Da Kine Adjustable Tuning Iron

Let me start off by saying this iron is affordable and has a nice smooth base that is needed for properly waxing your skis. It's light and cheap. Downside is the temp is not what you set it at. Higher temps are in fact hotter, and lower colder but not necessarily what degrees they say they are. I tested this after noticing it had trouble keeping a steady melt pole with the high temp wax I use on my best skis.

Using a laser thermometer, I set the dial to 130. Once the light turned off indicating the proper temp was reached, I turned on the laser and bam, 120. Egh not to bad, but them the temperature started a dance that went to ~155 and down to ~105, without moving the dial. Granted this might be worse than it will hit when it is on the ski and covered in wax (more insulated on the ski), but it explains why it has trouble keeping a steady melt pool with high temp wax.

Bottom line: works for low temp wax pretty well, but tends to send off some smoke because your temp is jumping to high, and then not melt as well because it got to cold 10 sec later. If you don't care about carbon in your wax and your bases getting a little to hot occasionally, this this iron is a great way to save money on tune ups! (read: cheaper skis this thing is a good deal)

If you want an iron that keeps temp well you need one with a good thermostat and a thicker metal base. More metal = easier for the iron to keep its temp where it is set.