Soldering with "Cold Heat soldering tool"

[marykell]

I would like to try some soft soldering for repairing or just closing jump rings (sterling) when I don't want to (or can't) use the propane torch.  I have never tried to use a pen type torch or the soft solder so I was looking into it and saw this cold heat thing.  Do you think it would work for staybrite on sterling?  Never having soft soldered before I didn't know if it was a possibility or not.  It is only $20 and looks easy but...  Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

[Polly]

Staybrite, I believe, is soldered at about 550 - 600°F.

Thanks for the asseenontv link, that helped.  
It says the pen goes from cold to 800°F, so it should work fine for Staybrite.  The price seems about average for similar products from Radio Shack (see "Type of Soldering Iron to use with Stay-Brite?" discussion here on this forum, at:
http://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin....9;t=337 )

I'm not sure what this line in the description means: "Contains over 700 joints per battery pack."  Maybe that means you can solder 700 jump rings before having to replace the batteries.  That sounds pretty decent.

Because it just runs on AA batteries, this could be a handy gadget to use at craft shows.
If you sell "choose your own charms" bracelets at shows, then soldering while your customer watches could be a nice sales feature.

If anyone owns/buys one of these Cold Heat Soldering Tools, please post a note and let everyone know how you like it.

--Polly

I ordered the cold heat soldering tool being advertised today.  I never could get it to work even after calling them and asking for instructions on how to use the thing.  Complete waste of money.

[Metalman]

The smaller soldering irons - say a 40 watt 'pencil will work fine for jump rings, etc.  I have not used the 'cold soldering' method.  I will do some research.
These links will also fill in some details regarding soldering

http://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin....ldering
http://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin....ldering
http://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin....ldering
http://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin....ldering

[Polly]

That's too bad -- Thanks for posting what you found out!

You never know how those "as seen on tv" items will work out.  Some are wonderful time-saving inventions.  And others ... well, who knows if you got a defective one, or the whole product is junk as a whole?  It sounds like their support wasn't much help '>

--Polly

One of my friends has the soldering tool, and uses it on his RC (remote control) cars.  He loves it.  Could just be a guy thing?  Everytime he drives one of his cars, he breaks something, so it's been beneficial for him.

Heidi
Email/sales
Rings & Things Wholesale

I  bought the Cold heat tool for sterling silver jump rings and found out that it was a complete wast of money and my time!

I bought the cold heat tool as well and, in my humble opinion, also found it a complete waste of time and money.

I have followed every instruction I have found on other sites and have yet to solder a darn jump ring successfully.

[Reneewri]

A friend of mine just got one of these and when we went to the silver shop where we buy our silver, they told us that it wouldn't work because it won't get hot enough to give you a real smooth soldered joint. It may connect your pieces but it won't smooth it out the way it should be. She is still going to try it so I'll let you know the results.