Pianotech

Hi all,
A quick question about temperature for the standard brass hammer iron that attaches to a soldering iron:

I attached the iron to a Weller 40-watt soldering iron. On the first sample hammers, the iron worked great to get a neat finishing touch.
However, after a few minutes, I started getting burn marks. I guess it worked well before it reached its max temperature (which is advertised at 900 F on the package). Thinking it could be something on the iron, perhaps some residue after manufacture, I cleaned the iron with metal cleaner. Then I let it warm up for a good 20 minutes. This time, with the iron at full temp, it burned the hammers almost immediately.

Is the answer simply to get a dimmer? Pianotek sells a kit of soldering iron, tip, and dimmer. Dimmers are also available separately if you just need that part. It's called a Dial-Temp by Hot Tools.

If you use this dimmer, what setting do you find gives the right temperature to do the job without scorching the hammers? If you use it for steam voicing, what temp do you use?

thanks,
Scott

Hi all,
A quick question about temperature for the standard brass hammer iron that attaches to a soldering iron:

I attached the iron to a Weller 40-watt soldering iron. On the first sample hammers, the iron worked great to get a neat finishing touch.
However, after a few minutes, I started getting burn marks. I guess it worked well before it reached its max temperature (which is advertised at 900 F on the package). Thinking it could be something on the iron, perhaps some residue after manufacture, I cleaned the iron with metal cleaner. Then I let it warm up for a good 20 minutes. This time, with the iron at full temp, it burned the hammers almost immediately.

Is the answer simply to get a dimmer? Pianotek sells a kit of soldering iron, tip, and dimmer. Dimmers are also available separately if you just need that part. It's called a Dial-Temp by Hot Tools.

If you use this dimmer, what setting do you find gives the right temperature to do the job without scorching the hammers? If you use it for steam voicing, what temp do you use?

thanks,
Scott

Hi all,
A quick question about temperature for the standard brass hammer iron that attaches to a soldering iron:

I attached the iron to a Weller 40-watt soldering iron. On the first sample hammers, the iron worked great to get a neat finishing touch.
However, after a few minutes, I started getting burn marks. I guess it worked well before it reached its max temperature (which is advertised at 900 F on the package). Thinking it could be something on the iron, perhaps some residue after manufacture, I cleaned the iron with metal cleaner. Then I let it warm up for a good 20 minutes. This time, with the iron at full temp, it burned the hammers almost immediately.

Is the answer simply to get a dimmer? Pianotek sells a kit of soldering iron, tip, and dimmer. Dimmers are also available separately if you just need that part. It's called a Dial-Temp by Hot Tools.

If you use this dimmer, what setting do you find gives the right temperature to do the job without scorching the hammers? If you use it for steam voicing, what temp do you use?

thanks,
Scott

Hi all,
A quick question about temperature for the standard brass hammer iron that attaches to a soldering iron:

I attached the iron to a Weller 40-watt soldering iron. On the first sample hammers, the iron worked great to get a neat finishing touch.
However, after a few minutes, I started getting burn marks. I guess it worked well before it reached its max temperature (which is advertised at 900 F on the package). Thinking it could be something on the iron, perhaps some residue after manufacture, I cleaned the iron with metal cleaner. Then I let it warm up for a good 20 minutes. This time, with the iron at full temp, it burned the hammers almost immediately.

Is the answer simply to get a dimmer? Pianotek sells a kit of soldering iron, tip, and dimmer. Dimmers are also available separately if you just need that part. It's called a Dial-Temp by Hot Tools.

If you use this dimmer, what setting do you find gives the right temperature to do the job without scorching the hammers? If you use it for steam voicing, what temp do you use?

thanks,
Scott

Hi all,
A quick question about temperature for the standard brass hammer iron that attaches to a soldering iron:

I attached the iron to a Weller 40-watt soldering iron. On the first sample hammers, the iron worked great to get a neat finishing touch.
However, after a few minutes, I started getting burn marks. I guess it worked well before it reached its max temperature (which is advertised at 900 F on the package). Thinking it could be something on the iron, perhaps some residue after manufacture, I cleaned the iron with metal cleaner. Then I let it warm up for a good 20 minutes. This time, with the iron at full temp, it burned the hammers almost immediately.

Is the answer simply to get a dimmer? Pianotek sells a kit of soldering iron, tip, and dimmer. Dimmers are also available separately if you just need that part. It's called a Dial-Temp by Hot Tools.

If you use this dimmer, what setting do you find gives the right temperature to do the job without scorching the hammers? If you use it for steam voicing, what temp do you use?

thanks,
Scott