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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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Old 9th Jul 2020, 11:39 am   #1
BulgingCap
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Default 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.
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Old 9th Jul 2020, 12:41 pm   #2
Chrispy57
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Default 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:
Originally Posted by BulgingCap View Post
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.
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Old 9th Jul 2020, 4:22 pm   #3
turretslug
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Default 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.
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Old 9th Jul 2020, 4:27 pm   #4
TonyDuell
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Default Re: Xacto soldering iron

I thought at one time Weller and Xacto were both part of Cooper Tools.
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Old 10th Jul 2020, 4:32 am   #5
BulgingCap
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Default 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.
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Old 10th Jul 2020, 5:54 am   #6
dazzlevision
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Default Re: Xacto soldering iron

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyDuell View Post
I thought at one time Weller and Xacto were both part of Cooper Tools.
Wasn’t that Xcelite?
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Old 10th Jul 2020, 12:56 pm   #7
AC/HL
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Default 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.
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Old 10th Jul 2020, 8:26 pm   #8
factory
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Default 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
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