I have a Weller cordless
iron also, wasn't impressed with it in soldering
DMX following my seeing some security
system person using it to install his own wires onto a
circuit board which seemed for him in perminant install to work fine. Just as with the cool to the touch irons, it's not persay initial heat they can develop, it's more about stustaining that heat sufficient for a good solder connection especially on a larger
gauge of
wire which is of problem.
Sure if you gotta have a cordles to make a show happen go with such a tool for emergency use, but I absolutely wouldn't depend on such a tool for proper work and re-look at such a connection after the show. Wouldn't rely on some 15W Radio Shack
iron either for proper work given the above. Easy enough to run an extension
cord to a proper 50 or 60W variable temperature
iron in doing a proper job more often than not. Such irons you can adjust in temperature dependant on what
gauge or type of
wire you are working on from 350
thru 850 degrees - normally in the 600F range for thermoplastic 24 ga
wire in a five pin, to 650F to 700F
wire from 22
thru 20
gauge or if rubberized
jacket, than some range upwards from that between
scroller cables to 12ga
Soco wires needing 850F and that Umph in wattage behind the
iron in giving it a proper solder.
While I have a cordless butane
iron I might have used twice in ten years (assuming its seals are good any longer as another factor), I also have a
portable solder station and my newer cable repair kits also have a soldering station
iron attached to the cable repair kit.
This as with the cordless butane torches. Onto my second one now given the first after ten years didn't hold it's seal. Good stuff the newer ones, good for high temperature
heat shrink as used in some cases but a cigarette lighter would work better for normal
heat shrink use.
This all much less to use such a tool you need a butane
bottle to keep them in action which would be really hard to put in luggage and or have on-hand at times. Got the toys but rarely use them. Perhaps those more doing shows have a use for emergency fix tools but also they properly fix the gear after such a fix. Wouldn't be the top of my list to buy unless you frequently run into situations where a proper solder sations are not able to be hooked up an extension
cord to - this say if high up in the
truss or something and it cannot be brought down for a better repair. Perhaps something to toss into the back of your
road box with a refil tank for when crap hits the fan. This if you have the budget and already have the proper tools.