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Reviews For: Cold Heat Cordless Soldering Tool

Category: Tools & Test Equipment for the amateur radio work bench

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Review Summary For : Cold Heat Cordless Soldering Tool
Reviews: 49MSRP: 19.99
Description:
Use this Cordless Soldering Tool for safer and quicker soldering virtually anywhere. By using patented Cold Heatâ„¢ technology, the tip, and only the tip, heats up instantly, saving you valuable time. And, as soon as you're finished applying the solder, the tip almost immediately cools off, helping to reduce the risk of burns. Catalog #: 64-2102
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.radioshack.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00491.1
N5BZA Rating: 2005-03-15
Worthless Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Can't get mine to work at all. Save your money!
KC1QF Rating: 2005-02-25
Good for $10 bucks at Costco Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For $10 it is fine. I wouldn't pay $20 for it. Bought it at Costco in Arizona. Used it once or twice on the road, and for that it works fine (say when your PL-259 soldering job comes apart). Wouldn't pay $20 however.
AD5JN Rating: 2005-02-25
Junk Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Pure junk. I took it back and got my money back.
KG4RUL Rating: 2005-02-25
An Old Idea Repackaged Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This device is a miniaturized version of the resistance soldering machines that jewelers have used for years. It relies on heating caused by running an electrical current through a conducting material sufficient to cause localized heating. Given the sensitivity of modern electronic components, this device could cause damage if improperly used. NOT a good buy from RatShack or any other supplier.

Dennis / KG4RUL
W8DP Rating: 2005-02-24
Not So Good! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I will be the first to admit I am not a soldering expert. The cold heat soldering gun is very limited in its usefullness. I am leary of the passing of current to create heat and the adverse effect that may have on curcuit components. As far as soldering something like say, # 12 stranded wire on an outside dipole soldering job, forget it, it won't do it. It is not totally useless but it comes close.
Save your bucks.
BBAACC Rating: 2005-02-24
Melts small solder Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Can be used to melt solder but thats the end of the uses I found for this item. Not worth the $20 spent. Spend the extra money and buy a butane iron
SCHOOLBULLY Rating: 2005-01-06
Works fine Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Worked awesome for my automotive uses. Apparently some people have trouble getting the contacts on the tip line up correctly, so they PRESS HARD which is NOT NECESSARY ! I find it very uslefull in tight spots where the heat buildup used to be a problem. There is a optional pointed tip for very small work. All in all an awesome tool.
JUMBLIES Rating: 2004-12-31
If it were free, It'd be worth slightly less than the cost Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This thing is absolutely awful with all but the thinnest of solder. With rosin core it gunks up and must be cleaned frequently. While it may be useful for it's battery power, in all other cases it comes in dead last for performance.

DO NOT BUY.
KA5VCQ Rating: 2004-12-27
Works Here! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This tool is not for heavy-duty or even delicate work. I used it to solder all my antenna connections onto a Wireman dipole center feed and it worked flawlessly.

It is a godsend to me because all my AC power is 240V. I don't have any other means to solder (except with a Bic lighter hi hi--it works!)

So, I'll see you on the air with my Cold-Heat solder antennas!

73 de Korey--YI9VCQ / KA5VCQ
Taji, Iraq


KL7IPV Rating: 2004-12-27
NOT good enough to keep Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I give it a 2 because it may work for others who do fine detail soldering. It isn't for me because I use my soldering expertise for larger items and the Cold Heat wont do it. The thing needs to be held exactly right on the item to be soldered and is very touchy in that respect. I will keep the strippers which aren't prize winners either, but the Cold Heat will go. Maybe as a door prize at my club meeting.