Recommend me a gas soldering iron

[scottmk1]

I’m after a decent quality gas soldering iron, probably only for use a few times a year so durability isn’t the main concern but I just want it to work whenever I go to use it. Automotive use will be the main area of use excluding things like battery cable .

 

[Robotstar5]

Portasol is the only brand I'd recommend, been using them for nigh on 40 years with no complaints.

 

[scottmk1]

Portasol is the only brand I'd recommend, been using them for nigh on 40 years with no complaints.

Thanks I’ll take a look at them

 

[scottmk1]

They seem to be sold out of everything?

 

[gaz1]

im still using mine and its older than me

and i can use propane or butane or even hung over the gas stove

and it will outlast any of them

and you can make a smaller type if need be and have 2/4 on the gow all heating up

 

[scottmk1]

That’s all good and well if you have that sort of heat source in the middle of your field, or on your boat. It needs to be self contained and refillable really.

 

[gaz1]

i can use map gas or butane/propane mix blowlamps

or a cooker hob type of unit

 

[scottmk1]

Ok well I tend not to carry those things with me. So I guess I’m limiting myself to a butane powered soldering iron or similar that has a self contained fuel supply.

 

[500e]

Soldering battery cables not with any non flame torch
Portasol are OK all was found tips erode quite fastmy go to is a Iroda
Can't find the one I have hasa removable gas chamber and came with 2+ a hot air nozzle, the pro 150 is closest but mine is a drill shape so it stands up

 

[scottmk1]

Yes that’s why I’ve said it’s not for that

 

[Kram]

I had a Solderpro50

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Iroda-SolderPro-Pencil-Butane-Soldering/dp/B008KGA6ZK/

It was ok for a quick bodge or large item that needs tons of heat. A proper temp controlled 12/24v iron running off a lipo battery pack/tool battery would be far better in my opinion - thats what I use these days. There was a review thread about a year back on some of them that would be very hard to beat.

Note that the tips are easy to overheat with gas. Mine could have done with a finer control, it was a minor annoyance to get it high enough without being far too hot on small jobs.

 

[Maker]

I've got a Dremel Versatip and a Snap On one (Which is just a Portasol with a bigger price tag). They mainly get used as mini blowtorches or hot air guns for heat shrink, but they solder well enough, I don't do much soldering with them as I'm nearly always in a workshop with civilised electric irons.

I prefer the Dremel, it lights first time every time, the SO usually take a few clicks, the Dremel can be momentarily on or locked on, the SO doesn't do the momentary mode which is a bit annoying using it for heatshrink, but not a problem when soldering as you'll just lock it on anyway. The SO has a nice hard plastic case and comes with a range of soldering tips (One useful and four more huge ones), the Dremel comes in a massive stupid tin you'll never use and includes one soldering tip (A conical one, eurgh) plus some knife things for cutting nylon rope, pyrography and all sorts of other not very useful things, though one of them did turn out to be very good at welding polyurethane belting.

 

[scottmk1]

Ok thanks @Kram and @Maker it seems maybe these things aren’t as straight forward as I’d like. Gas is good because I don’t have to remember to charge it up, and because I don’t always have mains power, but maybe it’s also why I’ve not had much luck with the gas ones in the past?

 

[Kram]

I agree with that the solderpro50 was great as a mini blowtorch. Since I broke it I have been looking for a replacement. Currently have some clipper jet lighters but they are not reliable, very limited time before they overheat and I killed 3.

A 5ah tool battery or similar will last an age connected to an iron. Get or make an adaptor that fits your other powertool batteries?
I wouldnt want to keep butane cans or lithium batteries permenently stored in a car though... Could get too hot.

 

[fizzy]

im still using mine and its older than me

and i can use propane or butane or even hung over the gas stove

and it will outlast any of them

and you can make a smaller type if need be and have 2/4 on the gow all heating up

mate who was an auto electrician finally settled on the old fashioned style irons on a gas ring.
He also swore by the little blowtorch ones.
I have had several refillable gas soldering irons. Never got on with them. Only seem to work properly if held with the tip vertical.
I just use an Antex and a mini inverter battery pack.
A 40W antex works better than other people's 120W as the heat transfer is so much better through the tip.

 

[500e]

Our vans had a spare filled tank and a lighter refill can for a fair No. of years without a problem found the one I have

 

[Maker]

Could get too hot.

That's a good point, I left the Dremel in the conservatory the othrt week, it overheated and vented the gas. That's the only time it's ever happened though, during the exceptionally hot weather recently. There was also a tin of butane out there which didn't leak, so just make sure to have a refill if you keep it in the car. They're no good in the cold either, butane boils at -1 degrees so below that they don't work, and even a few degrees above it the pressure is so low they barely work. A couple of years ago I was using one mid winter and putting it in my inside coat pocket between uses to keep the gas a gas.

A 40W antex works better than other people's 120W as the heat transfer is so much better through the tip.

You should try a JBC, 130 watts and the element is as close to the tip as it can get, they go from stone cold to 350C in two seconds. Sit down when you check the price though...

 

[scottmk1]

I live in Scotland mind, lads. It’s certainly got hot recently but not boil yer heed hot

 

[fizzy]

That's a good point, I left the Dremel in the conservatory the othrt week, it overheated and vented the gas. That's the only time it's ever happened though, during the exceptionally hot weather recently. There was also a tin of butane out there which didn't leak, so just make sure to have a refill if you keep it in the car. They're no good in the cold either, butane boils at -1 degrees so below that they don't work, and even a few degrees above it the pressure is so low they barely work. A couple of years ago I was using one mid winter and putting it in my inside coat pocket between uses to keep the gas a gas.


You should try a JBC, 130 watts and the element is as close to the tip as it can get, they go from stone cold to 350C in two seconds. Sit down when you check the price though...

My Antex is the same - about 2 or 3 seconds - and much cheaper!

https://www.antex.co.uk/products/precision-range-soldering-irons/tcs50w/

I have had it a while now - it is brilliant. Lead too short though.

 

[Kram]

Sorry @fizzy but antex are poo. Quite disapointed when I was looking last year and they dont have any decent temp controlled low voltage ones, not at a sensible price atleast. I think most of their business is supplying secondary schools and similar.

Review thread I mentioned is here. Its not the most compact one.

Review - T12 Soldering Iron

Utterly utterly fed up with traditional soldering irons and the dire performance they give I decided to get myself a new iron. I have been through a plethora of the standard type where you have a tip either inside or on top of a heating element. I hate the lack of tip temperature from the...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

TS100 is the self contained one, goes to sleep when its put down, but reasonably expensive. Lots of good reviews of them.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Soldering-12V-24V-Intelligent-Electronics/dp/B07FYH3ZWD/