I saw the TV adds for Coldheat, I even when to the site to get the
manual. I thought about it for a while.

They look like a terrific idea, but...

But I might have made a mistake. In early April, I ordered one. Along
with two different tips and significant shipping expense.

I have called them twice this last week. First, I was told it shipped
just about two weeks ago and should show up any day (if they fed the
ox). Several days later, I called again to say I still had seen
anything, and the person at the other end said: a. it should have
shipped last week, and later he allowed that they don't do the shipping
- now I wonder if anyone does.

I do a lot of boat work and my several decades old Wahl cordless has
gotten too old to salvage yet again. I don't want a gas fired one
because I often work in such close spaces and they are hard to put down.

The credit card company has already been contacted and when(if) it does
show up it will get turned around.

The order for a new Wahl cordless will be placed with a reliable
supplier on Tuesday (Monday is a holiday here).

Matt Colie
Yachtsman's Technical Support
www.yachtek.com

Matt Colie wrote:

I saw the TV adds for Coldheat, I even when to the site to get the
manual. I thought about it for a while.

They look like a terrific idea, but...

But I might have made a mistake. In early April, I ordered one. Along
with two different tips and significant shipping expense.

If you ever get it let us know how it works. I'm told they don't work
very well and don't start heating until in contact with the solder. So
the heat rise is slow which can be a bad thing.

I think the world's best all around and portable soldering iron for
electronic/electrical work is the Weller Portasol that uses Propane gas.
I have used mine hundreds of times and still works every time.
Adjustable heat, various tips available, also a small blowtorch tip that
works well for heat shrink tubing and other stuff.

Good tool, I couldn't imagine a marine electronics tech not having one
in their toolkit.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

I bought one. Home Depot carries them. I took it right back. I was
soldering little connectors on the ends of wires in my bass boat and the
little connectors were enough of a heat sink to keep the tool from heating
much.

The tips are VERY fragile and wear down quick, and they cost almost as much
as the tool it self to replace. I sure get tired of being sold junk.

I did replace the batteries that came with it with fresh ones and it helped
a little bit but I am a very light user and this was not going to work for
me.


"Jack Erbes" wrote in message
...
Matt Colie wrote:

I saw the TV adds for Coldheat, I even when to the site to get the
manual. I thought about it for a while.

They look like a terrific idea, but...

But I might have made a mistake. In early April, I ordered one. Along
with two different tips and significant shipping expense.

If you ever get it let us know how it works. I'm told they don't work
very well and don't start heating until in contact with the solder. So
the heat rise is slow which can be a bad thing.

I think the world's best all around and portable soldering iron for
electronic/electrical work is the Weller Portasol that uses Propane gas.
I have used mine hundreds of times and still works every time.
Adjustable heat, various tips available, also a small blowtorch tip that
works well for heat shrink tubing and other stuff.

Good tool, I couldn't imagine a marine electronics tech not having one
in their toolkit.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

I bought the Coleman version of Cold Heat at Frys for $9.95 on sale. I
am keeping it even though it is not as good as a conventional soldering
iron for most work.
For removing small components from circuit boards it works quite well
without damaging nearby pieces with excessive heat. It is just a
resistance heating device which places the 6 volt battery voltage
directly across a conductive shorting piece that is your soldering
target. Crude, but sometimes useful. Another tool for my overcrowded
tool kit.