New Soldering Tool...

[bucken]

Anyone seen or used one of these yet?

Cold Heat Tool

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Interesting. I wonder what the tip is made of. Also wondering how durable the tip is, and how much it costs for replacement tips.

 

[Sigman]

Intriguing!! Who's gonna get one first?

 

[IlluminatingBikr]

Who's gonna review one first? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tempting here...although I don't really need a solering iron right now. I like the idea a lot!

 

[utomatoe]

$9.99 - $19.99? No thanks... I don't think something this cheap can be very good for soldering...

 

[LightScene]

It looks great. I'll definitely keep it in mind in case I need a new iron.

 

[evanlocc]

great stuff! pls don forget to share your Use-Experience.

 

[Darell]

I wonder why the X2 price difference? Anybody figured that out? If it works, it might just make a great portable unit for in-situ repairs. But I'm always leery of stuff like this. Just about anything will heat up quickly if it is of small mass and you apply enough power. But that sure doesn't make it a good soldering tool.

 

[bucken]

If I read the ad right, the $19.99 is for the complete tool, including the "normal" tip. The $9.99 is for an extra tip that can be used for "precision" soldering.

 

[jayflash]

Could this be a variation on the WAHL IsoTip portables that go for $30-$60? I'm skeptical at this point but hopeful because it's $20. Keep in mind that the WAHL's are slim and easy to hold. I wonder about the 4AA form factor and whether this is a too-good-to-be-true-get-what-you-pay-for item? It would be great if this is an advancement of technology though.

 

[jpeg]

Ahahahaaa, I saw this yesterday on gizmodo.com, and was wondering when it would show up here... I would have posted, but I wasn't sure which forum to put it in...

It sounds VERY cool, I will get one for myself, and for a few select members of my community who still know what to do with the thing... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
My guess regarding the price is that once the new head material was fabricated, all you need is a battery holder to mount it on. I believe it is a quality item priced to make a HUGE impact on the heating appliance world... Watch this company, they're starting with soldering irons, but plan to expand to 40 other rapid heating devices soon...

just my 2... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

-J
---(edit)----
DAMN, they're out of stock now at ThinkGeek...
I knew that would happen!!! Grrr...

 

[MikeEvans]

Carbon. I'm assuming, do a net search for resistance soldering. Good quality carbon rods are really cheap. I've done soldering with sharpened carbon rods it can work very well.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

If the actual heated area is tiny compared to the area being soldered, will the targeted area tend to act as a heat sink and pull the temperature down? This might be good for tiny SMD work, but I'm wondering whether it would hold up for soldering a PL-259 connector onto co-ax, for instance.

 

[jpeg]

From what I read, it's only advertised as a "small job" soldering tool.

 

[jayflash]

Please keep us posted about your experience with this product, Guys. You wouldn't want to keep a hot new product all to yourselves, would you?

 

[Harrkev]

I remember reading about this about a year ago in some web site or magazine. It uses some new wonder material which makes all of this possible. It is a LOT different from the IsoTip in performance. But the concept is the same. Just like a go-cart and a ferrari are the same concept /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[CM]

Guys, here's the link to the US Patent and Trademark office for the patent granted to the two inventors who came up with the scheme.

USPTO Link to Cold Heat patent

For $20, it's a cheap gadget to try out. You can also get them from
Cold Heat

Pretty neat idea. No switch to activate since the joint completes the circuit which heats up the graphite tip. Also has a built in light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif (of course that requires a switch)

CM

 

[PhotonWrangler]

[ QUOTE ]
CM said:
Guys, here's the link to the US Patent and Trademark office for the patent granted to the two inventors who came up with the scheme.

USPTO Link to Cold Heat patent

For $20, it's a cheap gadget to try out. You can also get them from
Cold Heat

Pretty neat idea. No switch to activate since the joint completes the circuit which heats up the graphite tip. Also has a built in light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif (of course that requires a switch)

CM

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the links! So it is sort of like a carbon-rod device. With no power switch, one needs to remember to store it in it's insulated case when not in use. Tossing it into a box of metal tools without it's protective case could possibly cause a "non-passive event." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[CM]

Yes, that's the key to rapid heating and cooling. Graphite has very low thermal mass so when the electrical path is broken, it cools quickly. And yes, the tip needs to be insulated.

I might just go buy one to check out. They claim over 1000 small solder joints on a single tip and set of batteries last for about 600-700 joints. Tips can be pretty expensive if you do a lot of soldering but for applications where you don't have easy access to AC, it's a great idea. However I wonder how effective it is on medium size joints.

 

[MR Bulk]

DANG you Bucken! I just went there and, and, and...bought one! WITH the "precision" tip!

I'll see how many little solder joints I can make (and I face a mountain of teeny tiny solder joints quite soon) before the tip gives up the ghost. Then I'll have to bludgeon the rest of'em using the "standard" tip (just kidding, got a trusty regular solder station standin' by).

But what a cool product, patented and all. And for $20 bucks? Sheesh, our 8-year old daughter can get dump that much just on useless stuff in about a minute, I've witnessed it!

Will try and remember to post here about my findings.