>
>Have you considered opening up the Wahl unit, removing the factory
>NiCads, and re-wiring the unit for an external power source?  The
>external power source could be a pack of NiMHs, or simply your
>current-limited bench power supply.

Check the current drawn, NIMH don't like large discharge rates.
Or long term unterminated charge either..
This is one application where Nicads may yet be the best thing.


>However, I think this will just be a stop-gap solution until I can
>splurge on a Metcal unit (which is just looking more and more
>attractive with each new tidbit I learn about them)

I've retired my weller in favor of an SP-200 Metcal.
A friend of mine also, after watching me do 100 pin chips, and shield cans 
with the same tip on the metcal. 

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