I have been told that there are 2 different version, of this same aluminium handle. The "original version", and the "new version". The original version was better than the new version. At least in terms of the distance from the tip to the handle.
But they stopped making that now. It is no longer available. So I have got the new version here. This was discussed recently in the Russian forum (RadioKot). Except for my finding about how it was not properly insulated. Perhaps your example is, but not all from China are coming like that. So it could just as easily... be bad like mine. Who knows?
So the big problem is trusting it. But why cannot we just check it ourselves? To make sure? Because:
You cannot safely take apart this aluminium handle. Without damaging / destroying the fragile wiring in the process. Mine broke. Unless you use silicone grease lubricant on the strain relief. Because the wires are very thin, and there is no room inside.
Yet you need to dismantle the handle, in order to see / check if it was properly insulated. Or not safe, as mine was not. But in the process you damage the handle, and cannot safely fit it together, with a proper heatshrink on the wires. There is no room! Then you just get frustrated, and try to cram it all in there, (somehow). At which point the strain relief pops off the other end and will not fit back on anymore. Because it's being pushed out by the wires (no space). So you try to force the strain relief back on, really damaging the thin wires (yet again). That you cannot see / check they are ok anymore. Also they strain relief is damaged and will not fit anymore either.
But that was my problem. Not to worry, maybe other people to not have such troubles. Because they use silicone grease on the strain relief. As recommended by Russian forums.
But why would you buy one in the first place, if you already knew this? In fact there was yet another drawback of it, I forgot to mention earlier:
* The metal conducts heat from the tip into your hand.
* This problem only occur (too hot to hold) after a longer duration of continuus usage.
* Problem is a lot worse when the tip itself generating a lot of wasted heat up at the wrong end, near the contacts, because that is within the handle. This happens if the tip is faulty, or is poor quality. Such as DavidAlpha measured earlier. High resistance!
By comparison:
The carbon fibre handle is better because it:
* Has a shorter distance from the handle to the tip. So it has better control like a pencil.
* Does not conduct the heat, but insulates / protects your hand from high temperature. No worries. It will never get hot.
* Does not short itself out randomly by accident.
* About the same price. Perhaps +$3 more.
So this was the recommendation given by RadioKot forum user. I come back to tell my experience after receiving my Carbon Fibre handle. And if any problem with it. Good or bad (either way).