips (easy enough, of course) - just plug in the required iron and in 30 seconds get going...
At work today, as well as the TCP units, we have some of the electronically controlled units (an earlier version of the WSD series, IIRC). These are also very nice - around £250. But in use, I get perfect results with TCP, and don't feel the need to change. The TCP idea has proven to be elegant, simple, reliable and cheap. No semiconductors or software involved. What's not to like?
Of course, that's not to say that I wouldn't be delighted to have a WSD or an MX500 if someone offered it at the right price. But the TCP is not the compromise that a lot of Metcal users would suggest. Just go searching some of the other electronics forums to see examples of "rabid fanboys" in action
Now, with all that said, I assume that the mains-powered 200W Weller mentioned earlier is not temperature controlled? Sadly, non-controlled irons are definitely a mixed bag - ever tried strapping a thermocouple to one? They have their occasional uses, but it's true that a ~50 watt temperature controlled iron can do the work of a ~200W non-controlled iron. For day-to-day work, a controlled iron is much better tool in just about every regard. By "controlled", I mean with sensing and feedback, not a variac or light-dimmer (which is what the cheap "controlled" irons use). I use my TCP for delicate PCB work and restoring Hacker Mayflowers, and would highly recommend it to those who have standard non-controlled irons - you won't look back. Just don't be put off my those who tell you that you need to stretch to a Metcal - in terms of performance, it's a bit like deciding between Audi and BMW when your current car is a Lada
For the sake of balance...
I use Weller TCP. In the past, I have worked in places that used Metcal and Weller TCP. At the time, I thought that both were nice - both were good at big and small stuff with the right tips, both had good temperature regulation, and the results I could achieve with either were equally good. Now, this was 20 years ago, with better eyes than today, and surface-mount stuff wasn't as small as today, but I today I don't do anything on a smaller scale, so the comparison is perfectly valid for my needs.
A brand new Weller TCP iron and PSU comes in at around £150. Of course, they go second-hand for a fraction of that. You can DIY the PSU as it's just a transformer, of course. A new element is about £30. The switches in the older irons could be unreliable, but I can't remember the last time I changed one - they are a little over £30 when needed.
I'm no expert on the Metcal range, but the MFR-1110 - which seems to be the entry level - starts at £240. And that's a re-branded Oki, by all accounts. The MX500 range seems to start at £575. And a quick search of Farnell didn't show up any spare parts for these models. Hmm...
I have only had one TCP fail in nearly 30 years of using them. This was about 15 years back, and I dread to think how old the iron was at that point. As it was so old, I just brought a new iron - I remember it cost £45 at that time. However, since that experience - it's horrible to be without - I have bought a few more second-hand. They are so cheap that it's no extravagance to have them standing by with a range of different tips fitted, ready for different jobs. No need to swap the tips (easy enough, of course) - just plug in the required iron and in 30 seconds get going...
At work today, as well as the TCP units, we have some of the electronically controlled units (an earlier version of the WSD series, IIRC). These are also very nice - around £250. But in use, I get perfect results with TCP, and don't feel the need to change. The TCP idea has proven to be elegant, simple, reliable and cheap. No semiconductors or software involved. What's not to like?
Of course, that's not to say that I wouldn't be delighted to have a WSD or an MX500 if someone offered it at the right price. But the TCP is not the compromise that a lot of Metcal users would suggest. Just go searching some of the other electronics forums to see examples of "rabid fanboys" in action
Now, with all that said, I assume that the mains-powered 200W Weller mentioned earlier is not temperature controlled? Sadly, non-controlled irons are definitely a mixed bag - ever tried strapping a thermocouple to one? They have their occasional uses, but it's true that a ~50 watt temperature controlled iron can do the work of a ~200W non-controlled iron. For day-to-day work, a controlled iron is much better tool in just about every regard. By "controlled", I mean with sensing and feedback, not a variac or light-dimmer (which is what the cheap "controlled" irons use). I use my TCP for delicate PCB work and restoring Hacker Mayflowers, and would highly recommend it to those who have standard non-controlled irons - you won't look back. Just don't be put off my those who tell you that you need to stretch to a Metcal - in terms of performance, it's a bit like deciding between Audi and BMW when your current car is a Lada
