Warning: That cheap $15 soldering iron from Amazon almost burned my bench down last month in Phoenix

I was in a rush to fix a power supply for a guy's TV and grabbed this no-name iron I'd bought online. It seemed fine for little jobs but the tip got loose, then the whole handle started smoking. I'm talking real smoke, not flux. Had to unplug it fast and throw it outside. I've been fixing electronics for like 8 years and never had that happen with my old Weller. Anyone else had a cheap tool go bad on them like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

blake69112d ago

That $60 Weller probably saved you because it had better insulation from the start.

lane.cameron12d ago

Hold on, let's not act like every cheap iron is a fire hazard waiting to happen. That Weller you mention costs like $60 and up, not everyone can drop that on a tool they use twice a year. I've had a $12 one from a liquidator for three years now, still works fine for basic speaker wire and battery terminals. The real issue is you left it on and unattended long enough for the handle to smoke, sounds like a user error more than a brand problem. Plus, half the stuff in Phoenix melts if you look at it wrong, maybe the heat in your garage cooked it before you even plugged it in.

briancarter12d ago

Man, totally get that. I picked up a $15 one at a flea market years back and it's still going strong for small jobs. It's all about how you use it, not what you spend.