cold heat soldering iron
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sock2828
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cold heat soldering iron
is that cold heat thing any use
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SpongeBuell
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as long as the tip is in good shape, it's nice for when you need a portabler soldering iron, like when you are working on wiring a car stereo or arcades (the cord can really get in the way on a large scale project)
For portables, however, I prefer a normal iron... easier to work with small spaces, and the cold heat works a bit differently.
For portables, however, I prefer a normal iron... easier to work with small spaces, and the cold heat works a bit differently.
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Viscountalpha
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Cold heat issues....
Does anyone have specifics on why this thing sucks? I thought for ceartain low voltage chips the pulse to warm it up suddenly looks like it could fry stuff.
Any facts? rumors? or lies? anyone?
Any facts? rumors? or lies? anyone?
If you want a portable soldering tool get a butane powered one. I used my trusty $10 butane iron to completely re-wire a car in below freezing temperatures last winter. It took 3 refills, but I did nearly 200 solder connections. If you take the tip out it is perfect for shrink tubing.
The cold heat tips are really brittle and expensive. It is too big and bulky to do really small things and isn't powerful enough to do big connections.
I have a Weller station that I use most of the time, any time I need to do something outside I use my butane. I also have a few $5 Radio Shack irons that I use when I am working in tight spaces and don't have my station handy.
The cold heat tips are really brittle and expensive. It is too big and bulky to do really small things and isn't powerful enough to do big connections.
I have a Weller station that I use most of the time, any time I need to do something outside I use my butane. I also have a few $5 Radio Shack irons that I use when I am working in tight spaces and don't have my station handy.
Last edited by elliott on Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
Ok I actually have one so let me give my opinion.
*The tips are rather large and awkward. They are a split tip that requires a connection between the halves to heat up. This takes a little getting used to.
*The tips are fragile because they are made of a graphite composite. At the same time replacing one is expensive. $9.95 per tip when unit is $19.95 O.o
*No cord is nice but the unit itself could be a little smaller as right now it is bulkier than a normal soldering iron.
*The unit as it says does heat up almost instantly and cool down just as quick. I have never burnt myself using it. Even demonstarting it to my brother.
*The pulse of heating up quickly is not a problem as you can and should use a clip on heatsink when solding critical components. Just as you would with a normal iron. The one thing that makes me hesitant to use it on anything critical is how it heats up. Which is by creating a electical connection between the two pieces of the tip. I am unsure of wether that could cause problems or not.
Basically if you need heat and need it now. The unit is a good choice to grap for a quick solder joint. But, I would stick to non critical components or ones that might not be affected by the voltage. However if you are looking at one to get into electronics do yourself a favor and just get a pen iron. My dual wattage one from Rat Shack was the same price as my ColdHeat and is so much easier to use.
Hope this helps.
****Edit****
@elliott: You posted while I was typing up my response
You comments are right on as well. Basically the ColdHeat isnt good for massive soldering or delicate work. Nice idea about the butane one I've been meaning to get one for myself to try out.
*The tips are rather large and awkward. They are a split tip that requires a connection between the halves to heat up. This takes a little getting used to.
*The tips are fragile because they are made of a graphite composite. At the same time replacing one is expensive. $9.95 per tip when unit is $19.95 O.o
*No cord is nice but the unit itself could be a little smaller as right now it is bulkier than a normal soldering iron.
*The unit as it says does heat up almost instantly and cool down just as quick. I have never burnt myself using it. Even demonstarting it to my brother.
*The pulse of heating up quickly is not a problem as you can and should use a clip on heatsink when solding critical components. Just as you would with a normal iron. The one thing that makes me hesitant to use it on anything critical is how it heats up. Which is by creating a electical connection between the two pieces of the tip. I am unsure of wether that could cause problems or not.
Basically if you need heat and need it now. The unit is a good choice to grap for a quick solder joint. But, I would stick to non critical components or ones that might not be affected by the voltage. However if you are looking at one to get into electronics do yourself a favor and just get a pen iron. My dual wattage one from Rat Shack was the same price as my ColdHeat and is so much easier to use.
Hope this helps.
****Edit****
@elliott: You posted while I was typing up my response
You comments are right on as well. Basically the ColdHeat isnt good for massive soldering or delicate work. Nice idea about the butane one I've been meaning to get one for myself to try out.I got one for christmas last year. Its not that great as it's not able to get into the solder blobs around componites very easily, the tip is graphite so it can break very very easily. If you going to do meaningless crap like on the commercial, where you can get all around the solder point, then yes it will work for you. Otherwise its not work the investment of money.
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Reaperman@home
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sock2828
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what about this cordlis saldering iron is it any good http://froogle.google.com/froogle_clust ... ng=p&hl=en
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Kurt_
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Ok sock.
WHY do you want a cordless soldering iron? Is there a specific reason why you can't be near an outlet?
I prefer the kind of soldering iron that you can plug into a wall. I don't know why. Probably because I've never tried anything else.
However, the cord is a little short on mine. But that's actually a plus (for me). You see for ME, the plug is to the left of me on the wall about the distance of the cord. And I'm a lefty. So I can get a more accurate solder because I can use the top part where the iron meets the cord as a sort of hinge. Don't ask. But I like it.
WHY do you want a cordless soldering iron? Is there a specific reason why you can't be near an outlet?
I prefer the kind of soldering iron that you can plug into a wall. I don't know why. Probably because I've never tried anything else.
However, the cord is a little short on mine. But that's actually a plus (for me). You see for ME, the plug is to the left of me on the wall about the distance of the cord. And I'm a lefty. So I can get a more accurate solder because I can use the top part where the iron meets the cord as a sort of hinge. Don't ask. But I like it.
Hey, sup?
STICK WITH A NORMAL ONE