I have a "Tech America" 80W soldering station, purchased from Radio Shack during the short lived "Tech America" experiment by Tandy. I have run out of soldering tips for it. I know I can make some if I have to. They are 1/4" round and 3" long when new, with of course various tip shapes originally available. Does anyone know if there is a source for them? Radio Shack employees around here don't even seem to know what Tech America was. Thanks!

:I have a "Tech America" 80W soldering station, purchased from Radio Shack during the short lived "Tech America" experiment by Tandy. I have run out of soldering tips for it. I know I can make some if I have to. They are 1/4" round and 3" long when new, with of course various tip shapes originally available. Does anyone know if there is a source for them? Radio Shack employees around here don't even seem to know what Tech America was. Thanks!
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Richard: Buy a length of 1/4 inch brass rod, cut it to length, and grind a chisel or screwdriver shape on the end. The brass (alloy of copper & zinc) is an excellent heat conductor and will last much longer than the originals. I use brass in many of my soldering irons.

:I have a "Tech America" 80W soldering station, purchased from Radio Shack during the short lived "Tech America" experiment by Tandy. I have run out of soldering tips for it. I know I can make some if I have to. They are 1/4" round and 3" long when new, with of course various tip shapes originally available. Does anyone know if there is a source for them? Radio Shack employees around here don't even seem to know what Tech America was. Thanks!
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No help here... sorry...but a comment about RS...I think they should call it Cell Phone Shack.

"The Shack"
I wonder what marketing genius came up with that? Isn't a "shack" like the shed out back? Isn't a "shack" a worn out, falling down, small structure? Isn't a "shack" a less than desirable or 2nd rate place? Without the word "Radio" in front of it, "The Shack" makes no sense.

Then of course, who in the general public knows what a real "Radio Shack" is or was? Not many I'd guess.

:O)

Henry,
I remember. Radio Shack was a catalog warehouse in KC or St Lou. They even offered a broad spectrum of real radio parts, Hi Fi and amateur radio kits, and a catalog of about 100 pgs. Then came Tandy Leather Co. What the Hell did a leather co know about radio parts, except the bottom line. The rest is history. Maybe Cell Phone Shack or shack as you described is more appropriate, but have to admit, replacing an entire stereo or TV with one IC chip leaves radio PARTS a distant second. Thank God for the inet, where sources for radio parts can still be found. We radio restorers would be lost without it, but I'd still like to go local, touch and feel those old caps, tubes, the smell of old rosin core solder, the musty smell of a bygone era of enlightenment.

marv

:"The Shack"
:I wonder what marketing genius came up with that? Isn't a "shack" like the shed out back? Isn't a "shack" a worn out, falling down, small structure? Isn't a "shack" a less than desirable or 2nd rate place? Without the word "Radio" in front of it, "The Shack" makes no sense.
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:Then of course, who in the general public knows what a real "Radio Shack" is or was? Not many I'd guess.
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Well to defend some stores... The closest "Radio Shack" to my home town is still in business today. It is family owned combination hardware store and Radio Shack. They don't stock a lot of electronic parts, not much call for them I suppose. However, they do their best to find what you need for you. They do stock the things commonly needed in rural areas. You won't find a cell phone for sale in the store, though they do have a section of accessories, particularly roof and vehicle mount antenna for cell phones.

I miss Lafayette stores... I suppose I need to get out and about and see what is available in the Nashville area aside from "The Shack".

Richard

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=soldering+tip

Richard,
No guarantees. Try the above link. There are pages of soldering tips and once you see a tip that looks correct you can drill into the catalog page to review a wide range of sizes. If you get lucky their shipping charges are reasonable.

Jeff

:Well to defend some stores... The closest "Radio Shack" to my home town is still in business today. It is family owned combination hardware store and Radio Shack. They don't stock a lot of electronic parts, not much call for them I suppose. However, they do their best to find what you need for you. They do stock the things commonly needed in rural areas. You won't find a cell phone for sale in the store, though they do have a section of accessories, particularly roof and vehicle mount antenna for cell phones.
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:I miss Lafayette stores... I suppose I need to get out and about and see what is available in the Nashville area aside from "The Shack".
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:Richard
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