Worthless tool

[bungy]

I opened this thread on the hope it would be a thread where everybody complains about the most useless tool in their toolbox.

A tool only makes it into my toolbox if it works well and I use it enough. I have a special last-chance toolbox that I throw any crap tools in, I got a bunch of screwdriver-chisels and wrench-hammers in there. Anything that's not useful as intended and doesn't have a "second purpose" gets thrown out.

 

[Gruber]

For me, it'd (by far) be the ColdHeat Soldering Iron. What a complete P.O.S. I so wanted it to be good, too (I tried and tried, practiced, watched YouTube videos to learn it, etc.). Bought a PortaSol and never looked back.

AGREED biggest waste of tool money I have spent to date. Does not work right at all.

 

[mhkohne]

AGREED biggest waste of tool money I have spent to date. Does not work right at all.

Has anyone tried one of these on a larger joint? Looking at the thing (I have one here), the gap between the electrodes is awful large even for soldering smallish wires. But for really large wire (hosuehold stuff), I'm going to go for wire nuts, not solder.

I have the feeling that the Coldheat tool falls into the 'neat idea, but what's it for' category.

 

[EagleTG]

Has anyone tried one of these on a larger joint? Looking at the thing (I have one here), the gap between the electrodes is awful large even for soldering smallish wires. But for really large wire (hosuehold stuff), I'm going to go for wire nuts, not solder.

I have the feeling that the Coldheat tool falls into the 'neat idea, but what's it for' category.

Yep, doesn't work well on anything I've tried it on. Too big for PCB use (even with the smaller tips), too much pressure is required to solder wires, even larger PCB traces are a pain. By the time it makes contact, you are pushing on it enough that the tip will crack/shatter. The tips I tried are far too fragile.

I saw they had a newer model available that addressed some of the concerns, but they will never see another dime of my money. They can take their new model and stick it where the ColdHeat doesn't burn.

AGREED biggest waste of tool money I have spent to date. Does not work right at all.

THANK YOU! Not that I suspected I'd have trouble finding people who were on my side, it's still comforting to know it's not just me.

 

[EVB]

Oh never mind, I thought from the title this was a ram-controls thread.

 

[Magog]

Damnit I have been looking all over for that tool, I need to sorta strip some wire and I need it done poorly.

Either return my tool or give me the $4.99 so I can buy another at Radioshack (where all of the best tools are bought!)

 

[TimmyFnD]

I am a fan of this tool, very similar to the one the op had but much better quaility in my opinion.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/KLEIN-TOOLS-Long-Nose-Combo-Tool-5LL36?Pid=search

I generally like all the tools Klein produces.