Dremel Versatip for Soldering Stained Glass

On 09 Nov 2005 14:45:08 -0500, Philip Lewis
wrote:

Being the frugal sort, I like to get tools which are multipurpose.

I can't afford "multipurpose" tools, I have to buy ones that work.

Andy Dingley writes:
wrote:
Being the frugal sort, I like to get tools which are multipurpose.
I can't afford "multipurpose" tools, I have to buy ones that work.

Which is why, of course, I'm investigating the suitability of said
tool.

Have you never used a screwdriver bit, wire wheel, buffing wheel, or
sanding disk in a drill?

Rotary motion is Rotary motion. If the drill was made so that only
special "drill" bits could be made to turn in them, it would suck
mightily. I realize, however, that a drill does not have the correct
parameters (speed) for doing routing operations. I therefore have a
router as well.

Heat is heat... A device which allows for changing the way that heat
is applied to the enviroment, has more use. I'm asking for experience
as to whether this tool has the correct parameters. (in this case,
thermal mass, tip size, and/or speedy recovery)

I'll grant that there is also the argument that having the "right"
tool for the job might contribute to my continuing the craft,
and I can appreciate buying a special purpose tool when i'm going to
be using it constantly, but I've just started this craft. I've made
1 window so far... If I buy a new iron for $20 and never make another
window, I'm out $20 and the storage space of the iron. (I already have
a high wattage solder gun, and a low wattage pencil iron for
electrical work) If i buy the multipurpose tool, I'll still be out the
$20, but I'll have a tool useful for woodburning, cutting foam, etc.
If I find the tool adequate, but not a "dream" with which to work and
I find myself making lots of windows, then I might splurge for the
single purpose tool.

Can you say that this tool will *not* work?
If you have experience with this tool, I'd love to hear it.
(any experience, soldering and/or it's other functions.)

--
Thanks, and be safe.
flip
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"Philip Lewis" wrote in message
...
I was thinking of getting it for doing stained glass. The tool touts
1000+ deg (F i assume) temps, which should be plenty to solder, but
i'm a bit worried that it only has a 30W heating element.

I'm new to stained glass (all but cemented my first piece) and found
my pencil iron is not up to the task... needs more thermal mass.

I worry that the Versatip might be the same.

Has anyone used this tool to solder ca(l)me? What is your opinion?

--
be safe.
flip

I admire the folks that attempt to change and improve the world. The
problem you'll have with SG is that we've been doing it for 1000 years
pretty much the same way. I have students bring in their Home Depot bargain
tools and home made gadgets, and we all watch them basically not do as well
as with the tools made for the SG industry. Sure your iron will work. It
just won't work very well. It's like the Dremel grinding bits.... the Sears
dry grinding wheel.... the diamond tipped glass cutter.... the electricians
pliers..... the Flair marking pens..... cutting glass underwater with a
scissors, etc.
Buy cheap glass, but not cheap tools.

--
JK Sinrod
Sinrod Stained Glass Studios
http://www.sinrodstudios.com/
Coney Island Memories
www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories/

"JK@work" writes:
I admire the folks that attempt to change and improve the world. The
problem you'll have with SG is that we've been doing it for 1000 years
pretty much the same way.
Wow! you still use a hot poker to fracture the glass? And a "fire"
iron to solder? And make your own cement? (which i actully did for my
piece... although i cheated and used concrete dye instead of lamp
black... i'm such a slacker.

I'm really not trying to be an ass here... I have great respect for
professionals and tradition[1] in the trade... But without some
failures and a fresh perspective somewhere along the line, innovation
wouldn't happen. (a point you seem to understand as indicated by your
opening statement.)

Sure your iron will work. It just won't work very well.
Have you seen this iron in action, or are you making an educated guess?
(I'd really like to know.)

The responce I was looking for when I started this thread was of the
type: "I've used it and it's not good for the following reasons:
...." or "Sure, I've been using it for months and love/hate/like it!"
or even "I've used it for other projects and like it, but i've not
used it for SG." and even "They sell those same types tips for regular
soldering irons, so you won't be stuck with the dremel only line".

I already know that the irons they sell for the task work (and
probably work well)... i'm looking for new information.

For good or bad, I tend to question everything. It's probably
frustrating/annoying as heck to folks... but there it is.

Unfortunatly noone here seems to have done any work (SG or other)
with the tool at all. It must be a relatively new release, I can't
find any online reviews on it. Maybe i can get Dremel to send me one
for free, So I can review it and get the info out there.

--
be safe.
flip
Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
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whoops...
[1]I participate in medieval recreation, and am interested in lots of
traditional techniques and crafts.

"Philip Lewis" wrote in message
...
find any online reviews on it. Maybe i can get Dremel to send me one
for free, So I can review it and get the info out there.


I wouldn't hold my breath on that.

"Moonraker" writes:
"Philip Lewis" wrote:
find any online reviews on it. Maybe i can get Dremel to send me one
for free, So I can review it and get the info out there.
I wouldn't hold my breath on that.

heh... I can dream. I've written them and will let folks know if I
get it and if it works.

--
be safe.
flip
Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")

On 10 Nov 2005 23:27:06 -0500, Philip Lewis
wrote:

Heat is heat...

And 30W of it isn't enough.

Andy Dingley writes:
Philip Lewis writes:
Heat is heat...
And 30W of it isn't enough.

I don't know the physics involved well enough to argue the point.
Are all 30W elements the same, or is there a conversion factor?

like in light bulbs:
A 60W incandescent lightbulb converts to light and to heat.
a 15W flourescent bulb is more efficient at converting the energy to
light, and therefore is as bright as a 60W bulb at 25% the wattage.

I think, in a closed box (with the box absorbing all the light and
converting it to heat) the 15W bulb would only yield 25% of the heat
that the 60W does.... so If the iron represents 100% (or near)
conversion of the the energy to heat (I don't recall seeing an iron
emitting visible spectrum radiation. , then knowing that 30W is not
enough is useful, Thanks.


--
be safe.
flip
Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")

"Philip Lewis" uttered ina troll like
manner ....


I don't know the physics involved well enough to argue the point.
Are all 30W elements the same, or is there a conversion factor?

like in light bulbs:
A 60W incandescent lightbulb converts to light and to heat.
a 15W flourescent bulb is more efficient at converting the energy to
light, and therefore is as bright as a 60W bulb at 25% the wattage.

I think, in a closed box (with the box absorbing all the light and
converting it to heat) the 15W bulb would only yield 25% of the heat
that the 60W does.... so If the iron represents 100% (or near)
conversion of the the energy to heat (I don't recall seeing an iron
emitting visible spectrum radiation. , then knowing that 30W is not
enough is useful, Thanks.

Are you the kind of guy that when someone asks the time, you want to know
how a watch is made?
Or are you determeined to keep posting this drivel until someone bites ate
the bait and says

"What the F*** is wrong with you?" Are you going to keep belaboring the
point until someone agrees with you and says , "Yeah it's a great iron go
ahead, buy 50 of them you'll love it."

What's your real reason for posting this question, it can't be to know the
iron won't work, because it WON'T. It will begin to solder one joint and it
will crash and burn, then 15 min later it can start another, it is not
designed to do what you want to do, solder leaded glass together
efficiently.

But that is not why you are posting, I just gave you the answer to why you
are posting, you like to see your name in print.