*Plop plop fizzle fizzzzzzz* (smoking....)

[Dregan]

So, I blew out a 230w soldering gun last night while putting a resistor on a saber. The second of 6 sabers I'm putting together this week. Brand new radio Shack dual voltage model. 2 months old, and I don't have the reciept anymore... And yes, I was letting it cool down appropriately.

Me = less than pleased. I get to either (A) replace it, which I will do eventually, and reccomendations are welcome (B) use my ancient 90/130w gun or my even more ancient 40w pen to finish, or (C) smuggle everything into work and do it there on the BIG stuff...


Grrrrr.....

[james3]

Well hell! there's your problem right there. If you can't over work your tools then they aint worth a hooch. :wink:


Seriously, That should not happen. I would email them or something, they have the purchase on file. Nobody needs reciepts anymore, they just want to prove it's not hot. But there is no way that should of happened. I abuse tools a heck of a lot harder then that.

edit

[jjshumpert]

i bought a 950 degree iron from the local hobby store (michael's) for 10 bucks over 5 years ago and its still runnin strong, only parts i replace are tips and those are 5 bucks for 10

[Firebird21]

You're supposed to let it cool?!


No snitz! It says "1min on 4min off"


Heck I just hold it on as long as I can, I even put a zip tie on it so I don't have to sit there and hold it! :twisted:

[jjshumpert]

mine came with a little wire stand thingie to set it on while heating/cooling, and has an inline switch instead of just pluggin it into the wall, switch sits on the back of my workbench and gives me roughly 2 ft of wire slack to move around where needed, its great!

[james3]

You're supposed to let it cool?! Heck I just hold it on as long as I can, I even put a zip tie on it so I don't have to sit there and hold it! :twisted:

I plug my big b!^@# in and let her run half the day to do spot jobs here and there. Same with the glue gun, heck, it's been on since 11 this mornin'.

[Firebird21]

A friend of mine taught me the zip tie trick...


He had one that would literally get Red Hot! 8)

[Ambo]

HUH?....cool?....[EDIT](yet another filter "oops")...i have a surge strip that i have a bunch a stuff i plug in when i work on the lathe and stuff....ilol......i have one of the crappy radioshack irons and it stays on for hours at a time....DIZOH...well once it blows if it does ill buy another....

[james3]

So what is the zip tie trick?

[Firebird21]

So what is the zip tie trick?


Put a zip tie on the trigger so it stays on all the time.

[Ambo]

..

[Madcow]

That'a the same unit I got Ambo..
But for smaller solder points (like the LED emitter itself, or a MR board) I use a 25 watt solder iron. It stays on all the time - so you gotta let it heat up. Plus you have to kep it clean - wiping it off on a wet sponge after each application, but it's better for small stuff.

MC

[Jedi-Loreen]

At least Weller is a good brand, even if it is a soldering gun. http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sick0025.gif

I will always prefer the pencil type, for better control.

[GFORCE13]

Yes but untill recently had a 30 Year old weller that still worked the plastic body finally gave up the ghost and shortly afterwards it quit. But I wouldn't buy any other brand, I used to solder 8hrs a day with one and it lasted for years. :wink:

[Dregan]

yeah, my next one is gonne be the Weller 650 - 200/300w. I need the higher wattage to heat up the occaisinal 8* car stereo wire, or the 4* grounding wire I work with.

My ancient gun is a Weller 8200 (100/140w). it's older than I am (and I ain't no spring chicken) and is still going strong. It just doesn't get hot enough for everthing I do around the house. Now, if I could bring the stuff they let me play with at work home...

[Mi Gin Gonn]

the last soldering gun i bought at radio shack exploded when i plugged it into the electrical outlet. blew up right in my face. since then...? cordless, baby!!!! heats up in 20 seconds flat!