Abstract: A variable temperature cautery comprising a housing configured to retain a voltage source with an adaptor plug and associated heating tip assembly in operative relation to each other. A control assembly is movably attached to the housing to operatively couple a conductor disposed within the housing and the voltage source. The conductor is movable into and out of operative engagement with the adaptor plug by an actuator mechanism to selectively deliver an infinite variety of voltages to the removable heating tip assembly of the cautery. The housing or handle of the cautery is encapsulated and sterilized by placing it in a sterile bag device. A disposable tip assembly is used in conjunction with the cautery handle and covering bag and is provided with sharpened electrode leads which puncture the bag and fit into the instrument handle so that current can flow to the wire loop cutting area to provide a hot cutting tip.