Gas soldering iron

[Carlosfandango]

Doe any of you guys use gas soldering irons? Are they any good?
I would only need it for light use. Is there any that might be better than others?

 

[Marvo]

I have one which I use for convenience very occasionally but I much prefer my 230v bench iron which maintains a predictable temperature and gives a far superior joint.

My gas iron looks kinda like this except it's black


I also have a battery iron like this but I don't like it and never use it.

 

[Carlosfandango]

Cheers. I think I'll go for a 230v one. Can't be bothered buying a gas one then have to buy a 230 one cos the gas ones poop!

 

[telectrix]

gas irons are OK when you've got no mains , and for small jobs. pants for trying to joint 2 6mm cables. just not hot enough.

 

[Marvo]

I have a gas soldering iron that's good for 16mm and upward, I'm sure it would work on 6mm.

 

[telectrix]

that's not a soldering iron, it's a bloody blowtorch!

 

[Marvo]

Cheers. I think I'll go for a 230v one. Can't be bothered buying a gas one then have to buy a 230 one cos the gas ones poop!

My gas iron isn't 'poop', it's just difficult to control the temperature of the joint whilst you work, it's easy to overheat and make dry joints if you're not wide awake. Once in a while it's a godsend when working in places where there's no power available.

Now the battery iron is another story, it would definitely be in the 'poop' category. Even with brand new high-end supadoopa batteries it doesn't get hot enough to solder anything above 1mm and 2 minutes of soldering is about the limit before the batteries are flat.

 

[Marvo]

that's not a soldering iron, it's a bloody blowtorch!

Yeah, kinda a cross between a blowtourch and soldering iron. The one I have uses MAPP gas and you could solder boilers together with it.

 

[telectrix]

i have a gas iron from b&q. it has a iron tip for small work and a fine flame end for bigger stuff. worst thing about it is burnt fingers when you change tips.

 

[Knobhead]

I had one blow up in my hand.

The company issued them and soon withdrew them when I went on the sick for a month.

 

[jon small]

i have a gas soldering iron i bought 20 years ago from snap on when i was working as an auto electrician - still working like new can do 6mm cable no probs and for bigger stuff got real old lump of copper on a steel shaft that you heat with a blow lamp or camping stove thats ideal when when no power available

 

[Guitarist]

Had my RS Components one for about 15 years. It's as good as electric if I'm honest, but it wasn't cheap (to the Company at the time)

 

[Robotstar5]

I can recommend Portasol irons, been using them nearly 30 years without any problems

 

[grantr37]

Antex Gascat....

but they seem to have stopped making them/rebranded them to Irodo Solderpro....exactly the same as far as I know......they have them in Maplins ...

 

[Englishsparks]

Had mine for years, brilliant in cold weather for warming up hands.

Got mine from Maplins think I paid around £40