And we also had these as well: http://science.howstuffworks.com/cold-heat.htm I think I have one somewhere, not sure since I don't remember ever using it. Interesting idea, but I don't think it was very practical. Blair On Fri, 5 Apr 2013 18:11:31 +0100, Mike Fenner <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >I have a couple of these, very handy for working on my old car and odd jobs. >The problem with them for anything serious is that the tip temperature is >not well controlled. >1) The heat output from the catalytic combustion heater is not calibrated; >it can be set to anything. Probability is that it will end up on max, >because when things don't work in soldering that's what people do. >2) the overall design is geared to a quick warm up, so there is little >thermal mass, this will allow big temperature variation with more than one >joint or if the work requires long heat time because of its own thermal >mass. >3) The bit is a screw on type and this gives poor thermal coupling >especially after some period of use. >The reason I have two, is that the first one had these problems in spades, >the second I paid a lot more for. It is better, so I can solder up my old >car wiring and stuff like that just fine. For circuit board work they make >me nervous. >Cordless irons tend also to go for a high temp, low mass, quick warm >approach. >Need to think in terms not just of temperature but the amount of heat >available. A lot of heat is not the same as a high temperature. > >So overall it means you would be putting a high premium on operator skill. >IT would be worth going to some trouble to avoid them. >For example low voltage irons that could run from a car battery. >Alternatively an inverter so you could use a regular iron. >Example: for my bush camping trips I just have a small inverter which >generates 140W mains output. It�s the size of a small apple and plugs in to >car socket and cost about 50USD. Probably less in USA. Saves buying a >separate charger for each piece of kit and doesn't become obsolete if I up >grade anything. >So one of those with a mains extension cord could do it I think. > >Regards > >Mike > > >-----Original Message----- >From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gregg Owens >Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 3:38 PM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: [TN] Butane Soldering Irons > >Since we hand solder outside of the normal manufacturing floor, our >technicians are requesting to use a butane soldering iron. I have no >previous experience with this type of soldering iron. With a temperature >setting of 1076�F it seems rather high and potentially damaging to resulting >solder connection, insulation, people, etc. > >http://www.apexhandtools.com/brands/CF_Files/model_detail.cfm?upc=0371030609 >76 > >Any thoughts from experience would be most appreciated. > >Gregg > >______________________________________________________________________ >This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. >For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] >______________________________________________________________________ > > >______________________________________________________________________ >This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. >For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] >______________________________________________________________________