Cold Heat soldering

[losikid]

Does anyone use a Cold Heat soldering gun, i heard problems about the tips, is the cold heat any good, also what would be a good portable soldering gun if this one isn't so great

 

[rmb2485]

One of my roommates in college had that Cold Heat soldering iron. It was absolutely terrible to try and use. If you're going to buy it, you may as well cut out the middle man and just throw the $20 (or however much it costs now) in the garbage.

I have this Bernzomatic butane soldering iron and love it. I got mine at Lowes a few years ago, not sure if they still carry it though. I always take it with me when I go wheeling and have used it to make a few trail repairs (on Jeeps, not RC crawlers).

 

[losikid]

so it is junk, anyone else have an opinion

 

[Thorsteenster]

Junk, buy butane powered if you want cordless soldering. I bought one at RS a few years back, and maybe, MAYBE, 1 out of 10 trys was a succesful solder. Too, depending on the joint or what your soldering, it doesn't work at all.

 

[Skullbasher]

Worst thing I've ever bought. ever.
Was much happier with the cheap soldering station from radio shack. think it was about $20-25 but the tips go bad quickly.

Have no experience with the butane ones(yet), but they have to be a better investment than the cold heat.

 

[jrkilburn]

Radio Shack sells a butane unit for 25 bucks that work great. I have had mine for years and used it daily in the electronics job. The cold heat thing sucks, threw it away inside an hour.

 

[smm_cbf]

junk..complete waste

 

[losikid]

Well it was a good thing i asked first, i'm thinking about the harbor freight butan soldering iron, does anyone use this one

 

[ynmech]

I picked up a Weller butane one from Grainger. It works as well as my AC one but the price is up there. Two years ago I got it for $79. I carry it in my box for on the spot repairs.

 

[Rockfrog]

I tried the cold heat once and then tossed it in the garbage where it belonged ... got it on sale for $9 so it didn't hurt so bad.
I've tried the Benzomatic soldering unit and it works well enough for tube work or light duty soldering ... but it is problematic to fill if you can only find the goofy 'universal' butane cannisters ... they work for everything but these.
My favorite to date has been my old Iroda butane soldering unit. it fills perfectly, gets hot enough to do battery pack without overheating them, and has a torch tip as well. it was $40 when I bought it a few years back but well worth the money, hands down the best.
It still doesn't compare to a good corded unit, but for portable the iroda is my favourite.

 

[TattooKenny]

One of my roommates in college had that Cold Heat soldering iron. It was absolutely terrible to try and use. If you're going to buy it, you may as well cut out the middle man and just throw the $20 (or however much it costs now) in the garbage.

I have this Bernzomatic butane soldering iron and love it. I got mine at Lowes a few years ago, not sure if they still carry it though. I always take it with me when I go wheeling and have used it to make a few trail repairs (on Jeeps, not RC crawlers).

Agree on all of that! I have a Cold Heat I'll sell ya! $10 shipped to ya! Brand new! They SUCK!!!!! I have the Bernzomatic I take with me everywhere. The only probs they have is getting them to light if it's windy. Other than that I use it all the time!

 

[GSRswapandslow]

best soldering iron i've found, so far, is the "top shelf" one from radio shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3132686

digital, 3 presets, and gets to temp faster than anything i've had (except the good LRP, but it's a buddies and he paid over $200!), even my old team checkpoint soldering station.

 

[dirk379]

coldheat is sh!t, youd have better luck trying to use a lighter.

 

[veewee25]

It depends.
I do electrical repairs on heating appliances. I have found that they work great on small gauge wire 22awg or smaller. Especially on area's where you dont want a ton of heat damaging sensitive circuts.


But on any large wire or where joint strength is needed, There are some nice butane units out there. The key I have found with them is to make sure you are using the smallest diameter solder you can find. It will flow better and is much cleaner to use.

 

[punkuup5150]

ok i sell these and i cant even recomend them >_< radioshack sales the butane soldiering iron but we also now carry a batery powered iron. used a few aa batteries and heats up a tip by useing what looks like a little light bulb socket with a tip sticking out of it. great iron i use it all the time to fix customers broken bits and bobs in my store. i woudl recomend this iron to any hobbiest on the go no waiting for it to light just push the button wait 2-3 seconds and start soldiering. the only down fall i have found is you have to hold down the button to keep the iron hot i havent been able to figure out how to fix this yet

 

[bigbear]

my father in law buys all the stuff u see on the infomercials and he had one of these and it is worthless

 

[R/CMaxximus5.0]

Does anyone use a Cold Heat soldering gun, i heard problems about the tips, is the cold heat any good, also what would be a good portable soldering gun if this one isn't so great

cold heat is Junk. buy a decent weller or similar unit.

 

[sim]

ok i sell these and i cant even recomend them >_< radioshack sales the butane soldiering iron but we also now carry a batery powered iron. used a few aa batteries and heats up a tip by useing what looks like a little light bulb socket with a tip sticking out of it. great iron i use it all the time to fix customers broken bits and bobs in my store. i woudl recomend this iron to any hobbiest on the go no waiting for it to light just push the button wait 2-3 seconds and start soldiering. the only down fall i have found is you have to hold down the button to keep the iron hot i havent been able to figure out how to fix this yet

Duct tape "thumbsup"

 

[bob1961]

so you mean it don't work like it does on TV ??? :shock: .................bob

....

 

[philthewrench]

I found this one to be one of the best
http://http://www.masterappliance.com/selfign.html

I also like this one. It's considerably smaller and still does a great job
http://http://www.powerprobe.com/powerprobe/Torches.html

Phil