Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 9:40 am Post subject: "Cold Heat" Soldering Irons
I was wondering if anyone knew if "cold heat" soldering irons can be used for soldering on xbox motherboards. Do they emit to much heat? Is the tip on them too big to be useful?
TheModGod Xbox-Hq Legendary
Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 5303 Location: Greensburg PA
Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 2:54 pm Post subject:
I bought one, because I must have all new toys that come out. I purchased it about four months ago and haven't even friggin used it...lol.
The tip just seems so bulky I haven't tried to give it a whirl.
If I ever get the notion to dust off the case and open it up, I'll definitely post a review. Let us know if you give one a shot.
TheModGod
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custom-xmodz Xbox-HQ Freak
Joined: Aug 28, 2004 Posts: 796 Location: Wales, UK
Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:10 pm Post subject:
Hiya
the standard tip is too big so you would need to buy and extra one. Also they are in my opinion way too hot, they can reach anything upto 1400F and normally run at about 800F
Way too much in my opinion, I would just get a 25W normal iron or a temp controlled iron
DJH
Scourge Xbox-HQ Freak
Joined: Nov 08, 2004 Posts: 571 Location: Georgia, USA
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:11 pm Post subject:
I’m digging up an old thread cause I just got one myself.
It pretty neat, very nice if you want to solder something right quick and don’t want to wait forever for the iron to heat up. It’s quick, damn quick.
It comes with a chisel tip that they label as "general purpose". I also bought the conical tip for smaller jobs. Replacement tips cost $10 a pop because of the materials used to make it.
Here is the deal, the tip isn’t what heats up, it’s the component that you are soldering that does. If you look at the wonderfully blurry pics I provided you will see there is a slight split in the tip. What the photo doesn’t show is a fine black line that travels up the center to that split.
To make the heating occur BOTH sides of the tip must make contact with a conductive surface. So current actually flows across the component you are soldering. This isn’t a bad thing when soldering ICs but you need to make sure that either side doesn’t touch different parts of the leads otherwise it will possibly destroy the IC.
I wouldn’t say its a good Idea for LPC rebuilds because you generally use 30AWG wire into the tiny hole. First of all you couldn’t get both prongs to touch that hole even if your name was ModGod. Second you risk accidentally having either prong touching different traces (oh noses!).
So coming from a guy who studies electrical engineering...
For general purpose, its wicked good.
Automotive installs, general solders, Mod jobs for Xbox using 24 AWG or lower (thicker), Lights in your controller, Controller On/Off, Handmade PCBs, blah blah blah
Its good for all of that and keeps the job quick and literally painless.
But things I would not use it on, small work.
LPC Rebuilds, Controller port Light Mod, Anything requiring you to solder something higher than 28AWG.
As far as using it on the motherboard its a bit risky.
Still a great investment.
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Chisel tip on left, conical tip on right
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_________________ -Scourge "Rx = +/_\"
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ctgene Xbox-HQ Enthusiast Xbox Version: 1.6 Modded: Xecuter3
Joined: Jan 10, 2005 Posts: 33 Location: FL
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 6:37 pm Post subject:
Nice post on that soldering iron. I was thinking about buying one but don't think I will now, so you saved me some money. I use a Weller 25W for my jobs and the tip gets a max of 750 degrees and has a nice fine tip on it. Makes it real easy to solder. _________________ XBOX v1.6
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Scourge Xbox-HQ Freak
Joined: Nov 08, 2004 Posts: 571 Location: Georgia, USA
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:39 pm Post subject:
Yeah, I only wish the tip could be smaller. but the technology would be near impossible if it was. _________________ -Scourge "Rx = +/_\"
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jiggysmb Xbox-HQ Elite Member Xbox Version: Xbox v1.6 Modded: Xenium Ice
Joined: Aug 18, 2004 Posts: 488 Location: Baltimore
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:27 am Post subject:
I just returned one. Not only did the tip break (one small corner broke off) the first time I used it, it also burnt into a board in less than a half second. Not even mentioning the 1/4" tip _________________ LED Rings $6 (doesnt include LEDs) LED ring pic
Scourge Xbox-HQ Freak
Joined: Nov 08, 2004 Posts: 571 Location: Georgia, USA
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:48 am Post subject:
For bigger things liek car sterio its fine. I was installing some lighting the other day and it was very useful. but if its small work, ITS HOT, but not that hot, too hot even.
when you think Cold Heat, think Arc Welder, simalar concept. _________________ -Scourge "Rx = +/_\"
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yoshie1 V.I.P. Lifetime Xbox Version: Xbox V1.6 Modded: Xenium ICE White
Joined: Dec 26, 2004 Posts: 958 Location: Akron, Ohio
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:39 am Post subject:
I bought one of these to mod my PS2 and practiced with it for the longest time doing the tiny 1mm apart solders but I found out that this is not the object to use. When I modded my XBOX 1.6 I found out I had to do an LPC rebuild and the connections looked easier so I decided to give my 25$ piece of junk a try again....Well long story short....I ended up using my friends 15 or something watt normal soldering iron which worked very well on the small parts. I agree with scourge that it would be good for bigger things but even then it sometimes sucks. I always wondered why I never saw people talking about using those on here and thought I was ahead of the game.....I was wrong.....They suck for mods....Get a cheap one from Home Depot and you will be happy. _________________ Xbox V1.6
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