Tube DIY Asylum

Posted by Dave Davenport (M) on December 31, 2004 at 08:22:18

In Reply to: Cold Soldering Iron ? posted by Kevin D. on December 3, 2004 at 20:04:51:

Hi Kevin,

I got a Cold Soldering Iron for Christmas. I have used it to solder a couple of wires to a circuit board and it works.

It is an interesting tool in that it has two small tips close together and both tips must be in contact with the item to be soldered for it to work. Current flows between the two tips, and the current heats the joint. As you break and make the continuity there will be a spark so you have to hold it in steady contact. This takes a little practice. They say not to use it for small electronic parts because if one of the tips gets on one component lead and the other tip on another lead, current would flow through the component and possibly destroy it.

The tips get hot from conduction from the solder joint but are not directly heated by the current. So the tips are not tinned and thus you can't melt solder on the tip and flow it into the work. It seems to take a little longer to heat a joint than with my Hakko soldering station but the time is okay.

It uses four AA batteries. They provide enough energy to solder a joint and I have no idea how long they would last.

It is a nice tool for occasional use but it won’t replace my Hakko for everyday use. Of course its big advantage is its portability.

Dave