Has anyone purchased one of these things and used it?? I have one and have bought a few of them for gifts, however, I have not had much luck using this thing. Installed some new speakers the other day and tried to solder the wires and it was very difficult to get a good connection long enough for it to heat up. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Anyone have any helpful hints on how to use it??

I sure don't want to give this thing as a Christmas present if it is lame.:santa:

 

I received one as a gift and I agree that they don't work well.
My guess is that it's just not getting hot enough. I was trying to use .032 light duty 60/40 solder with mine and it just doesn't get the job done(won't flow into the wire well).
It may be the cheap batteries that came with it or they lose their power quickly since you are nearly creating a short circuit to heat the tip.

HiO

 

the commerical had me wanting one. from what i am hearing
i will go with the electric one thanks

 

I usually use a butane powered one, its portable, comes from Radio Shack, costs less than $20. Had it for about 5 years.

 

Bought one of these bad boys about 3 weeks ago from "The Shack"....I love it. Works great for heat shrinking as well as soldering. I just wish it came in a nicer case.

Tony

 

I couldn't even do a simple guitar cable with this Cold Heat Solder Gun. Worthless.

Go get your money back. Go buy them some Doritos and sour cream dip. It'd do a better job than this damned unit.

I even gave it the benefit of a doubt, and rigged mine up to an AC power supply, thinking if I just Tim Allened the thing, it'd work better. So I rewired it! ARGH! No good. Still worthless.

They tried to polish a turd. Didn't shine except for in the commercial.

 

Thanks for the info Bryan but now I can't get the god damn sour cream out of my upholestry???, i can't spell either, and it made a mess in my speakers.

 

A guy I work with bought wo of them. He brought one in and let our elecrtical PC board department evaluate it. Just for fun.
They reported back that it does indeed work but it is technique oriented. If it doesn't make contact just right it wiil perform poorly.
As you make contact with the tip, you'll notice it looks to be split in two pieces, it has to contact as flatly as possible because an electrical connection is made when the tip contacts the work piece. Poor contact, poor performance.