what portable-ish soldering iron should I buy? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Deactivated-1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 12:12:38 pm
content: I'm looking for a pretty cheap portable-ish soldering iron, I intend to use it mostly for automotive and vacuum tube equipment.currently I have one of those cheap shitty uncontrolled 70w irons and am PWM'ing it so it doesn't overheat. and it works fine for the soldering joints I solder, only thing it can't solder well is chasis soldering but not many irons can.I'm thinking about the TS100 but as I've seen in some videos of it, it really looks like it wouldn't be powerful enough for vacuum tube equipment. maybe they just used lead-free solder and a lower temperturecan you maybe recommend me a better option? or is the TS100 enough for my use?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 12:18:46 pm
content: TS-100 will do the job fine if you use it with a large tip and 24V power supply. It's a 65W soldering iron. There is no other more powerful portable temperature regulated soldering iron.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 12:20:42 pm
content: If you're using it for larger joints like automotive and valve then you need to fit a 'C4' (4mm Chisel) tip and run it at 24V. That way you get the full 65W with decent mass and contact area.Edit: Snap!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 12:27:34 pm
content: You could also use something like quite small KSGER soldering station with T12 cartridges. Though you should get genuine Hakko cartridges for best performance.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 12:39:34 pm
content: Quote from: ELS122 on June 22, 2020, 12:32:20 pmTS80 is much weaker. It will do the job only if heat accumulated within a tip is enough to melt the thing. If it's something that needs longer heating, it will suck due to the lack of power..

author: capacitor_explosion
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 12:49:27 pm
content: To my knowledge the Ts80 outperforms the ts100 because of better temperature reading therefore better PID control.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 01:04:05 pm
content: People forget what their intended purposes are. Anything from 'SMD' work, through to repairsto old valve electronics. You need 'various' soldering stations, with varying temperatures,depending on the 'application'? When (and if!) you need to 'solder' to say a 'chassis', thenyou need a high heat load/supply... "Old circuitry" is typical in this regard. It's ALL 'horsesfor courses'. you need the 'minimum' at times, but depending on what you are doing, youneed maximum heat, in the shortest period of time. There is NO one answer!!!

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 01:17:21 pm
content: Quote from: capacitor_explosion on June 22, 2020, 12:49:27 pmThe Ralim alternative firmware is more or less a 'given' for the TS100 (and maybe the TS80 too?) due to the better tuned PID, that allows it to achieve the best from its higher power (from my experience anyway).

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 02:10:42 pm
content: Quote from: ELS122 on June 22, 2020, 12:51:09 pmTotal bullshit. Also what it draws when it's not soldering anything has nothing to do with how much power it can deliver when there is such need.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 02:15:16 pm
content: I just checked and TS100 draws up to 2.7A when powered from 24V.QuoteThere is no standard 15 AWG wire, only 16 and you don't need much power to solder it.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 03:30:57 pm
content: Quote from: ELS122 on June 22, 2020, 02:39:23 pmDid he bother to measure if they have the same temperature and did he bother to use the same type of tip? According to other tests TS-100 can solder beefier objects. TS-80 simply drops it's temperature due to lack of heating power. Again, I effing tested how much TS-100 consumes an hour ago.EDIT: I found his video and I actually disliked it a while ago. He used a smaller conical tip on TS-100 and larger tip on TS80. What a surprise TS-100 did not deliver much power. Still both tips were too small to check how much power soldering irons can deliver. What a joke, if you make comparisons, conditions must be equal. Not apples vs oranges. If you make such small tip comparisons, then compare TS-B02 with similar TS-B2, not TS-B02 with TS-ILS.Also he said that 20oC difference he measured is not a game changer. Then, proceeded to further testing without temperature adjustment. Such temperature difference easily results in soldering OK vs not able to solder. Especially considering the setting was only 300oC.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 03:56:08 pm
content: For field work I always used butane. They are reliable, quick to recharge and light. Weller is a good brand.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 04:14:08 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on June 22, 2020, 02:15:16 pmWell, there certainly is a standard for what size 15AWG is. But yeah, nobody makes odd-numbered AWG wire. But often, nominally-metric wire is stated by vendors with the next-smallest AWG. For example, 1.5mm diameter (not cross section) solid wire is just a hair thicker than 15AWG, which would be 1.450mm diameter, so one might sell it as 15AWG in USA.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2020, 10:00:14 pm
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on June 22, 2020, 03:56:08 pmI agree completely. Gas soldering irons are brilliant, I even use them at home, not just for "portable" jobs.But forget Weller, their gas irons are rubbish (as their electrical irons also are nowadays).I use the Portasol SuperPro with piezo ignition, here's a link (you'll need to click on the UK flag):https://www.zevatron.de/loetkolben/regelbare-gasloetkolben-2/It ignites reliably every time (which my previous Weller did not)Temperature control is super (it wasn't with my Weller)Tips and accessories are really good and do the job (Which the Weller parts didn't)You can use it without tip as a burner.And, and, and...I've NO affiliation to this company at all, but am completely satisfied. For very fine electronics work I use an ancient Antex 25 W electric iron

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2020, 05:23:36 pm
content: Thw buthane soldering tools sold by Weller were not manufactured by Weller, but by some Japanese Company.Now Weller sells Portasol branded tools , like the ones quoted by Benta.For what I know, Portasol tolols are made in Ireland, but if you search Weller Portasol you'll find some with dual logos.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2020, 07:10:18 pm
content: ciccio is right, on my Portasol it says "Made in Ireland". But as it's over 10 years old (and still going strong), who knows what's happened in the meantime.It appears that Weller has merged from being a quality manufacturer to just doing brand marketing.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2020, 08:39:01 pm
content: Are gas irons really that good for temperature stability / controllability? I've always naively assumed that they would have similar characteristics to an unregulated element, ie. constant heat input, leading to excessive tip temperature when idling and temperature drop when soldering.Do they have some sort of temperature feedback regulation mechanism?Edit: The reason I ask is because when my son was at Uni, one of his friends who was working part-time at Maplin, was offering gas soldering irons at staff discount price. At the time, I told him not to touch it and gave him my spare Weller TCP (Magnastat) instead. Come to think, he's still using it!

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2020, 09:01:09 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on June 23, 2020, 08:39:01 pmGood question, the answer is no. The temperature feedback is the operator. When idle, just turn down the gas flow, it heats up very fast when needed.That being said, temperature regulation is easy and fast (on my Portasol at least) and gives no problems, but requires an experienced solderer (just as for all soldering operations). It's actually easier to operate than the classic quality magnetic controlled Weller.But yes, if you need to warm up a large object, your concern is justified. For that, the heat nozzle is included for pre-warming.In short, if you need an iron that will hit 313 degrees C and stay there, the gas iron is not the right choice. If you want an iron that can be regulated easily, is light and compact with no cable and has plenty of heat reserve, go for the gas iron.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2020, 09:04:36 pm
content: Tip mass has a great deal to do with temp range and if you adjust with a meter you can easily get a stable15 minutes. Having said that the temp drop is minimal is the tip mass is as small as possible.Portasol is Weller. In my experience 100 bucks will get a very decent butane iron. I don't typically change tips in the field and load three irons with what I need. I have only killed one iron and that involved dropping it into a sump filled with oil.I have tried some Chinese guys they work fine but you can't light them reliably so carry a lighter to get them started. Portasol have the nice cover that turns off the iron and keeps you from getting burned.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2020, 10:27:42 pm
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on June 23, 2020, 09:04:36 pmYes, Portasol is today unfortunately Weller. Expect the same downward spiral in quality as with other Weller stuff...

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2020, 11:21:41 am
content: Ha!!I just had flash-backs of an aspect of my previous work, on large buildingFire-Systems...In big buildings, theThermal-Detectorsare often quite high. When I was testing them, (andI'm talking about literally 500 to 1000 in big buildings!), I used one of thoseButane'Portasol'style gas Irons, with aCokecan under the screw-in Tip, and the can top cut off. And mountedit all on the end of an aluminiumextension pole, like for a swimming pool vacuum head.Used to work perfectly!! (Held up against the detector). Would set them off in about5 seconds.Some (stairways/foyers etc) would be up to 5 to 8 metres high! No probs!!And yes, they can put out a LOT of heat when turned up high, even soldering to a metal chassis!!

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2020, 02:16:18 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on June 23, 2020, 10:27:42 pmI was curious, and went towww.portasol.comNowhere in the site they affirm of being bought by Weller.The Weller site shows only one gas iron, the old Pyropen Jr, that is not a Portasol, but on Amazon you can buy aWeller Portasol/https://www.amazon.it/Weller-gas-saldatore-Portasol-T0051608099/dp/B003A62U5E/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=83529439571&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk5638c-a6gIVAxUYCh0bLwxTEAAYAiAAEgKXe_D_BwE&hvadid=381443988670&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1008626&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=10351294123279931369&hvtargid=kwd-301729107541&hydadcr=12845_1758538&keywords=weller+portasol&qid=1593007639&sr=8-1&tag=slhyin-21.This is funny...I had once a Portasol (the original orange one) that was too unreliable in use, then I bough a (very expensive) Weller Pyropen (light blue, made in Japan. with a metal box) that is still in my toolbox after 12 years of very occasional use, and it worked. I steel prefer a long cable reel and an electric iron..

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2020, 07:25:51 pm
content: Quote from: ciccio on June 24, 2020, 02:16:18 pmAll news on the Portasol website are 10 years old, it seems to be an orphan site.This is the Portasol I have (and am very happy with), and it's now called Weller:https://www.amazon.com/Weller-P2KC-Professional-Self-igniting-Soldering/dp/B000WOHSHM

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 03:31:28 am
content: Quote from: Benta on June 24, 2020, 07:25:51 pmWeller-branded Portasol irons have been available for decades, and non-Weller Portasol irons are still available today, including from Amazon:https://www.amazon.de/PORTASOL-Gasl%C3%B6tkolben-Technik-L%C3%B6tspitzen-10-60/dp/B000PLUTNWSo nothing, including the website, is in any way indicative of Portasol being owned by Apex tools.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2020, 08:36:46 pm
content: Quote from: ciccio on June 23, 2020, 05:23:36 pmMy old Weller Pyropen Jr is a beatuful thing. Light years ahead of Portasol quality when i got it 30 years ago. Still on the market with same model number. No country of origin on the box. Only the instructions say printed in Japan.But my Goot solder stations are a lot easier to use if 240V is close.