There is a "lamp dimmer" that is not "continuously variable" in that it has a high and a low position that simply fastens into one side of the cord that goes to the iron. Being as there seem to be enough of " us piano techies " offering ideas I thought I would toss this one out there. In the low position it cuts the current going through it exactly in half - an 80 watt iron becomes a 40 watt iron. The "dimmer" I am referring to is made by Levitron. I have one in a small lamp that I use for lighting actions in those dim places. BTW. the method by which these work is more than simple. In the "high" position the current simply flows through its usual path, while in the "low" position the AC current is forced to go through a diode which allows the current to pass in one direction only. Half on and half off effectively speaking - therefore essentially half the wattage of any item that it is used with. You should see how little light comes from a 7 watt light with one of these in the low position in line with it. Please keep in mind that this techniques ONLY works with AC current - not DC. Likewise: It would take very little effort to place an appropriate switch and diode in the iron that Schaff sells to do the same thing. John R. Fortiner Billings, MT. ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
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