artto Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Anyone have any experiences with this new "Cold Heat" soldering iron? https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/vcc/coldheat/coldheat/115788/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thoriated_Tiger Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I'm curious as well. ThinkGeek carries 'em too, and they're not known to carry non-functional garbage. Pointless stuff, yes, but not non-functional Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Only thing I seemed to notice during the commercials was the solder they used seemed to be about as big as a strand of hair. Perhaps that's a good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRBILL Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 "Radio Store" now has their own version but they are almost always out of stock. I gave the original version "kit" to my sons in law for Christmas. I guess that's faint praise. DR BILL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerohm Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 You may want to search the archives... This subject has been discussed before. The biggest problem with these type of devices is that there is an electrical discharge (which may be hazardous to delicate electronic devices) and the tips are rather delicate and expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Yes, someone mentioned that they liked it a while back on the forum. I looked at one of the Radio Shack units. They did mention the tendency for a small arc upon contact. The tip is a little odd looking. Kind of hoof shaped as I remember. Not expensive, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Adams Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 I've got one and damn if the thing doesn't actually work! I've never given much thought to the arc'ing being an issue for sensitive electronics, but then again, most of my soldering isn't on sensitive stuff. One of the tips that they offer is a round pointed tip (I have one) and it has a very small gap. I'm wondering if that tip would be better for sensitive devices???? Does it do as good a job as a dedicated iron? Not really. But overall, it does a pretty decent job. Hell, I think it's worth the 30 bucks or so. I'll tell ya when it's really worth it's price - when you're in the attic or on your back with your head up under the dash of a car. Places where having a HOT iron is NOT good! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 yeah my buddy bought one thinking that it was going to be his way out of not having to buy a nice soldering iron, and he said it was horrible, the only thing he ever got out of it was a burn on his thumb, he said it was totally useless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champagne taste beer budget Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 I've got one, and though I don't use it much, I think it's good for smaller wiring, not so much for thicker gauges. It flows an electrical current through the two ends of the tips to create the heat, what I've observed is that is you don't have good contact with the wire initially you'll get an arc when you get the tips close to making contact. It seems to work well enough, especially in locations where electricity isn't readily available or where excessive heat is a concern. I haven't done any test to see if it induces a voltage into a circuit as it operates, but since it's point to point on the tips, I doubt it. Then again, I'm not an electrical engineer. For the price, I'd recommend it, even if you only use it occasionally, it does do what it says it does, and the tips do NOT get hot from my experience, any more than a battery cable does after you've cranked a starter for 3 seconds. YMMV, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 I have a little butane powered one (Home Depot) I really like to use for quick solder jobs and when no AC is readily available. Very convenient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 I just wad up the solder, pack it on the joint, and use a propane torch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 A long time ago the Weller Solder Gun was popular. They're still around. It was basically a big step down transformer which would heat up a resistive element at the business end. I had wondered how they get only the tip of the loop to heat up. It must be that that section was somehow composed of a a righer resistance metal. They would sometimes erode away at the tip to the point where you had a gap. It was easy enough to put in a new heater. At least one came as part of the kit. Some smart cookie, writing in Popular Electronic (circa 1965), pointed out that you could just apply the gap to the terminal strip you wanted to heat, and solder to, and pull the trigger to force current through the terminal stip, thus heating it. Evidently the idea has come around again. I myself think it is not a wise application. It relies upon the vagaries of the circuit you're passing current through. Also, now we have thermostat controlled irons which are much more predictable and suited for circuit boards. Gil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Klappenberger Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 Guys, If those cold-heat soldering irons work like I think they do they will blow the tar out of any solid state devices they are used on. Even standard soldering guns can induce currents that will damage solid state devices. Actually conducting the current through what you are soldering would be instant death! Al K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IB Slammin Posted February 26, 2005 Share Posted February 26, 2005 Cold-Heat.....Jumbo-Shrimp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jheis Posted February 26, 2005 Share Posted February 26, 2005 It seems we have a lot of opinions on the question. But Artto asked if anyone had experience using the product. I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually USED the product. Does it work or not? James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerohm Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 ---------------- On 2/26/2005 10:33:44 PM jheis wrote: It seems we have a lot of opinions on the question. But Artto asked if anyone had experience using the product. I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually USED the product. Does it work or not? James ---------------- Well that is why I suggested a search of the archives!! Although I have never used the product, it sparked my interest enough to come up with this review. That Google is a wonderful tool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Istari Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 I bought one from Home Depor thinking that it would be a great tool to have around and a safe way to teach my son how to solder. It looked great on TV so what the heck. I got it home put in new batteries and was off...to dissapointment. It was a very poor performer in my book, yes it would melt solder but it wouldn't heat the joint up where it would flow into it. Tried a new set of batteries still worked the same. I then waas able to view the commercial on it again. I paid particular attention to what they were soldering. Everything I saw them work on was of very small gague wire or tiny connection points on a circuit board. Now I wasn't attempting to join 3 strands of 12 awg solid core or anything of the sort, just a strand of 20 awg onto a pot or terminal strip. Anyway, I took the thing back, I'll rely on my plug in Weller or Portasol butane model, both work well. That's my two cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyholiday Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 it's for arts an crafts ,made by girlie-men Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Istari Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 JH, Thanks!, I couldn't of said it better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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