Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Works great for: - WOOD - LEATHER (burning) - PLASTIC (welding = repairing stuff + cutting) -SOLDERING - IRONING tiny sections of PAPER or FABRIC -SEWING applications (Ironing: embroidery onto fusible backing,... Melting nylon/polyester thread or fabric to fuse together. Millnery applications: making flowers for hats etc.) Update October 2020: Still going strong and kicking! This is now in my TOP 10 ESSENTIAL TOOLS along with other basics like a hammer, screwdriver, iron, vacuum cleaner,...I have used this little tool SO MUCH. Example: I use it for Plastic Welding: Fixed my $230 Cuisinart 14 Cup pro food processor. 1 little plastic piece broke, and it would’ve cost me $65 to replace the bowl. 10 minutes with this thing and $0, fixed like new. -I’ve fixed countless friends’ things this way. 10/10 recommend. Has saved me hundreds in repairs alone. Absolutely worth it. Will be replacing if it ever kicks the bucket. TIPS: - CLEANING the TIPS: Plastic welding/ soldering to repair broken plastic: get yourself a cotton cloth to wipe the tip on while you’re using it. (Has to be cotton. any synthetic blend fabric will melt onto your iron.) Then use high grit sandpaper (400, 600, or really 200+) to wipe the tip off on and scrape any gunk off. Makes your tips clean and like new. - SECURE THE BASE/ holder so you don't burn yourself: Use outdoor painter's tape to keep the hot tool securely in place on your table so it doesn’t slide away and so you won't burn yourself. The tape will peel right off when you're done. OrSecure to table by putting a piece of rubber shelf lining under the metal holder/base. - Secure the TEMPERATURE you want: with a little piece of painter’s, packing, or masking tape to secure the tool in the exact heating position you want. The dial can easily move, so if you bump it on anything, you might crank the heat up or down unintentionally. Sticking a little piece of tape: 1/2 on the tool, 1/2 on the heating wheel/knob, makes it stay exactly where you want it. Then when you're done it peels right off clean. - The Tape I use to hold the base in place and to hold the temperature dial in place: ScotchBlue 2097-48EC Painter Tape for Exterior Surfaces, 1.88-Inch by 45-Yard. It's my new favorite tape for all projects because it tears off in a straight line and sticks to everything while also cleanly peeling off of very type of surface. - Totally worth buying the extra tips: SE WP28 28-Piece Wood Burning Pen Tips. You may think you won't use some of these tips, and you're right, but you can grind them down with a dremel and make more pointed tips, since the plain pointed tips do wear out.