Redesigning the soldering iron!

[Mick Bailey]

I think the OP just wanted to post his invite on as many web pages as he could.


And you never know, his real project might be exploring online communication patterns and group dynamics.

Throw 'em a bone and let's see 'em fight over it.

[Joe Gwinn]

I got one as a gift, it was battery powered and the element is gapped so the work completes the circuit (in theory) and heats, kind of a combo of the old resistance soldering gun and a spot welder. It did not work worth a damn but is intrinsically quite safe as flesh won't burn (nor solder melt in my hands).

I've used real resistance soldering tweezers (where a large current is passed through the joint being soldered), and they work very well. But they are neither lightweight nor cheap. They are mainly used for soldering wires in connectors, to not melt the insulation on the nearby wires. Not used on low-voltage electronics, because the currents don't always flow only where desired.

Resistance Soldering: FAQ

[David Schwab]

Just spotted the Coldheat iron - Weller have also licensed the idea. Gets a lot closer than I thought.

Have you ever used one of those? My (ex)wife had bought me one for a gift once. It's was really disappointing. At best it's barely usable. At worst it does nothing and the tips chip too easily. The batteries don't last very long either, and you need a fresh set to get it to work well.

Good idea I guess, but poor execution.

[Joe Gwinn]

Have you ever used one of those? My (ex)wife had bought me one for a gift once. It's was really disappointing. At best it's barely usable. At worst it does nothing and the tips chip too easily. The batteries don't last very long either, and you need a fresh set to get it to work well. Good idea I guess, but poor execution.

No. Bad idea. No way can battery power be practical, unless the battery is big enough to need wheels. Soldering just takes too much power.

[jonson]

Forget children and design one for blind folks. I recently had a call from a blind friend who owns a music shop and he needed an output jack socket fitted to an extension cab. I arrived just in time to yell at him as he was about to kneel on the tip of the iron he had burning a hole in the carpet so proximity detector and warning buzzer would be good.

[soundguruman]

Hi, we’re a team of engineering undergrads hoping to redesign the soldering iron. Specifically, we’re looking at making it safer and more usable by younger teens and children.

We’re looking for any feedback or advice you might have, especially if you have kids, so if you can spare a few minutes to fill out our survey, that’d be awesome. Or if you have any questions, feel free to shoot us an email at: solder.otter@gmail.com. Thank you for your time and input!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14cA...p4OFw/viewform

also, does anyone know why there is so much metal exposed towards the tip?

Children?
Have you lost your bloody mind?

I always wanted a soldering iron that worked by a slow steady stream of hot air.
And the hot air is nitrogen...no oxygen in the connection.

I want to eliminate the tip completely.

OR........OR.......you could use a frigg'in Laz-er beam??? that would be cool.
No that would be so HOT.

[Chuck H]

you could use a frigg'in Laz-er beam??? that would be cool.
No that would be so HOT.

I'm picturing a class full of kids with heat lasers

[big_teee]

I think a popular word of the Heat Lazer class would be "Ooops" !

[jonson]

So were going to redesign the soldering iron but were not sure what that big bit that gets hot at the end is for. I would have thought Weller/Antex etc have had their bods on this for years knowing that bit and leaving out the children. There was some solder available in the uk in the sixties that was a thin tape about quarter of an inch wide you wrapped round a pair of bare wires and used a match to melt it. 1 book of matches at one penny and 15 mini soldering irons ready to go. Don't see it now but bet that would work with a modern heat gun as well and hold on we can fit all the parts to the scratchplate and solder it and shrink it and warp it and relic it all in one hit. There's pleanty of relicing cowboys on you tube and youv'e got a ready made market they would love it.

[big_teee]

You can burn yourself with the barrel of a heat gun too!
I've done it.
In the telecomm biz we had heat shrink splices with a solder ring inside.
You slid the heatshrink over the wire ends, and heated the splice with heat gun or a Bic propane lighter.
Worked slick. it soldered and insulated the spliced wires.
http://www.calcentron.com/pictures/f...connectors.jpg
T