The reason the Scope is such a good iron is because of the manual control and almost unlimited heat. The reason the Scope is such a bad iron for many people is because of the manual control and almost unlimited heat.
I would not be without a Scope iron. Although they run off a nominal 4volt AC they are can be run off a 12 volt battery . Use a few metres of electric light flex as a dropping resistor and extension cable. Expect the flex to very warm/hot whilst in use. This makes them a very portable soldering iron.
Scopes are not for everyone , but once mastered and the fingers synced with the required heat they are invaluable.
Parts are cheap and easy to find and elements and tips are the only consumable items.
Shane, if the ring pressure is too high, check the ceramic bead insulators inside the barrel are not chipped or split or the barrel is full of burnt carbon from the elements. Normally they are very light in operation.
And to think that I thought I was the only one that still had and still used the 60 year old Scope that I bought to build my 60W Playmaster Guitar Amp all those years ago!
Instant soldering!
JAJEA