Cold Heat Soldering Iron

[Luckydevil]

I can sum it up in one word... *****.

I must admit it is a good idea and I got it as a gift. Their website claims to have won an award. Whoever gave them the award must not have actually tried to use it.

This thing works by making an electrical connection between both sides of the tip. When whatever you are soldering is touched by both sides of the tip, a red light comes on and it heats up.

Pros:
- looks kind of high tech
- can be used as a small LED flashlight since the soldering feature is worthless

Cons:
- cannot retain any solder on the tip
- takes about 30 seconds to get the tip angled just right to actually do anything
- once you do get it adjusted it loses connection and you have to start over
- doesn't seem to get hot enough to do much of anything
- just awkward in every aspect for proper soldering


If you ever see anyone actually trying to use one of these silver turds, just give them the $10 to buy some 15 watt cheapo soldering iron and save them a few months of labor.

 

[rjspitz]

Completely agree. I have one, used it once until I turned blue, then pulled out the old trusty 110V iron.

 

[kartracer55]

Haha I have never found anybody whos liked them. I knew it was total garabage the moment the first TV commercial came out.

AS for soldering irons. My dad has ones thats awesome... its a Weller Butane one, so you just fill the thing like you would a refillable lighter. No cords attatched, and the cover for the tip has a striker.

Jim

 

[Quick GN]

I'm glad I saw this thread, I'ts been driving me crazy to get one to see how well it worked. well you guys just answered my "is it to good to be true question"!!!

 

[kartracer55]

I'm glad I saw this thread, I'ts been driving me crazy to get one to see how well it worked. well you guys just answered my "is it to good to be true question"!!!

lol they are such a rip off.... Coleman sells them with "coleman" on them Radio shack sells the with "radio shack" on them. Ifg you really want to use one, wait a year and you will find them in dollar stores lol

Jim

 

[86swb]

I'm glad I saw this thread, I'ts been driving me crazy to get one to see how well it worked. well you guys just answered my "is it to good to be true question"!!!

If you were still thinking of getting one. I know where you can get some real cheap. Right here on this site. Anyone who tried to use one will sell it cheap or give it to you. Including me. To me it is like the pet rock. Looks nice but really useless.

 

[Runner94]

I have to agree with all of you. Anyone who has done serious soldering will know that you have to have a tinned end on the soldering iron to get the solder to flow properly onto wire or what ever else you are soldering. I think we all got one of these things because we hoped that it would a useful item, but we were all fooled.

 

[Fast Orange]

Guys-
If you need a good cordless soldering iron,go butane.I've got a Blue Point YAKS32 that works great.Plenty of heat,long run time,adjustable temperature,and you can heat shrink with it too.
Yea,it's not cheap($135),but if you do a lot of soldering,it's worth it.
I'm not sure,but I think that Weller makes it for Snap-On,so you might find it for less as a Weller.

George

 

[REFLEXX]

Bought mine at costco. If i find the reciept, it's going BACK!!

100% POS.

 

[86swb]

Good luck finding the reciept.

 

[SANDOVAL]

Bought mine at costco. If i find the reciept, it's going BACK!!

100% POS.

Costco No receipt needed same goes with the packaging.

Thanks for the post I have almost put it in the cart several times. Save me the time sitting in the return line at Costco.

 

[davejs]

The wire stripper that goes with it is a POS as well.

 

[iiibdsiil]

Darn, I was hoping this would actually work. Would be perfect for working on the inside of a car without having to drag a normal one in. My buddy has the butane Snap-on one, said it works great, but is a pain in the **** using inside a car because of the exhaust on the thing. The search continues...

 

[RedRacer74]

Product reviews

Thats what I love about this site. I need a sodering iron and was going to buy that, glad I saved my time and money.


Keep up the product reviews

So where's the best place to get a quality sodering iron ?

and whats out there ?

 

[hornett22]

i had no trouble with it on circuit boards but that is about it.forget soldering two wires together with it.

 

[Luckydevil]

So where's the best place to get a quality sodering iron ?

and whats out there ?

Like Fast Orange said, go with a Weller butane if you want cordless. The bench top models aren't very portable and I am assuming you will be using this on your race cars.

Here is a nice one for $43... http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bin/scripts/product/1980-0352/

 

[G M]

The tip on mine broke after about 30 seconds of use. I emailed them and 2 months later they got back to me saying that the tip isn't under warranty. A new tip is almost as much as the whole thing cost. I emailed them back saying that I will be sure to tell everyone how great my new LED flashlight works.

Well here I am telling you about it, its works pretty good, AS A FLASHLIGHT.

 

[chevy302dz]

Cold Heat= Junk. Definatily go for of the butane irons or their is also a rechargeable Weller that works well if you don't want to deal with buying fuel.

 

[Rothaus]

I got mine from costco also and it included an insulation remover for wires. When I used it the first time it broke. I also agree with the posts the soldering tool is for nothing. At least someone got some money for it.

Cheers
Engelbert

http://muelhaupt.us

 

[JohnHenrys48]

Wish I had seen this last month. I fell for it. I was able to get good contact but I broke the tip within minutes...

Free to the first caller...LOL

 

[Willy Victor]

Iv'e got one but never tried to use it. I guess I'll just leave it buried in the tool cabinet. Thanks guys you all just made my day.

Willy Victor