Been thinking about getting one for Christmas. Just curious if anyone has every used one and what they thought about it. Sure would be handy doing electrical repairs when an outlet isn't handy.
I have been soldering since I was around 8 years old, so I guess im probably very stuck in my ways, but I got one, and hated it. I like my iron hot, generaly never set my weller station anyhere less than maximum, unless soldering repairs on a circuit board with VERY small surface mount components, or IC chips, to protect from heat damage. The hotter the iron, of course the better and faster the flow of the solder. When you apply more heat to the wire, or whatever your soldering, the solder flows better and father, with less solder used, creating a better connection, and far less chance of a cold joint. That being said, the Cold Heat iron doesnt get nearly hot enough, fast enough for me, I found it very frustrating. For location work, a Weller butane iron is MUCH better, you can probably buy a nice used one on ebay for the price of a Cold Heat.
I work for the NZ agent for the Coldheat soldering iron. They are a great concept but definitly have their limitations. Forget about the "Cl***ic" model. Only good for VERY small jobs. Go straight to the "Pro" model. I have sold quite a few of these to boat electricians for working in very expensive floating palaces, where the chance of melting anything with a propane torch is eliminated. A few TV Aerial installers have bought them so they also dont have to carry a hot iron off a roof.
amen ! my buddie got one for his B-day , he came over with it to install some new speakers in his car, WHEN it melted the solder, the bond broke easily. after 1/2 hour we broke out the old soldering iron.
I used to sell them, I busted one out once to solder something and the tip broke so I got another and they same thing happened. I think they **** Primo
I got one when they came out, they blow. Get a butane iron if a 110 volt one is to much of a pain in the ***.
Hated it. Ill second the butane though. Ive burned myself with that thing so much, but I think is the best thing going.
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