Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

I repair computers for a living and this has saved my tooshie more than once! Sure not as easy as it was in the 80's with all the smaller SMD parts now, but very useful to have!This is also very nice for home use that is to say hobby electronics. My entire stereo system is built with used and restored parts and this iron came in handy more times there too!Build quality is only the not so nice thing about it. It's what you expect for only [$]. But, though it's more likely to break if you abuse it than a more expensive option, I've been using this iron for 4 years very steadily and only recently I had to buy a new one. The tip in the old one was too used and from all the heat it's been through weaker so it broke when I try to unscrew it.The shape is very nice. It doesn't sore your hands up like when you need to use for a long time a pencil iron.Try not to let as many bad reviews get you down -- people that happen to get a bad product have more motivation to write a review to voice their disappointment. Still quality control might not be so good, but both the one I had and the one I have now do well.Have a nice day and I hope you like this product!

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

this is my first sodering iron it can mod controllers and take off xbox360 led lights but is bad for putting them on wasted 10 led lights and im going to get a pen one and it should come with a controller and a on off switch

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

Bought this soldering gun in 2002 to learn how to solder and here I am still using it after so many years. First, the handle is very comfortable and makes soldering very easy. The gun does heat up a little slow, but once it gets there, you can solder a lot of things with it. In my experience, it's excellent for the occasional small electronics projects, such as replacing capacitors in LCD monitors, computer power supplies, and other electronics with PCBs with through-hole components. It's also a-okay for soldering SMT components, but not so good for large (especially lead-free) solder joints (it is a 30W iron after all).
For best results, I recommend to have the tip and the tip screw tightened well, and add a little bit of solder to the tip before heating a joint. Also, let the iron heat up for a minute or two before using.
Overall, this is an excellent iron for the money. Perhaps my review is a little biased, but that's because I've fixed so many electronics with it over the years.

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

It worked for about 2 months, and then just stopped working.

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

I've had one of these for 8 years now. No, it's not the best iron in the world, but it is the best for the money, dollar for dollar. Works every time.

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

could be used for small projects.

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

This works alright for the price. I go through a soldering gun about 1-2 years. I do alot of soldering and this was the first time I tried the "gun" shaped handle. Handle doesnt get hot like the stick versions can. The tip did bend, but thats because I accidentally slammed it on a piece of metal while hot. Occasionally need to clean tip. Yes the metal does turn colors but it still works just fine.

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

I plugged it in and within five minutes it was smoking and the metal barrel was turning every imaginable color, so i yanked the plug. I do alot of electronic work so I know at least a little about soldering irons but this one is not good. I might get RS 25 watt pencil

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

It's nothing that I didn't expect because of the price, but when I used it it melted in 4 minutes. The handle actually melted on my work area, and then the tip fell off. It breaks easily and over heats quickly.

Comments about RadioShack Cool-Grip 30-Watt Soldering Gun:

This soldering gun worked fine the first time I used it. But then I decided to remove the tip. I didn't realize the tip unscrewed. (thanks Radio Shack for the lack of a simple manual!) So I tried to unscrew the small screw near the tip. Big mistake, the screw snapped right off. With the broken screw tip still embedded in the coller piece, I tried to return it to RS but the sales girl said "no" because I had bought it a little over a month ago, even though I used it only once.
OK, so if I'm not supposed to unscrew that screw, then why the bleep is it there?!