Cheap hot knife rope cutter - Duratool D03295 - £25

The Portasol arrived today so I filled and fired it up. Seems very good quality, all the bits fit together nicely, the volume control, on/off and power knobs all operate smoothly.

I added a couple of bits of solder, some flux and a small brush and I'm ready to go if anything needs soldering now!

PS, I hope Mrs Wonky doesn't go looking for her half tube of face mask 😄

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On subject of soldering ... the only Flux available locally is solid in a tin .. like the old fashioned Shoe Polish. You cannot apply to items to be soldered - it only melts onto iron tip ... then you are supposed to apply to items - then solder ... its rubbish !!
 
Refueler said:
Lead Free ? Its total crap !!

Too often even with Leaded - it beads on the tip and falls away from item to be soldered ... I thought it was lack of heat in item etc .. no its the solder.
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Agreed, I'm only half way through a full fat 1kg roll I bought whilst on a job in Tokyo in 1990!

I keep it in a box with my 100 watt lightbulbs and original formula Nitromors.

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Probably true of all tools:

I have three soldering irons and a hot knife. I have attachments for two of the soldering irons that convert them into hot knives, but they are not as good as the hot knife. I'm quite sure I could add a soldering blade to the hot knife, but it wouldn't be a soldering iron.

On the boat I get the desire for multi-purpose tools. But for example, I have had a Gerber multi-tool for 30 years, very well made, and I think I have used it twice. There is always a better purpose-made tool. A better knife. Better pliers or screw driver.
 
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