I just purchased the same soldering station as the original poster. It's OK for electronic work (very good for soldering wires to miniature plugs) but lacks the oomph to solder rail when assembling specialwork. For that purpose, and all rail related soldering, I use a 325 watt Weller hand cannon that dates from the Johnson administration.
If I feel the need for a new tip, or a tip of different shape, I'll probably locate a chunk of copper bar stock of suitable diameter (possibly heavy duty electrical cable) and make one. If that voids the warranty, so be it.
It's amazing what can be done with simple files. Just have the file card handy to clean the copper filings out of the file you're using. (For those unfamiliar with the term, a file card is a brass wire brush with very short bristles.)
As for the 'cold heat' devices, they might be suitable for use as toys. Or, if you're sufficiently desperate, they can be used as substandard paperweights.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
