battery opperated soldering irons

[Barry White]

At the moment I use a gas powered iron for the occasional bit of soldering I need to do and an electric one if there is a lot or fine work.(usually means an extension or taking to workshop)
Has anyone tried the battery version

Toolstation: Cordless Soldering Iron 6W

or similar thinking it would be better than the gas unit but its only 6w?

 

[UNG]

Had a rechargeable battery soldering iron many years ago it had limited uses due to the battery capacity the gas units are much better. The one you link to will probably cost a fortune in AA batteries and at 6W will create hours of frustration

 

[Marvo]

I've never tried using a 6w battery soldering iron but I'm inclined to agree with UNG. Maybe ask to try one if they have a demo available before you spend your hard earned cash on a white elephant.

 

[telectrix]

had one a few yeears ago. the ex-wife's breath was hotter.

 

[shanky887614]

a gas soldering iron would be better than the battery one.

it depends on the brand as well, i know on mine i can get it upto temp quicker than my old plug in electric soldering iron (****ty non thermostat controlled)

there is a really cheap soldering station you can buy under £50 that isnt that great but will do the job.

i was looking at it on a eevblog video

 

[steve50]

have you looked here
Buy Soldering Irons Weller Battery Soldering Iron, 11W Weller BP865CEU online from RS for next day delivery.

 

[shanky887614]

have you looked here
Buy Soldering Irons Weller Battery Soldering Iron, 11W Weller BP865CEU online from RS for next day delivery.

i got the weller pyropen, handy as it doubles as a heatgun for sleeving

 

[telectrix]

and take the RS price and you can cut it by half., of course,

WELLER BP860EU Battery Powered Soldering Iron - Dual Wattage 855734 | eBay

 

[HandySparks]

I'm quite tempted to see if I can adapt one of these 18V 40W irons to run off a Makita 18V battery:
Test TEST . Test Part No 0056810699 , 2898076 , WH40

Maybe even run the complete temperature controlled soldering station off one, if the internal secondary voltage is anywhere near right:
Weller WHS40 Temperature Controlled Solder Iron | Power Tools Direct

Should get over an hour's continuous running on one 3Ah battery.

 

[PEG]

I have used Iroda gas soldering irons for years,and they have proved very reliable,with plenty of spares and back up...completed repairs 60 meters up crane jibs,in the dark,where "bobbing" back to the vehicle was not a handy option. I would favour gas devices over battery versions every time :icon12:

 

[shanky887614]

I have used Iroda gas soldering irons for years,and they have proved very reliable,with plenty of spares and back up...completed repairs 60 meters up crane jibs,in the dark,where "bobbing" back to the vehicle was not a handy option. I would favour gas devices over battery versions every time :icon12:

has the added benerfit if your lighter runs out you can top it up with the gas

 

[telectrix]

tried that.my zippo went bang.

 

[shanky887614]

tried that.my zippo went bang.

lol what happend? you can use butane or propane in my weller so ill take a lighter that uses same fuel

(you can use the weller pyropen as a big lighter, not use about the portisol)

 

[Besoeker]

At the moment I use a gas powered iron for the occasional bit of soldering I need to do and an electric one if there is a lot or fine work.(usually means an extension or taking to workshop)
Has anyone tried the battery version

Toolstation: Cordless Soldering Iron 6W

or similar thinking it would be better than the gas unit but its only 6w?

As useful as a chocolate teapot IMHO.
We make custom printed circuit boards. The problem with such a low power is that it takes longer to melt the solder for a joint resulting the heat spreading to the component being soldered. If that component happens to be a semiconductor, you risk damaging it.

Using a soldering with an appropriate rating (we use mostly 25W) the job gets done quickly thus avoiding the risk mentioned above.

 

[pennychew]

i got the weller pyropen, handy as it doubles as a heatgun for sleeving

Ive got the portasol superpro but the weller pyropen is supposed to be a better bit of kit, what do you think of it?

Not sure i could pay £100+ for a soldering iron though

 

[shanky887614]

Ive got the portasol superpro but the weller pyropen is supposed to be a better bit of kit, what do you think of it?

Not sure i could pay £100+ for a soldering iron though

i got this one for £115 ish inc vat

cpc.farnell.com/1/1/35542-pyropen-piezo-0051605999-weller.html

its really good, set gas to 50% then press the button to start it, when it starts to glow orange put it on max to get it to temp quicker.

its upto temp very quick, clean on wet spounge to check temp then lower to 50% for lead solder

 

[pennychew]

Thats a good deal, mine is ok but it if you don't keep the tip mega clean it starts to get a bit sluggish getting the wire up to temperature

 

[shanky887614]

Thats a good deal, mine is ok but it if you don't keep the tip mega clean it starts to get a bit sluggish getting the wire up to temperature

its easy to keep clean, put solder on it then straight on spounge, no issues yet getting the temp up.

its supposed to hit 600oC on blowtorch setting so im not surprised

(350-500 variable as an iron)

 

[uksparks]

I got a gas soldering iron from Screwfix the other day, It was crap so did the job and took it back, now looking for a good quality has iron so may look at the Weller iron as looks like a good bit of kit.

 

[shanky887614]

I got a gas soldering iron from Screwfix the other day, It was crap so did the job and took it back, now looking for a good quality has iron so may look at the Weller iron as looks like a good bit of kit.

if you do go for the weller make sure its the

"pyropen piezo"

there are different models of pyropen and thats the best one, the others have shortcomings in comparison

 

[UNG]

Ive got the portasol superpro but the weller pyropen is supposed to be a better bit of kit, what do you think of it?

Not sure i could pay £100+ for a soldering iron though

I've got a few Portasol Superpro irons and have no complaints with them. In last 20 years all I have needed was a few new tips due to wear and tear and they have been used in some extreme conditions

 

[pennychew]

Its probably my technique to be honest, maybe need to clean it and tin more often. Tips always seem to blacken up quite quick on me and thats when it starts to slow.

Ive just bought 3 new tips and some of that copper cleaning wool stuff so see how i get on with that

 

[shanky887614]

Its probably my technique to be honest, maybe need to clean it and tin more often. Tips always seem to blacken up quite quick on me and thats when it starts to slow.

Ive just bought 3 new tips and some of that copper cleaning wool stuff so see how i get on with that

clean them with rosin solder then onto the damp spounge and the tips come out like new (i got my pyropen because i was having problems with the tip not getting hot enough)

 

[uksparks]

if you do go for the weller make sure its the

"pyropen piezo"

there are different models of pyropen and thats the best one, the others have shortcomings in comparison

my problem is I don't really use it very often but would like it to work and be worth using when I do

 

[shanky887614]

my problem is I don't really use it very often but would like it to work and be worth using when I do

make sure to clean the tips quite often no matter what soldering iron you are using.

using a 60/40 solder for cleaning works well with flux in the solder, tips get clean really quick

 

[amlu]

i have an Iroda solderpro, can recommend it a lot. its a gas and can be charged from a standar lighter gas refill bottle.
electric cordless are toys, maybe good for electronics and small bits and pieces but not a serious work.

 

[shanky887614]

i have an Iroda solderpro, can recommend it a lot. its a gas and can be charged from a standar lighter gas refill bottle.
electric cordless are toys, maybe good for electronics and small bits and pieces but not a serious work.

i dont see what use one would be for electronics?

either gas or a soldering station is what you need.

gas if there is no power as it can easily be refilled, plus gas doesnt discharge over time in the can like most batteries seem to

 

[PEG]

...I also have a Nimrod 70,which i "spounged" off me pal,after he couldn't get to grips with the lid/lighter,15 years on it still performs well. I don't doubt battery jobs will have a place eventually,when i was a teenager,doing tree work,we often joked about cordless chainsaws...which are now available,with some local authorities using the latest back-pack cordless technology for their landscaping teams :icon12: Only a matter of time before DNO's rip out our incomers,and give us cordless houses,with the bin-men swapping battery packs on wheelie bin day...and BG trying to force "smart-chargers" on us twelve times a day....:conehead: