Not recommended to use these on solid state devices.  All they do is 
short circuit the battery.  If you look at the tip, there is a small 
gap, and when you touch it to what you are soldering, it shorts out the 
battery.  You can put the battery voltage across a solid state junction 
if you're not careful.  Works fairly well for small wires.
73
Butch
WA0VJR
Node 3148
Wallace, ks.


On Wed, 6 Jun 
2012, Steve wrote:

> I just twisted the connection together, placed the solder next to it and
> pressed the button.  It only works on pretty light gauge stuff, probably
> 18-gauge or less.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: richard watson
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 1:05 PM
> Subject: Re: project building
>
>
> Hi Steve,
> What procedures did you use on the cold solder wand from radioshack. I have
> one.
> thanks
> 73 - rick n3gms
>
> On 6/6/12, Steve <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Another thing you cqan use quite well for smaller light jobs is those cold
>> solder wands.  I used to have one from Radio Shack.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Mark
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 10:48 AM
>> Subject: Re: project building
>>
>>
>> Hi rick, and the group,
>>      Well, I like to use a basic soldering iron. Something in the 15 to 30
>> watts range. It takes a little longer, but I feel more comfortable with a
>> lower heat.
>>      Next, I try to get the solder with a low melting point. I found some
>> at
>> radio shacks website a year or two back.
>>      There was a set of articles on blind people soldering that I read on
>> the web a few years back. Now, I have no idea where I found them. So, I
>> will
>> just cover a few ideas here.
>>      Now, I must tell you that I usually
>> Burn a couple of fingers doing a project. However, the easiest project I
>> can
>> think of to start on is tinning wires. Just strip the insolation back as
>> far
>> as you want, rap the wire with solder and genteelly stroke the solder
>> covered wire with the hot iron. Now, I like to hold the wires with a pair
>> of
>> pliers. It saves the fingers. The part I am not good at is waiting until
>> the
>> project is cool before touching it. Ouch!
>>      Once the wire is tinned. It is allot faster and easier to solder it
>> to
>> whatever contact you need to repair.
>>      Sometimes I put a needle nose pliers, or a screwdriver near the point
>> I
>> am soldering. Not only can I use it to hold the solder in place, but I can
>> slide the iron right down the tool to the contact point.
>>      I hope this helps.
>>
>> God bless,
>> Mark
>> God Loves you!
>> You can visit my website at:
>> http://christiantraditions.info
>> Please visit my blog at:
>> http://christian-traditions.blogspot.com
>> My Authors Page is:
>> httP://www.amazon.com/author/marktorgerson
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of richard watson
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 5:57 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: project building
>>
>> what methods and equipment do you use for soldering?
>> 73 - rick n3gms
>>
>>
>> On 6/6/12, Mark <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> Hi
>>>      Well, I started experimenting with solderless electronic kits from
>>> radio shack back in the 1980's' my sister also bought a solderless bread
>>> board. However, my efforts were hampered by a lack of circuit
>>> descriptions
>>> in accessible format. At the time I was also told to avoid soldering at
>> all
>>> costs to preserve my fingers.
>>>      Since then the circuit descriptions have remained elusive. However,
>>> I
>>> have done a nice amount of soldering over the last five years or so.
>>> Mainly,
>>> on coax and other lower tech projects.
>>>      I hope this helps.
>>>
>>> God bless,
>>> Mark
>>>
>>> God Loves you!
>>> You can visit my website at:
>>> http://christiantraditions.info
>>> Please visit my blog at:
>>> http://christian-traditions.blogspot.com
>>> My Authors Page is:
>>> httP://www.amazon.com/author/marktorgerson
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> On Behalf Of richard watson
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 4:48 AM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: project building
>>>
>>> hi list,
>>> what experiences to folks have building various projects? equipment
>>> used? thanks for any inputs.
>>> 73
>>> rick - n3gms
>>>
>>
>
>