Yes they are cheaply made and the whistles are not all straight in cheap plastic grips but for the price they are great! Most importantly, I had no bends or compression in the tubes themselves. They're great for removing components from the board when a solder cup or wick just can't do it. Heat the tube/pin and when the solder melts you can slide the tube through the board. Since it's stainless steel, the solder won't stick to it, and when the solder hardens you can remove the tube and remove the component. super easy. Many sizes to use for different components/situations. I almost gave up on a project as the solder and wick couldn't do the job and they were perfect. Yes, they're cheaply made, but they're deceptive.