The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·98081·Announced 1998-03-17

American Presto Recalls Wisdom Soldering Guns Due to Melt Risk

American Presto Corp. is recalling approximately 720 Wisdom brand soldering guns because the plastic handles can melt during use, posing electrocution and burn hazards.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (electrocution/burn) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the criteria for a High severity score.

Plain-English summary

American Presto Corp. of Ontario, Calif., is recalling about 720 soldering guns sold under the Wisdom brand name in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recall was initiated because the plastic handle can melt during use, which exposes consumers to hazards of electrocution, electric shock, and burn injury. CPSC has received one report of a soldering gun's handle melting, but no injuries have been reported.

The affected soldering guns are pistol-shaped, made of red plastic with a metal barrel, and labeled "SOLDERING GUN 110V 60 HZ 35W." They feature a black power cord attached to the bottom and were packaged in a plastic shell with a hang tag stating "SOLDERING IRON...PISTOL TYPE...MANUFACTURED IN CHINA FOR WISDOM TOOLS." These units were sold at Northern Hydraulic Co. stores in Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Iowa, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Virginia from February 1997 through January 1998 for approximately $4 each.

Consumers should stop using these soldering guns immediately and return them to American Presto Corp. for a refund. For information on how to return the products, consumers can call American Presto Corp. collect at (909) 390-5288 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

The recalled product

Product
Soldering Guns Recalled by American Presto
Manufacturer
Northern Hydraulic
Category
Consumer Product — Power Tools
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · electrocution

See all →