I've heard that the coldheat iron is basically useless for anything more
than the most basic of jobs.  If I understand correctly, it works because
it has two electrodes which conduct electricity very well and heat very
poorly so they can run a heck of a current through the object you want
to heat up enough to melt solder, but they don't absorb any of that
heat.  The problem is, the tips are bulky and hard to position, and
require that the desired joint can be placed between them.  Result:
forget about soldering DIPs or in fact anything smaller than through hole
resistors and caps.

Of course, I've never used one, just heard others talk of them.  They
are cheap enough now (<$20US) that it may be worth checking out.
I suspect for the sort of thing I always wish I had a portable iron for
(i.e., soldering a wire to something which is attached to something
else by 200 screws) it may work very well.

Mike H.

> Thanks for that, I've never thought it over that it generates a huge heat
> sidewise. BTW battery operated soldering irons: the so called ColdHeat iron
> is not any good? It says heats up to 400C within seconds and cools down
> nearly as fast. I thought it does not flats down the battery too quick? Or
> the problem is something else?
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