Terry,
You have a great kit awaiting, I will offer a few thoughts regarding your iron.
From the pictures it looks just like the leather irons I have. Mine just plug in and work. Eventually. It does take 20 minutes for them to reach temperature on 120v power. And they will go well beyond 220 degrees C.
Yes, I painted the sides flat black to use my infrared thermometer. Your stand looks superb.
Is it possible you have a poor ceramic heating element and need to order another iron?
Is it possible that the temperature control knob is maladjusted?
Before setting the tool aside for spare parts, you might consider full disassembly and a look at the knob to see if it got put in wrong. If that’s even possible.
Not having taken one apart I am not sure how the knob could be put in wrong, but it would be on the top of my trouble shooting list.
Its digital circuit is generally beyond my input, and I think might be responsible for smaller temperature swing than my model aircraft irons, which could vary given the price range these are sold at.
Those two points aside, I am very interested in knowing how your step up transformer works. Your observations on the use of the transformer will likely have value to many others. So I’m hoping you post your results.
Great topic. Best of luck.
Bruce