Butane/LPG soldering kits

[fester2au]

Hey guys I hope enough read this section to give me some feedback. I have had a Weller gas soldering kit for years. The small black torch with a few tools including air blower etc. It's been pretty good but is getting past it's use by date - doesn't accept refill fully, inconsistent flame and lately it must have a leak in the body as ocassionally it flares up around the switch right where you tend to hold it. Anyway I also had a cheap blow torch, one of those ones that are free standing and shaped like a gun sort of but it fell on the floor and smashed.

So now is the time to replace, I've had a quick search around but got the shits today when none of the better tool outlets were open and service at the places that were was pretty poor, so it might be time to go online. Anyone got any good recomendations. This time I'm thinking of one of the gun shaped units if I can find one with all the tools. However seen a Red Devil pen shaped one in the kit that is also self igniting, think it was around $100.

Any suggestions please.

[-Scott-]

Doesn't really help, but I've tried a few butane/gas powered tools, and have always gone back to a traditional electric soldering iron.

On one trip, I soldered a broken joint with a jeweller's screwdriver heated in my gas stove. I reckon that was easier to use than any other "gas powered" soldering tool I've tried.

[grubb]

i have all types electric is good but find it hard to use when soldering in side a car
i also have the gun shape one and i mainly use it heat shrink as i find it to big to hold and solder
i have a blue point soldering iron with all attachment and use that the most
bunnings have a good range of irons or try jaycar

[ledgend80]

i had a smap on one but it started leaking at the body so i replaced it with a wellar one and cant fault it. some of the guys at work have bought some of the tool guy brand was Iroda. only sugesstion would be buy the biggest gas one in the range.

[TheOtherLeft]

I bought a pen-shaped one from Jaycar. It comes with a few different attachments (hot knife, flame etc) and gets heaps hot enough for all of the wiring I've needed soldered. I haven't attempted soldering 6AWG cables into Anderson plugs yet but I think it might just do it. Highly recommended. Mines lives in my car permanently because I think those 12V ones are useless.

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID ... rm=KEYWORD

[stuee]

I like my Weller one for working around the car but its only good for light duty stuff, otherwise I have to rip off the soldering head and use it as a mini blow torch.

[gqswb]

For over 15 years I have been using the orange Portasol butane irons like this one when installing / working electrical equipment in cars and or remote areas when no power was available although even when there was power I would sometimes still use the this orange one as its so versatile and capable. Don't know about now - but they used to issue them to Telecom techs but the Telecom versions needed a custom Telecom butane can nozzle to fill them as a deterrent to theft. It was easy to make them accept standard gas can nozzle again

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID ... rm=KEYWORD

[fester2au]

I didn't mind the Dremel one I saw today for the price but it only has a fine tip soldering tip which lends it to mostly circuit board and very fine wire me thinks. My old Weller has a nice flat tip that's about 2-3mm but Dremel do not do any accessory one in that size so I'm now leaning towards the Iroda but haven't seen any in the flesh. Could go back to the Weller like I had but they seem a bit dear and I like the idea of the self igniting ones too. Must be getting lazy.

[ledgend80]

this is the kit that the guys at work have been getting

http://www.pro-iroda.com/pro120k.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

see what price you can get and i will see if i can get you a better price from my tool guy.

[gqswb]

We had a Iroda kicking around the in the workshop I worked at years ago, That exact kit. It turned its self into a flame thrower and I didn't like the way it handled.

[MICK77]

I have a Wurth gas iron. It is very similar to the Iroda in a post above.

http://www.wurth.com.au/catalogueview.a ... 2_0141.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It has never given an ounce of trouble.

I only wish it was slightly more powerful to do larger jobs.

Cheers,

Micko