Topic: New Cold Heat soldering irons

[Massive Dynamic]

I've seen the Cold Heat soldering irons on infomercials, and now at Radio Shack.  Anyone try one yet?
Radio Shack 64-2102

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

That would have come in handy when my power cable broke at the allman brothers.

[ChrisV]

That looks pretty nifty.

[caymanreview]

i have been contemplating one for awhile, untill a guy at work came in with a Snap-On one that is refillable butane. i think il go with a quality product before i get a 20$ one

[Ed.]

i keep getting spam for one of those...i think it might be the first spam that i actually looked at in quite awhile.

[caymanreview]

i saw it on a infomercial type commercial several months ago. i posted about it but no-one had tryed it

i need to buy a new soldering iron. but i probably wont egt one of these

[EA]

I collect full sized upright arcade games and on one of the arcade games newsgroups there was a thread about these. The people that had tried them all seemed to have positive things to say about 'em. Haven't tried one myself though.

[Ed.]

interesting collection...can i come over.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

I collect full sized upright arcade games.

What games do you have? 

I have a buddy collects those.  here's his collection:  http://www.peterhirschberg.com/arcade/gameroom.htm

[EA]

Nice collection he has. I wouldn't wanna pay his freakin' electric bill though! I go through phases with my games. Buy 'em, play with 'em for a while, sell 'em off. I tend to move around a fair amount. So it's not really practicle for me to have a bunch. Certainly not like his.

[Ed.]

I collect full sized upright arcade games.

What games do you have? 

I have a buddy collects those.  here's his collection:  http://www.peterhirschberg.com/arcade/gameroom.htm

my back hurts just thinking about moving all of those.

[The Kilted Taper]

Costco is now carrying a cold heat iron. I forget what brand it was though. $15.99.

[ChrisV]

Wow, this is one hot item(no pun intended).

I went to Radioshack to pick one up and found out they are sold out of them at all 40 stores in the area! 

The dude working there said they had a ton of them shipped into the store but they went like hotcakes.   Anyhow, I guess I'll just use my regular (picked up a new tip at RS) for now and add this to my Christmas list.   Or maybe just buy if I see it instock at Fry's or Home Depot before then

[b-moreman]

I make wires and interconnects regularly at my job using various connectorization techniques. Soldering is a fairly regular technique utilized. One day at Home Depot I saw these "As Seen On TV" cold heat soldering irons. I admit, they look pretty cool!

Well guess what. . . They Suck!

At least, ther're pretty useless in soldering wire. They may have some useful application, but certainly not for making interconnects.

They have split tips that must contact the same metal to close the circuit and create continuity fo rthe iron to get hot. It makes getting both wires or metal surfaces hot (to create a good solder joint) next to impossible. This is particularly true with soldering connectors on the end of a wire. It may work fine for soldering two wires together but sometimes. . .

if it looks too good to be true. . .

I think we initially bought three, one tip broke the first time trying, they  take too many batteries, and they're just not that practical.

IMHO

[Tall Adam]

I collect full sized upright arcade games.

What games do you have? 

I have a buddy collects those.  here's his collection:  http://www.peterhirschberg.com/arcade/gameroom.htm

holy shit! what does your friend do for a living thats in his home? it looks like a full on arcade! he's even got the cheesy rug!

[F.O.Bean]

i have the 'powered by cold heat' one and it works damn well for 20 bucks or whatever they cost, and it really does cool down THAT quick, its crazy

havent done too much w/ it, but it works like a charm

you can also buy diff tips for them

[BCostigan]

My GF actually saw the infomercial for this thing and got me one for Christmas!     I tested it out and it works....but not great.  Definatly a great thing to have in a gear bag for a pinch but NOT a soldering gun to use at home on DIY projects.

[keepongoin]

My GF actually saw the infomercial for this thing and got me one for Christmas!     I tested it out and it works....but not great.  Definatly a great thing to have in a gear bag for a pinch but NOT a soldering gun to use at home on DIY projects.

i bought one for myself at costco - it is Coleman brand there - definatley agree with you... not for any extensive soldering, but in a pinch it would be OK.

[JAH]

I collect full sized upright arcade games.

What games do you have? 

I have a buddy collects those.  here's his collection:  http://www.peterhirschberg.com/arcade/gameroom.htm

that's awsome!...I loved playing Joust..he even has Tron!...as for Pinball games ...I was into Firepower and Seawitch...2 of the fastest games areound...PLUS he has a change machine    Does he have a bear tap too

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

He's been collecting and restoring games for a long time.  I have not been out to the new house to see that room.  But the last house was awesome and this is beyond that one.

[Tall Adam]

I collect full sized upright arcade games.

What games do you have? 

I have a buddy collects those.  here's his collection:  http://www.peterhirschberg.com/arcade/gameroom.htm

that's awsome!...I loved playing Joust..he even has Tron!...as for Pinball games ...I was into Firepower and Seawitch...2 of the fastest games areound...PLUS he has a change machine    Does he have a bear tap too

a bear tap? thats a scary thought...

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

a bear tap? thats a scary thought...

But tastey.

[BobW]

Beer trap or bear tap ?   

Oh, yeah why I stopped into the thread:
Cold Heat Reviewed (sort of)

[rokpunk]

cold heat = sux0r   

[dr.ph0b]

cold heat = sux0r   

i have to agree.. its a peice of crapola.  i wouldnt even want to use it if i was "in a pinch"  seriously. maybe its _ok_ for big appliances like they show on the 'mercial. but for cables or anything were you need to be accurate, or clean, its complete garbage.  the tips are very brittle and break easily, and if you have it making contact (melting solder) for more than a few seconds. the tip does get hot to the touch after u turn it off.   I even tried the conical tips thinking they would be good for preciseness.. pfft, they suck worse. 

lesson-learned.  if the product is good quality, it wouldnt need to put on an infomercial. 

[plucks]

WARNINGS: 
• This product, when used for soldering and similar applications, produces chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects (or other reproductive harm) 
• Work only in a dry area that is free from flammable materials 
• Do not attempt to touch the tip of a hot soldering iron or remove solder from its surface with your hands 
• Store the soldering iron in a dry, secure place where children cannot reach it