Cordless Soldering Iron - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 12:20:16 am
content: I'm looking for a cordless soldering iron. I'm familiar with the Iso-Tip (I always wanted one since i was a kid)They have Butane and battery operated ones. Which one it the best for low power electronics use? I have too many devices expecting battery replacement soon.I good advice from people with experience in the subject will be greatly appreciated.Thank you

author: Alana
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 12:45:48 am
content: I have this onehttp://www.neo-tools.com/EN/catalogue/joining/microtorches/19-903.htmlIt proven itself as soldering iron for things like soldering 2 cables in connection box or installing plug on TV coax. I think i even tried to replace bad caps on PC motherboard - for the lulz and it worked but from what i see its mainly for electricians not electronics.Works on normal cigar lighter butane refills and gas does not leak out even after 2 months in my tool bag i carry around daily.Cost - about 25euro and its worth it.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 01:30:06 am
content: the battery powered ones tend to need replacements fairly often, and the gas powered ones need new tips often (often as in yearly) i would say to go for the gas, as most have an exposed flame head, which works very well for heatshrinking, otherwise the side vent generally works well for one,equally for the gas when turned up high you can use the side vent for a crude hot air gun,

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 02:02:07 am
content: I tried buying a cordless one when I first started off. Half of them a crap, be careful with what you buy. After about 70 bucks lost on finding a good one I settled on a hakko fx-888 and I love it!

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 02:03:20 am
content: I'm not saying not to buy a cordless iron, just saying be careful with what you buy and do your research!

author: Spawn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 02:45:35 am
content: I got this set from Weller:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-Pyropen-Piezo-Portable-Soldering/dp/1550047728/ref=pd_sxp_f_ptAnd also got two of these, one in my car and one in my toolbox, it is another Weller, cheaper than above but I like this one more, never had issue with tips over the years, one of these is 8 years old, need some cleaning time to time but works great:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-WEL-WP1-SOLDERING-ITON-M-PIEZO-IGNITION/dp/B003A67PJKI wouldn’t recommend a battery powered one either, I owned one from Weller and I still got it somewhere, but batteries die to fast and when you are in the field you can’t charge, even if you can charge you have to wait, with butane models you can have Pyropen refill and use it all day:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-Pgr1-Gas-Refill-Pyropen/dp/B0001P177E

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 04:00:48 am
content: I have one of these:http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2911246And one of these:http://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fx901.htmlAnd one of these:http://www.amazon.com/Weller-P2KC-Professional-Self-igniting-Soldering/dp/B000WOHSHMI use rechargeable NiMH in the battery powered ones (using alkalines in a high power heating device would be insane). Both work equally well, with the Radio Shack one having perhaps a slightly better tip. As manufactured the Radio Shack iron has a non-latching momentary on switch that gets old fast. I modified mine so it latches on.Neither battery iron will be much good for large joints, but they work fine for soldering twisted wires, small contacts or component leads.The Weller gas iron is in a different league where overall utility is concerned. It has various sized tips available and is equivalent to about 50 W in power output. Not to mention the hot air and micro-flame accessories that come with the kit. The downside is that the catalytic converter in the tips does wear out after a while, so the tips don't last forever.If you were going to buy one iron only, I would recommend a butane iron. There are others out there like the Pyropen that may be brilliant (for a price), but I don't own a Pyropen so I can't comment.On the other hand, for $9.99 get one or two of the Radio Shack battery irons and keep them for emergencies. If like me you have a stock of eneloops sitting charged and waiting to go you can't fail to melt solder when the need arises.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 07:23:22 am
content: Whatever you do, don't buy those fragile graphite tipped cold heat soldering iron, they suck big time. Butane powered works well for me but platinum filled tips has lifespan.

author: Spawn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 09:47:03 pm
content: I never had issues with the tips of my Wellers, are you guys talking about another brands?Here from left to right, 14 years, 5 years and 8 years:Again from left to right 14, 5 and 8 years old, and the tips are still good:I don’t use the 14 years old blue one anymore, it gets choked a lot and needs more maintenance than the red ones, while it was the most expensive one, I got a red one after these issues because it was giving a lot problems just when you need it, once I had the red one I got another one for my automotive usages, the 8 year one is used most like at least once a week for a hour. I have to mention if it is cold outside it won’t heat up good enough to solder.After this topic I remember to clean up 5 year old one because it was not working anymore, so here a little teardown of it:

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2013, 10:57:57 pm
content: Thank you for all the useful information. I'm down to to one of the ISO-TIP (Rolls Royce of the rechargeable soldering irons) or the Portasol - Weller type butane soldering iron. They both have a good selection of tips. The Hakko FX-901 is interesting but I don't know how durable is and there are only 2 tips available. I want to get some decent quality with good durability. There are too many that look like the disposable kind.I should make my decision soon

author: megahz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2013, 11:51:31 pm
content: I think butane is better for just general use because it is also a blow torch and those are very useful

author: Rodville
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2013, 01:22:34 am
content: Mine is from Radio Shack but I got it as a teen and I can't find tips for it anymore so I can't use it as it won't stay lit. The metal shards or whatever in it have gone so it doesn't heat up properly anymore.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2013, 02:42:53 am
content: I have used various weller butane irons over the past years and can definitely vouch for them, my favorite is the weller/portasol super-pro PSI100C; the tip retention mechanism is more durable than on the pyropens, and the on/off slide protrudes more, so it doesn't roll when placed on a surface, they work better outside and in the wind, and don't "suffer" when you turn the heat all the way up, often, when you have the gas all the way up on other models they "cough".At about $80, they're pretty good value and there is lots of spares for them if you look around.

author: StevenB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2013, 01:28:26 pm
content: Quote from: casinada on April 02, 2013, 10:57:57 pmI've got the Hakko, and it works well if you are soldering something with low thermal mass. It seems to be fairly well made. I find I rarely use it, though, as I much prefer to find somewhere to plug in.

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 03:32:34 am
content: I have the Weller P2KC. Works very well.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 04:26:27 am
content: Every battery / gas iron I've tried have either been useless or only good for doing the odd wire join where mains is not viable due to work height or distance from power.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 07:30:25 am
content: Quote from: Rodville on April 04, 2013, 01:22:34 amI have just changed my battery in a HP3478A with an iron like the above.Mine is also like 25 years old .... It was working but , not excellent ....So i just ordered a Weller from 'Bay here 230958617157/Bingo

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 09:04:58 am
content: Quote from: bingo600 on April 06, 2013, 07:30:25 amOuch, they're a pretty poor iron, they're almost entirely plastic and thus prone to breaking, i'd have checked digikey, for a similar pricehttp://www.digikey.dk/product-search/en/soldering-desoldering-rework-products/soldering-irons-tweezers-handles/1311717?k=PSI100CEven though you got a kit, which comes with a case, some extra tips and a sponge, it's not that big of a gain because you don't actually need the extra tips with the other iron;Since the tips mount on a metal/ceramic base, for the film, you just take the tip off, for the hot air; eg, doing heatshrink, the cat/exhaust hot air is sufficient for pretty much anything up to 6 awg, the only tip that is worth anything aside from the standard soldering tip is the hot knife, but then again, how often do you use that?SLJs iron is very similar to the PSI100, just without a bunch of the metal.The only problem with a lot fo the newer ones, the PSI100 and the one you have purchased is that you can't really disassemble them to fix/clean them

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 09:39:07 am
content: Quote from: peter.mitchell on April 06, 2013, 09:04:58 amThanx for the insight ...The digikey & ebay options for getting the one you mention , is cost prohibited by high shipping + customs fees ,nd 25% VAT on top of that.So i opted for one shipped within EU.It doesn't look that bad to meAnd as i have a decent soldering station , i only use it for battery replacements in DMM's.Where a recal' would cost much more than the price of my new Portasol./Bingo

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 11:24:22 am
content: Also, just a tip, when you put the tips on, make it so the cat is at 90 degrees from the slide on switch, so that way, when you put it down, you can lean it with the switch to the side to stop it from rolling, and the exhaust will point upwards.EgThe cap does fit fully, but it looks a little odd because the plastics don't line up fully.Another big reason I like the other one, is that its a piezo lighter, so it doesn't matter if you lose the lid, which i could imagine happening very easily.I guess i'm a bit more strongly opinionated was I had to use them as my primary irons often (field service)

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 12:26:51 pm
content: The reason I went with the P2K was the built in igniter. It also lives in the bottom of my tool case so the case was a plus. The plastic the P2K is made out of seems very durable so I don't think breakage will be a problem. I am going to buy one larger tip for it for the really big jobs.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2013, 04:38:24 pm
content: Having looked at that review of the P1K, I think the P2KC is definitely the better model. Automatic piezo igniter in the handle, nicer build, shrink wrap accessory, storage space in the case for extra tips.

author: Rodville
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2013, 03:52:50 am
content: Quote from: bingo600 on April 06, 2013, 09:39:07 amThank you all for posting this one. It gives me a model number and I can now order new tips for mine as it looks identical to the Portasol P-1K (aside from color)THANK YOU!!!

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2013, 08:13:45 am
content: I own a Dremel Versatip $50.Portable soldering iron / gas torch welder all-in-one. Electronic starter. Handles heat shrinking and cutting etc as well.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2013, 09:02:58 am
content: Wow, that looks pretty damn good for $50, considering all the weller one linked were more than $50 by a reasonable amount.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2013, 03:40:36 pm
content: If i had seen that one before buying the Weller , i'd have given the Dremel a try.Looks nice/Bingo

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2013, 06:15:23 am
content: It seems that the Dremel is not easily available in the US.I went to HomeDepot today and purchased the Benzomatic for $16 + $4 for the butane.http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100585921?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=micro+torch&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100585921#.UWT9STeQMUIThe body is metallic and it is very balanced on the hand. It doesn't come with its own lighter/starter but designs with piezoelectric starter tend to be bulkier.Time will tell if it will work for me. I might end up getting the Iso-Tip 7700http://www.iso-tip.com/products-page/smart-solder-series/quick-charge-soldering-iron-kit-boxed-7700/It is a proven design and it has a broad selection of tips and replacement parts if needed.Thank you to all the people that participated in the thread.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2013, 06:30:26 am
content: Quote from: casinada on April 10, 2013, 06:15:23 amThe Benzomatic is inexpensive, but if you had known you could have gone to Sears and got the much nicer Portasol P2KC kit for about $50 (you should find it in stock in most stores).

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2013, 11:53:17 pm
content: I will try to stop by Sears tomorrow and take a look. I went to Radio Shack today and the Soldering irons look really cheap. The butane torch looks made out of cheap plastic. The only good thing is that they sell replacement tips but only one type.

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2013, 06:30:44 am
content: I went to Sears today,They had the Weller/Portasol for $59 (+Tax). It looks OK, nothing special and the Wall Lenk for $19.99 that looks made out of cheap plastic. I guess I'll keep the Benzomatic