Is this guy making my beginner project?

[aron]

Do you guys think this could work???

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/69d3/images/

[Lee]

I can`t see it !!   5555`~~~:(

[Chris R]

its only $20.. itd be worth a shot.

C

[RDV]

I've seen on TV. I'm wondering the same thing.

RDV

[AL]

Hmmmm? intersting - here's the link

http://www.coldheat.com/

AL

[AL]

The page also says

A proprietary and patented material called Athalite.
Patented and patent-pending electronic circuitry
Patented and award winning designs to maximize the efficiency of the system

So ... since it's patented ... the info is available.

AL

[Mark Hammer]

The FAQ at the site suggests this is not a scam or another Ronco miracle (like the pocket fisherman), but a legitimate device with a fair amount of R&D behind it.  Clearly the manufacters recognize that it is intended for a narrowly circumscribed niche, some of which may include some of us and some of what we do.  The battery-operated nature of the device suggests that you wouldn't and couldn't use it as your main tool, but it sure looks like a great stocking stuffer for anyone who is a roadie.  Heck, you can even stick it in your guitar case!

[travissk]

I read a couple reviews a while back, and they said that it works better than they expected, but it's probably a backup if you're going to be populating circuit boards all the time. Good for quick touch-up work without any cords.

[Lee]

It looks great!

[travissk]

It's dropped in price slightly since I saw it. At $20 it's very tempting, especially because my friend's going to order a shirt or two from thinkgeek and we could combine shipping charges

[aron]

I was off-island and my sustain pedal broke.

I had another but I had to take the other apart to make one functiong unit. Luckily the sound guys had on of those portable irons, but I sure could have used this one.

I'm thinking about it.

[niftydog]

I'd be guessing that due to it's fast heating and cooling action that it wouldn't have much "thermal momentum" for want of a better term

So, only really good for small stuff. Forget soldering an earth wire to the back of a pot is what I'm saying!

But still, cheaper than a butane, useful in a pinch.

[jasonober]

I saw this thing on tv the other night around 4am and wondered the same thing.  Guess i'll stick with my circuit test.  There's a gizmo for everything!

[Peter Snowberg]

8. What is the spark I see sometimes during soldering?
The spark (arc) is caused electrical current passes from one half of the tip to the other. Although the tool's spark should not damage any electrical or electronic components, we recommend caution when soldering sensitive components. Also, ensure that the tool is not used in flammable or explosive environments, such such as near gas or gasoline fumes.

It sounds lke it simply shorts out 4 AA batteries using your connection and the solder to close a small gap. You might end up powering 6V into your circuit in a place you never expected. This could be deadly for ICs as it blows the protection diodes.

For a portable application, butane is still tops if you invest in a good quality iron . Forget the cheapies.

[black mariah]

Everything I've read says these things are great. I need to pick one up and toss it in my Box o' Pointy Things. :lol:

[Hal]

if he is making the beginner's peoject, he's using an awefully big perfboard!

[ExpAnonColin]

Looks like it's not so good: (amazon reviews)

I ordered this item after seeing the commercials, and it looked very cool...what a disappointment! First the item does not get hot enough to melt solder, which defeats the purpose of the item. I played with it and several types of Solder and could NOT get it to melt anything! I worked with it for about 30 minutes then...it stopped woking all together, broken after 30 minutes and took 4 weeks to ship it to me! What a disappointment! Do not purchase this product if you plan to solder anything. I emailed the company ( as recomended before feedback) and recieved no response.

Cool technology but the tip is fragile like a piece of chalk, everytime you put the iron back in the case you have to remove the tip or it could snap, they could have easily made the tip cover a little longer so putting in the case wouldn't cause the cover to put pressure against the tip and breaking it ( tips are half the cost of a new iron)

This tool generates heat in a joint by running a current through it (like a toaster does). This can be lethal to solid state components such as transistors and integrated circuits. Even work on automotive wiring may be risky, as most modern vehicles are crammed with computers that are susceptible to excess current.

The tip of the soldering tool is two pieces and it only gets hot when something metal completes the circuit between the two halves. So for really small places where you need to solder, this tool might not work well. It also can be a bit clumsy to work with because of this.

Looks like mark was right, it would be good to stick in your case just in case a wire snaps off, but otherwise, I"ll stick to my station, thank you.

-Colin

[Hal]

i think i'd rather throw a butane tourch in my case :-D

so does it work kinda like a tiny spot welder, or does it actually "heat" some sort of element ?

[aron]

if he is making the beginner's peoject, he's using an awefully big perfboard!

hehehehehe

No, you can cut it at the end of the project  :lol:

[Ansil]

my boss is ordering one i wil let you know how it turns out..     similar in principle to what i was doing with the high voltage thing. althoughi have soldered cmos stuff with a ground strap and still not blown it up with mine though