Hi Don,
Yeah...I had thought about using a soldering gun for the power pack.
But I sort of like the portability of the soldering iron that I already
have built. I have a foot control, but it is a simple momentary ON
(while the pedal is to the metal) or Off (foot off the pedal). The
thing is, this setup works. I am just not getting the current I need at
the end of the carbon. I am hoping to get some more replies before I
throw more money at this. I "think" a larger charger with a variac will
work. If you don't mind taking a look at this auction, I am looking at
this variac:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

This would go on a 12/30/75 amp charger something like this one from
Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...nce&n=15684181

One of the things that I don't understand (I don't understand a lot of
what I am doing, this is only one of them) is which side does this go
on? The 110v or the 12v side? My guess is the 110v side.

Thanks for the reply.

Mike