Butane Soldering Iron Advice

jerimiah83b

New elf
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
Messages
8
Hey everyone,

Any recommendations on a Butane Soldering Iron for display build? Not looking to spend a fortune, that's means less money for the lights and props. Looking at possibly a Weller Junior or Dremel Versatip unit at the moment.


Cheers
 

LawrenceDriveLights

Senior elf
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Messages
581
Why not a conventional plug in type soldering iron or you want something portable? I recently got a Milwaukee 12v cordless lith battery one (as I have the battery’s already) and it seems ok for a portable iron. Lots of options it seems for portable soldering irons. Ryobi also does a nice looking one if you have there battery’s as well
 

burnt

Full time elf
Joined
Nov 17, 2014
Messages
189
I like the Aldi soldering iron
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Mark_M

Annoying Elf
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
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914
Location
Christmas Light world
I would STRONGLY suggest NOT TO BUY ONE.
I got a Dremel VersaTip and I can tell you it burns everything nearby.
No matter what brand, all gas soldering irons need to have a vent near the tip for the flame exhaust to escape. When you're repairing something the last thing you want is to burn the thing next to it.

I learned the hard way, buy yourself a battery powered one.
 

jerimiah83b

New elf
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
Messages
8
I would STRONGLY suggest NOT TO BUY ONE.
I got a Dremel VersaTip and I can tell you it burns everything nearby.
No matter what brand, all gas soldering irons need to have a vent near the tip for the flame exhaust to escape. When you're repairing something the last thing you want is to burn the thing next to it.

I learned the hard way, buy yourself a battery powered one.
Thanks for the advice, will take this on board and look for a battery option.
 

TANSA

Sparky with Blinky Lights ;-)
Generous elf
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
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177
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Bentley Park
Each has there good and bad.
My main advise is don’t buy cheap as you be disappointed in anything you buy ( gas, battery, electric or other)
 

bpratt

Senior elf
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
562
Location
Jimboomba, Queensland
I'm tempted to get the Ryobi one from Bunnings, as I have a stack of other Ryobi 18v tools here.

Perhaps that might be an option for you if you're looking at getting any other battery based tools.
 

Bigwillystyle

New elf
Joined
Dec 14, 2016
Messages
38
Location
Gold Coast
Working in car audio I have used many irons over the years..

Butane

Weller's are great can be bought for 120-200 bucks depending on model.. Check that you can buy replacement tips one model "the baby one can't remember the name of it" is hard to get parts for the larger one is available online easy..

The Aldi one that comes on sale for 30 bucks twice a year is a cracker.. No replaceable parts but at 30 bucks bought 2 at a time we would get roughly 12 months of use in the workshop before the were completely dead. Please keep in mind this is very heavy use. in a hobby situation I would expect many years of use..

240v great for bench work had on on my workbench but not really useful in a portable situation.

Battery

Have used the Milwaukee, Not bad overall big and bulky but heats up quick does a good job.. battery means it stands up nicely on its end..

Aussie irons Australian Made quick heat up, smaller form factor than other battery irons.. incredibly long lasting battery. 3 weeks in professional all day use.. Americans doing remote start say they get 6-10 cars a day and charge them once every week and a half... that would be 5-6 butane fills on a gas iron??

TS100 - This is my all round iron I use now i'm not in the industry.. operates on 12-24v with a standard DC barrel connection in the back.. Adjustable heat 250-450. I power this from a 16v power supply on my bench, lipo drone batteries in the field, car 12v sockets and i have a set of alligator clips to do under bonnet work.. I'm thinking of making a pigtail to plug into a power injection wire so i can use it out in my yard to do repairs.. (if i have a 12v supply)

All in all grab what you feel works for you.. I like butane irons, you need to be smart about where you use it being mindful of the exhaust ports, in all my years working in closed spaces upside down under dashes i never had an incident burning something with the port but it's possible I suppose. its more dangerous when you place it down, however an electric iron is the same..

for 100 bucks and great adjustable temperature I recommend the TS100 Someone above mentioned the TS80 same thing but USBC powered so you require a special supply to run it, (battery bank ect.) We all have enough power supplies to sort out a 12-24v supply for an iron..
 
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