OldTools Archive

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260189 <ecoyle@t...> 2016‑10‑22 re old soldering iron
On 10/20/2016 5:21 PM, curt seeliger wrote:
>> https://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=34046160
>>
>> Listing calls it a vintage screwdriver, but it looks like a reamer or
>> countersink to me
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votes are in that is a “cordless soldering Iron” and I concur.

I have several of em, from large to small, and running irons  (where the head is
at 90 degrees to the handle and with a wedge shaped tip for running solder on
seams. )

There is nothing more fruustrating than to try soldering large stuff with a
wimpy iron.

Tin-bashing supply stores still sell them new, and while they’re not cheap, they
ain’t terribly expensive. seems I saw a new one at around 35 CDN (28ish us$),
but who knows what they are costing these days. The larger ones have a whack of
copper in that tip.

I use my larger ones for soldering repousse copper fireplace surrounds. Have
never mastered the use of running irons, although I have an assortment of them
too.

If you look at old blow torches, there was typically brackets on top that held
the soldering iron for heating.

Blow torches used to be quite “collectable” all shined up etc, perhaps not so
much now. WhileI have a few funky Swedish blowtorches, never used em. Much
prefer the ‘lectric versions.

The hole in the handle on this one is the give-away....it has gone cordless! 

Just my thoughts

Eric in Calgary
260191 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2016‑10‑22 Re: re old soldering iron
GG's

That's a good euphemism ; "Gone cordless" !

A real soldering copper has a lot more copper mass at the tip than any
electrically heated iron would have. IMHO,  the item being offered is
essentially junk.

Only Old Order Neanderthals use the gasoline torch and the soldering copper.

The side-facing "running irons" are also called "hatchet irons" because of their
shape.  I believe the "running" term is correct and the "hatchet" term is slang.

John Ruth
Wondering if the mention of repouse' copper work was a drive-by.

Recent Bios FAQ