Solder pencil
 

Got a 60 watt solder pencil but it’s just way to hot for small work so does anyone know how to modify it down to around 25 watts with a resistor?

You could try a diode in series so it only heats on half the AC cycle. Otherwise a light dimmer may work.

Get one of these from your local hardware or electrical supply store.

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-RNL06...9684784&sr=8-6

If you have a variac or dim bulb tester (with a variety of bulb wattages) for testing tube sets you can use it on a soldering iron.

My variac was being used as a temp control for a wood burning iron before I got it, and still has oak, and another wood penciled in it along with CTC-4 and some other sets I've worked on....

Ok So how would this lower the voltage

With AC it's the average time on versus the time off of the AC cycle. That's how a triac light bulb dimmer works. And there's no wasted head being dropped across a resistor. Using a single diode it half wave rectifies the AC sine wave.

Ok it works like a charm , thanks

You could even mount the diode in a metal utility box with a bypass switch and outlet. Then you'll have a dual heat iron or standby position to save the tip from oxidizing from excess heat.

Yes I could but this iron is only for small solid state parts and low heat is good and the diode I used don’t even get warm.