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Message |
    
692
Junior Member
Username: 692
Post Number: 43
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 4:19 pm: | 
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Has anyone tryed these? I am always having to replace coax ends after running new coax thru grommets ect. on Big trucks. Sure would beat dragging an extention cord around. |
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 358
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 5:57 pm: |
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692,
I havnt tried one of the new Cold Heat irons yet.But do have a butane powered Black&Decker soldering irons.In the past have also used one of the Iso-Temp cordless rechargeable irons.No complaints with either one of them.Bernz-o-Matic and Ronson both make a butane powered iron that is available at wally world.When I looked at the Cold Heat ,my first opinion was it looked and felt a little bulky so I decided not to purchase at that time.Maybe later.
TECH291
CEF#291
KC8ZPJ |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 774
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 7:01 pm: |
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I have one but I don't think it will stay hot long enough for soldering a connector, maybe the small coax connectors. It works like a arc welder. It has a split tip and both sides of the tip have to have contact with the material your soldering or it will not get hot. I bought a butane soldering iron today at the ham fest in Orlando, I believe that would be your best bet. I got it for 5 bucks at the fest and it's about 8 inches long and 3/4 inch in dia.. I have not tried it yet, but it should be good for soldering connectors. I'll find out one of these days. The Cold Heat isn't much good but for soldering repairs on circuit board and things of this nature, and may not be good for that in tight spots. I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night. |
Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 469
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 7:04 pm: |
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692..I do have one I got as a gift. I don't think it'll heat PL-259's enough to melt solder. I've done plenty of work with .035 dia solder for mic connectors/board connections and such and for that is was good.
Something with the surface area and thickness of a PL-259 you'd be much better off with what Tech291 suggested.
Good Luck!
Hank CEF559 |
Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 1080
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 8:48 pm: |
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I read about these on howstuffworks.com and decided against buying one because the tips break easily. Apparently they're graphite and very brittle. It heats the solder through resistance, so I thought one would be good for a PL-259 because it wouldn't heat the connector very much.
I have a couple different butane soldering irons and I really like them. I have a Weller Portasol P-1K and it's a great little kit. I also bought a Bernz-o-matic PS 100 at a local store that deals in closeouts, but haven't used it yet. For $9.99 I got the soldering iron, 4 different tips, a little solder, a cleaning sponge, and a holder in a plastic case. I couldn't resist it at that price.
I also have a butane torch that has a soldering attachment but I haven't used it for soldering because I think it would produce too much heat to control well. |
Hotwire
Advanced Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 897
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 1:54 am: |
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I've used the butane solder gun for pl-259 ends. Very low flame and you gotta be REAL quick like! Admit I burned up a few though. Better off to use the solder tip attachment. I still prefer good ol electricity. |
Donald_duck
Junior Member
Username: Donald_duck
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 10:37 am: |
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I would be leary about using one around volt/amp sensitive equipment. That thing has to put off a heck of a lot to "arc" like that, only to spike whatever is down stream from it. I know if anyone does any welding on a modern auto/truck, the manufacturer recommends one isolate the ECM from it. Makes sense to me. |
Ak3383
Junior Member
Username: Ak3383
Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 12:12 am: |
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I bought a weller battery cold heat iron and would not recommend them at all. |
