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Vintage Test Gear and Workshop Equipment For discussions about vintage test gear and workshop equipment such as coil winders. |
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Thread Tools |
9th Jul 2020, 11:39 am | #1 |
Pentode
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South Coast, Western Australia.
Posts: 129
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Xacto soldering iron
I spotted an old soldering iron hanging up in a pal's shed. It appeared to be a cheap mains Weller, but on inspection was branded as an Xacto 378. The business end has a collet fitting exactly like the Xacto knife. It is fitted with a US 120v plug so I queried my friend, who said he had owned it for years that he had not tried it. This was fortunate as he did not know what a US plug was, and worse that the US mains is 120v. US plugs can be forced into Aussie sockets by the uninitiated and strong - both of which my friend is.
He gave it to me so I fitted a blade and tried it. I can't think of a use for it but cannot toss it out, so it is hanging with my old Antexes. I think the handle is identical to the Weller TCPs, with 3 mounting self tappers and one screw for a ground wire, but not sure as I threw my TCPs away years ago. |
9th Jul 2020, 12:41 pm | #2 | |
Hexode
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Rochdale, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 452
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Re: Xacto soldering iron
Hi - many years ago when I worked in a Climbing Equipment Shop as a student, we had a 200W soldering iron fitted with a blade-shaped bit for cutting and sealing the ends of nylon ropes and slings. I wonder if your example had a similar purpose?
Cheers Chris Quote:
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9th Jul 2020, 4:22 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,396
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Re: Xacto soldering iron
Interesting device, and it does look very much like a Weller handle/basic element. Maybe Xacto wanted to get on the hot-knife scene and Weller licensed them to use their hardware. That thin blade/collet chuck recipe seems like a seizure liability with long-term heat-induced oxidation though!
A good case for a capacitor dropper maybe? Phase-corrected of course. |
9th Jul 2020, 4:27 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK.
Posts: 5,208
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Re: Xacto soldering iron
I thought at one time Weller and Xacto were both part of Cooper Tools.
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10th Jul 2020, 4:32 am | #5 |
Pentode
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South Coast, Western Australia.
Posts: 129
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Re: Xacto soldering iron
That neatly explains it, Tony.
I see that Amazon is listing a similar Xacto tool, now called 'Elmers Xacto', but the handle is a different moulding. Useful for carving plastic, styrofoam and candles, apparently. |
10th Jul 2020, 5:54 am | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 3,612
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Re: Xacto soldering iron
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10th Jul 2020, 12:56 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
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Re: Xacto soldering iron
Now Apex: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex_Tool_Group
Interesting factoid, X-Acto began life as a failed surgical instrument. |
10th Jul 2020, 8:26 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 1,733
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Re: Xacto soldering iron
Searching for "hot knife iron" find other brands & sizes of these, including a Duratool 150W iron and tips for Weller (discontinued) & Portasol irons.
David |