Butane Soldering Irons

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Have you used one of those gas soldering irons to work on thicker - larger radius - automotive wire for upgrading headlight circuits and driving lights? If so what brand did you use and would recommend?

Most of my wiring seems to happen outside out in the open. After using different electric soldering irons I remembered that a while ago I had bought an el cheapo gas torch from Bunnings. I had been using torch for another purpose. My second remembrance for the day was that the gas torch came with a soldering tip that I had stored away. I gave it a trial. For a cheap tool I was pretty happy with the results. I cannot remember the brand - the torch ran on those small tins of butane.

I am just wondering if even better results would eventuate with a dearer brand and a dedicated soldering kit? Hence the reason for this post and asking the broader community.

Kind regards
Lionel

[AK83]

Do you have cordless tools? What brand?
Some of the cordless soldering irons work well. Depending on how much 'outside' soldering you have to achieve, if you have enough batteries to work for that length of time could be a better way to go.

Otherwise you have to have another stock of stuff to replenish, and it's guaranteed that you will run out of that product when the stores are closed.

I had the chance to use a Ryobi cordless soldering station some years back, and found it worked really well. I have an old Dick Smith station with variable temp control from about 30 years ago and the Ryobi works just as well.
I'm slowly building up a Makita 40v tool range(what's needed, rather than just changing everything), but Makita don't make them at all. You can find aftermarket versions for whatever battery system you have.

[DoubleChevron]

Does it have to be cordless/mobile?


can you go past a superscope?

Soldering Iron 100 Watt Superscope | Wiltronics (https://www.wiltronics.com.au/product/8582/soldering-iron-100-watt-superscope/)

Note: you need the transformer as well (so its not cheap)

Super scope Soldering Iron 12VDC Battery Powered | Wiltronics (https://www.wiltronics.com.au/product/4709/super-scope-soldering-iron-12vdc/)

I probably should buy this one someday as well. You just need a car battery!

seeya
Shane L.

[austastar]

Hi, for heavy wire and Anderson plugs, I use a cheap e-bay hot air gun to melt the solder in the contact post. This is after buying numerous crimping tools that are nowhere near as efficient.
Cheers

[BradC]

I have a 60W "Iroda" butane iron from Altronics, Ryobi One+ soldering station, Miniscope, Superscope and several Hakko soldering stations.

For "on the go" big stuff I use the butane iron mostly. I've had it for probably 15 years and it has done everything I needed.

For working inside a harness in close proximity I tend to use the Ryobi just because it doesn't have the vents out the side the gas iron does and therefore doesn't tend to melt stuff near it. It's not too bad.

I also have a collection of crimp tools and I tend to crimp more than solder these days, but you need the correct tool for the crimp to make it work properly.

[DoubleChevron]

I have a 60W "Iroda" butane iron from Altronics, Ryobi One+ soldering station, Miniscope, Superscope and several Hakko soldering stations.

For "on the go" big stuff I use the butane iron mostly. I've had it for probably 15 years and it has done everything I needed.

For working inside a harness in close proximity I tend to use the Ryobi just because it doesn't have the vents out the side the gas iron does and therefore doesn't tend to melt stuff near it. It's not too bad.

I also have a collection of crimp tools and I tend to crimp more than solder these days, but you need the correct tool for the crimp to make it work properly.

This one?

Iroda Solderpro 150 125W Gas Soldering Iron - Cartridge Powered - Altronics (https://www.altronics.com.au/p/t2630-iroda-solderpro-150-125w-gas-soldering-iron-cartridge-powered/'srsltid=AfmBOorbcGKKS1PQKzceV6bUyDcu17OTYd-akKNI1ZdKNKNWxzkfaFDSWD4&gQT=1)


that's a lot of wattage for a light weight little iron!

I don't bother with crimps either. Crimping is vastly supperior to soldering IMO. A good crimp is effectively a "cold welded" joint. I've found you need the perfectly fitting crimping tools, the exact size terminal, the exact size conductor and the exact diameter insulation for the crimp to be good.

Or in other words, a tight arse like me will never pay for the good quality crimpers, wiring and terminals, so its never much of a crimp :(

seeya
Shane L.

[Tombie]

I found the gas ones great, however in confined spaces the 'exhaust' can damage nearby objects.

I added a Milwaukee M12 Cordless soldering Iron to the tool box and havent looked back.. Its my go to for everything the last few years.

[BradC]

This one?

Iroda Solderpro 150 125W Gas Soldering Iron - Cartridge Powered - Altronics (https://www.altronics.com.au/p/t2630-iroda-solderpro-150-125w-gas-soldering-iron-cartridge-powered/'srsltid=AfmBOorbcGKKS1PQKzceV6bUyDcu17OTYd-akKNI1ZdKNKNWxzkfaFDSWD4&gQT=1)

No, 60W. On the absolute rare occasion I need something bigger I have a blowlamp and plumbers copper iron, or I get an extension cord and use the superscope.

[gromit]

You may just need something higher wattage rather than changing to gas powered.

I have an old Weller industrial soldering iron acquired in the UK donkeys years ago.
It's either 12 or 24V DC and the base station is a transformer.
Not had any problems working outside (running a mains cable in the rain the only exception).
I used to have spare heating elements, tips etc. but I'd struggle to find them now as it's worked faultlessly.

I also have a large old Birko soldering iron that when I switch it on the lights in the shed dim.
I've used that on battery cables and starter motor brush cables.


Colin

[oka374]

Not a good idea to use anything with a flame in an environment that could possibly filled with flammable fumes and is filled with flammable items.
Many years ago when those butane soldering irons first arrived on the scene my employer provided them and the butane bottles to fill them to most of the field staff. Within a few months they hastily tried to remove them after quite a few people were injured by exploding fumes in confined spaces and a few fires from adjacent items to what was being soldered catching fire. Even outdoors they can light up any dry grass etc if placed on the ground or roll off a higher surface to the ground while still hot.

[BradC]

Not a good idea to use anything with a flame in an environment that could possibly filled with flammable fumes and is filled with flammable items.

In other news, water is wet, hot water is hot and inhaling water is hazardous to your health. I did watch a tech re-fill his iron while it was still running. He lost his eyebrows and most of his fringe. He was always a bit "special" though.

Most normal people apply a bit of critical thinking around the use of hot tools and don't suffer from any of the aforementioned issues.

[loanrangie]

These look like a good solution if your brand of power tool doesn't make a soldering iron skin.

Cordless Soldering Iron | Portable Soldering Iron Station & Batteries
– CrossFirePower (https://crossfirepower.com/collections/portable-soldering-station)