I have a Weller model 8200 soldering gun that I bought several years ago, and have used only 3 or 4 times. I tried to use it yesterday and it would barely melt solder directly, and seemed to only heat the tip intermittently, i.e. Sometimes it seems to heat up, though slowly, and other times not at all.

I am assuming that you installed a new tip. Note, the tip ends have to be 3/8 of an inch 90 degree bend so that when you insert the tip leads into the barrels, they go into the small holes in the barrels.

Also note, the nuts to tighten the tip into the gun have to be installed onto the tip leads before bending the leads. Now when the tip is installed this way, the nuts tighten and hold the tip in the barrel. This tightening of the nuts allow the tip to have a good electrical connection to the barrels and this is what allows the tip to heat. You actually have an electrical current that passes through the barrels and the tip. It is a very low voltage (around 2) but a very high current. Over time the tip will not heat, this is a sign to either tighten the nuts, or look at the tip to see if it has a break in it. If it has an open, then it is time to change the tip. Answered on Oct 19, 2017.

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