Where do you ship from? US orders ship from our US warehouse.
How long does shipping take? US: 3–5 business days. International: 10–15 business days. You'll get a tracking link by email the moment it leaves.
I ordered two things — will they come together? If they're on the same order, yes, one box. Post-purchase add-ons go in with your original order as long as it hasn't shipped yet.
Can I change or cancel my order? If it hasn't shipped, yes — email us with your order number. Once it's out the door we can't pull it back, but the 30-day guarantee still covers you.
What's the guarantee? 30 days, money back, on everything. Use it on a real job. If it doesn't do what we said, send it back.
How do I start a return? Email support@solderstick.com with your order number. We'll send the return details. Refund lands 3–5 business days after we receive it.
Do I pay return shipping? Yes — return shipping is on you. Keep the tracking number so we can process the refund the day it lands.
What if it arrives damaged or something's missing from the kit? Send us a photo and your order number. We replace it — no need to send the damaged one back.
How do these work? Strip both wires, push them into the connector so they overlap under the solder ring, then heat. The solder melts and flows into the strands, the tube shrinks down, and the glue rings at each end seal it. One heat, three jobs: joined, insulated, waterproof.
Do I need a heat gun? Yes. A heat gun with a reflector nozzle gives you an even melt and a clean seal. A lighter or a torch will do it in a pinch, but they scorch the tube and you'll get an uneven seal. If you don't have one, we sell the one we use.
How do I know when it's done? Watch the solder ring. It goes from a dull silver band to clear and flows into the wire. When you can see solder in the strands and the glue is bubbling slightly at the ends, stop. Let it cool before you flex it.
The solder won't melt. Almost always one of three things: the heat gun's not hot enough (needs [CONFIRM: XXX]°F+), you're not holding it long enough, or the nozzle's too far away. Get the nozzle within an inch, keep it moving side to side, and give it a full 10–15 seconds.
Which size do I use? Match the colour band to your wire gauge:
Both bands on one connector are the same colour — that's the size code.
Are they actually waterproof? Yes — the glue lining at each end melts and seals to the wire jacket. They're rated for marine, under-vehicle and trailer use. The seal is only as good as the shrink, so make sure both ends shrink down fully.
Can I use them on solid core / house wiring? They're designed for stranded automotive, marine and low-voltage wire. Not for mains household wiring.
Can I reuse or re-heat one? You can re-heat to reflow if the first melt was uneven. You can't open one and reuse it — cut it out and use a fresh connector.
How strong is the joint? Stronger than the wire around it. Once the solder's in the strands and the tube's shrunk, the wire will break before the joint does.
What does it do? Finds where a wire is broken without stripping or piercing anything. Clip the transmitter on, walk the loom with the receiver, and where the tone stops is the break.
Do I have to strip the wire or pull the tape off? No. It reads through insulation, tape and split loom. That's the point of it.
What voltage does it work on? 6–42V. Car, truck, trailer, RV, boat, bike — one tool.
Will it tell me if a part is bad? No. TrueTrace finds breaks in the wire. If the tone runs the whole length and never stops, the wire's fine and the fault's in a part, a relay or a ground — that's what the CircuitPen is for.
Does it need batteries? Yes — two 9V batteries, one for the transmitter and one for the receiver. They're not in the box, so grab a pair before it arrives.
What does it do that a multimeter doesn't? A meter reads. The CircuitPen also pushes — there's a switch under your thumb that sends battery power straight out the tip, so you can make a pump, motor or relay run on command. No helper turning the key, no jumper wires.
What tests does it do? Voltage, polarity, continuity, short circuit, current leakage, relay test and drive test. Seven, one probe.
12V or 24V? Both. Clamps to any battery, any make.
Does it need an app or a subscription? No. It's a standalone handheld. Plug it into the port under your dash, read the code and what it means in plain English on the screen. Pay once, nothing to cancel.
Which cars does it work on? Any petrol vehicle sold in the US from 1996 on, and diesels from 2008 on — that's every car with an OBD2 port.
Can it clear codes? Yes — read and clear.
How is it different from the CircuitPen? The scanner tells you what the computer thinks is wrong. The CircuitPen tells you what the wire is actually doing. Start with the scanner, prove it with the pen.
Email support@solderstick.com with your order number and a photo if it's a product question. We answer within 24–48 hours.
