No question the PBL one is the BMW of resistance soldering units but at the time I had Chevy $$ and all the stuff to build on. Probably cost me about $40 at the time and I don't know if PBL even offered them.
The high power has allowed me to use it on other things than trains which was good. I did add the PBL tweezers and other tools along the way. When I was building it a friend who was an EE warned me about being careful and how even 6 volts could stop a heart if the voltage penetrated the skin and to never use sharp probes. Other than vaporizing the occasional small part, so far no issues. Carey Carey Probst Member, M.I.T. Educational Council S Scale, Sn3 and S High Rail/AF A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Bill Lane > To: [email protected] <mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 1:00 PM > Subject: {S-Scale List} resistance soldering > > I will say for the 1 trillionth time my PBL Hotip is the >>best tool<< > I own > - period. I have 2 of them. I would not be the mediocre modeler I am > without it. I pretty much use it on a daily basis including for DCC > installation. > > Some here more knowledgeable about electronics may want to try and make > their own. I have used a homemade unit and for me there is no > comparison. A > well known steam loco basher here prefers torches. I have not been that > daring even after almost 20 years. But a cold solder joint will only came > back to haunt you if you are not careful. Granted the new cost of a > Hotip as > of 2 or so years ago with some extra supplies was in the $700.00 > range. Buy > once - cry once. You will get over it quickly once you start to use it. > > Carey mentioned SSLS. I was present with Russ Downs and the then new owner > of SSLS - Bob Hartzell, when the subject of resistance soldering came up. > Apparently how to make one was in every SSLS loco kit instruction > sheet, or > the how to instruction sheet was readily available for the asking. Russ > quickly convinced Bob to discontinue the instruction sheet for liability > reasons. Bob knew a lot about a lot and also agreed. I don't think Fred > reissued the instruction sheet.. > > Thank You, > Bill Lane > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
