axel

If you guys have see the commercial thay quote "Cold Heat is perfect for rc cars" But is it any good. I don't really think so, and I don't see anyone here in the forum use it. Is the Cold Heat Soldering iron a gimmick?

SCOTT HOWARD

it's designed for 18 gauge and smaller wire. You could do some light soldering with it but if you hard wire packs or want to assemble a pack forget about it.

Soviet

iTrader: (2)

Pure junk. All it does is send an electric arc through the solder on the tip, causing it to momentarily melt and stick things together. All it creates is cold joints.

It has no heat density and couldn't EVER do anything useful for our purposes.

axel

Oh thought so, the cold heat also uses plastic tips!

schmelme

iTrader: (13)

Junk,junk,junk period.

Superkidracer82

yea just go with radio shack or a hakko or weller

axel

Yeah i use a weller 40wt, but i saw the radioshack ones and they look pretty sleek and there $8 for a 40wt

greencactus3

really? so THATS why it heats up and cools so fast lol. did they mention its good for rc cars on the commercial? i missed that...
hmm good use i can think of it for is poking quick holes in a firends water bottle to laugh at lol.

kartermdb

iTrader: (15)

dont buy radio shack, after about 4 or 5 months they burn out and stop working, just buy a weller or hakko, cant go wrong

Paul_TC4

DON'T waste your money on those horrible items that those commercials tempt you to buy. A friend of mine had the Cold Heat and it would barely melt the solder itself. Save the $8, and buy yourself a Hobbico 60watt iron.

greencactus3

really? ive had my 40W radioshack one for quite a long time with few problems. its pretty cheap and the tip comes loose every few minutes but once you get used to it i dont think its that bad. but i make sure not to keep it plugged in longer than 45min at the most. noticed the handle (plastic) starts to get hot.

Johnnytc3

iTrader: (1)

The best "cheap" iron in my opinion is the Hakko red (60W). $11.99 at the local Frys.

Soviet

iTrader: (2)

Once you finally break down and spend the money on a GOOD soldering station, you'll never live without one again.

I am loving my Weller WES51. I've had it since Feb now.

I've been so suprised how much more I get done with the Weller and a top-quality wire stripping tool. Building a power-supply used to take me about 6 hours. Now I get one done in 3. Of course, I do ALOT of soldering, and not just R/C but electronic and PC related.

However still...

Comparing a soldering station to a plug in pencil -type is like comparing dialup and cable internet. As once you go cable, the idea of dialup is plain scary!

David Root

Check out This One . Go to the TQ irons TQ-77 or TQ-95. They are 15 watts when sitting, then when you pull the trigger, they go to 150, I love mine. Only $35.00 too! It will solder anything you want from small to big. Batteries are a snap.

David Root

Charlie O

Weller 40 watt at home depot, for i think $10.95, it has a good size chisels tip, the best for the money. i have had mine for a long time with no problems, dont even have to change the tip just file it, re tin and your set.