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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
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Strange old soldering iron
My boss shows up with two old soldering irons today, one is a small iron
probably used for stained glass work but the other was rather strange. The business end of the iron was about an inch in diameter and hollow. When this is unscrewed, the handle end has a (for lack of a better description) firing pin. This is actuated by a spring loaded plunger in the handle. Any one know about this tool? -- Roger Shoaf About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then they come up with this striped stuff. |
#2
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Strange old soldering iron
Sounds suspiciously like "scope" irons
These ran off a 3V 30A transformer, and used some form of arc to heat the tip. There is a small element which is moved back and forwards by a ring, or "trigger bar" depending upon which model it is. These heat up FAST, and the real skill in using one is the manual control of the duty cycle on the transformer. (typically 1:30 from memory) I have the small orange microelectronics model (with transformer etc) but found it difficult to use when teaching others. I use it only when I know there is no chance of someone else picking up the iron and cooking the transformer. If you need parts, there are places still offering them. Des bromilow Brisbane OZ "Roger Shoaf" wrote in message ... My boss shows up with two old soldering irons today, one is a small iron probably used for stained glass work but the other was rather strange. The business end of the iron was about an inch in diameter and hollow. When this is unscrewed, the handle end has a (for lack of a better description) firing pin. This is actuated by a spring loaded plunger in the handle. Any one know about this tool? -- Roger Shoaf About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then they come up with this striped stuff. |
#3
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Strange old soldering iron
"Roger Shoaf" wrote in message ... My boss shows up with two old soldering irons today, one is a small iron probably used for stained glass work but the other was rather strange. The business end of the iron was about an inch in diameter and hollow. When this is unscrewed, the handle end has a (for lack of a better description) firing pin. This is actuated by a spring loaded plunger in the handle. Any one know about this tool? -- Roger Shoaf Maybe a solder sucker? Scp |
#4
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Strange old soldering iron
It really is a firing pin! This type iron used a chemical heating
element that was placed into the chamber and started "burning" with the plunger that punctured the end of the cartridge to begin heating the tip. You had one chance to get your soldering done while the cartridge lasted and then you had to wait for it to cool down to change to a new one. It would heat about 10 min. They were prone to overheating and the cartridges were unstable. My company used them for years for field work but finally junked them and used vehicle powered irons (converter from 12v). I think the last one was junked about 1960. Jim Roger Shoaf wrote: My boss shows up with two old soldering irons today, one is a small iron probably used for stained glass work but the other was rather strange. The business end of the iron was about an inch in diameter and hollow. When this is unscrewed, the handle end has a (for lack of a better description) firing pin. This is actuated by a spring loaded plunger in the handle. Any one know about this tool? |
#5
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Strange old soldering iron
These were used by Western Electric by their central office
installers.When I used one in the 70's you could still get the cartridges for it.The cartridges had a tendency to expand and stick in the housing.It had a heat capacity of at least 100 watts comparable to an AC unit.Even if you compared it to a modern gas soldering iron it would throw out more heat.We used them to solder connectors to the main DC busbar.I should have permanently borrowed one,they worked that well. |
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