The Harbor Freight catalog came through the mail today and what caught my eye immediately was a 180 Watt soldering gun for $8.99 - Item 04328-1DKN.
Not that I am going to have a daily use for it; but this should come in handy for quick antenna wire splices; as well as soldering PL-259s. And for $8.99 plus shipping, it's one of those deals where sometime in the future, I would have smacked myself in the forehead for not getting it.It is way easier to do PL-259's with a soldering gun than an iron. It is possible to use an iron; but it has to be a hefty one, and it takes a long time to build up enough heat. Then, you always have it in the back of your mind if the solder connection was good enough (at least I do). Whenever I have done a PL-259 with a soldering gun, I have never had one fail. And if I hope to get this 160 Meter antenna project done before winter, this baby will come in handy.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Hi Larry that is a very good deal for sure if you only use if for PL259 connectors. I have a Weller soldering gun that does the job but sure was not 8.99. Good hunting.
ReplyDeleteI wish Harbor Freight would set up in business over here...
ReplyDeleteI bought one at a HF store in town and it did well for about two months then something inside started melting and leaking between the plastic and the rods.
ReplyDeleteIt stopped heating the element but something was getting mighty hot inside the casing...
It didn't catch fire or anything, but watch for gray stuff leaking out from the body.
I've bought alot of tools from HF and most have been fine.
Bryce