40-Watt Pencil Iron

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

Spent a few hours trying (unsuccessfully) to wire up guitar pickups, switches, and potentiometers.

Solder would not flow onto contacts no matter how long I held tip to joint. Tip was hot but not hot enough to do the job.

Exchanged iron for another (exact same model)
Was a able to complete job easily.

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

I purchased this unit for my son to begin learning how to solder (and to keep him and my wife away from from expensive digital unit) and based on the reviews I thought this would be a good starter iron. Tinning was difficult, handle was overly hot and it took FOREVER to heat up. Additionally, it could never hold an adequate temperature for even the minor work/kit building we were trying to do. I'm not sure it's worth trying to exchange.

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

One of the best 40 watt irons for the money! I own three of these (different tip in each) and they have all been great. My 12 year old one works the same as my 6 year old unit. Just keep the tips clean,shaped and tinned and you should get the same reliable service as I have. As good as my 2 Wellers and feel better in the hand.

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

Use this for electronics projects, repairs often used 6-8 hours at a time.I had doubts because of the price, Had it for a couple of years and has not failed only bad thing the end of the tip melted off one day soldering some wire together..Just bought a new tip. I am very happy with this product.

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

My dad gave me this, his "old" one, maybe 15 years ago. Different handle, but same model number. I can't believe I can get a new tip for it after all this time!

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

I just got mine plugged it in and in 3-5 minuets it was smokeing?

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

I am an electrician by trade, I had the task of un wiring,re-locating, and re-wiring a punch press that is capable of delivering 400 tons of pressing power. The press stands aprox. 25ft high. One of the sensor cables got damaged in the process and I needed to re solder ten connections on the plug end. The origional solder used must have been high temp because is de solderd a little slow, but this iron did it. Great tool to have handy.

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

I have had several of these 40-watt soldering irons over the past few years. I go thru one about every year. I have soldered everything from light duty electronics projects to 10-12 AWG automotive projects with it. "Tips with the tip" Get the cleaner and tinner package with the iron as well. When build up occurs use a Dremel cutoff wheel and "sand" the tip clean again and retin. I use this one almost everyday for model railroading projects and where them out because of so much use.

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

I needed to fix my mic from my gaming headset since my mic is exposed and one of the two wires somehow broke off. All I needed was a simple soldering iron and this did the trick. Took less than 30 seconds to heat up but stays hot for a long time when disconnected so be warned. This was my first soldering repair and came out nice and my mic now works same as before.

Comments about RadioShack 40-Watt Pencil Iron:

for all you complaining that this baby gets too hot, or it's cheap, yes- it's cheap, thank god for radio shack, and yea it gets a little hot- it's a 40 watt iron, perfect for quickly getting jobs done. I've had this same iron for 10+ years, and it finally gave out- going back today to get another- it's only [$] people! If you want to build a radio from scratch, then go buy a 60 dollar Weller