My wife is taking a stained glass class this winter and needed some basic necessities. I was a little skeptical as to what made these soldering irons different from the ones I use for electronics and wiring and found it to be performance related. My iron and gun are about 30 watts and 60 watts, but this one runs at 100 watts and works better with copper foil and solder than smaller ones. She has amassed about 9 projects using this iron and it seems to get the job done. I recommend buying an iron holder (platform with a spring) as it's a good way to prevent rolling and avoid burning yourself. Sturdy construction that should last a long time. Hell, I can even use it when she lets me play with her toys.