Portable Soldering Tools

[JatoTheRipper]

Have either of you tried the Bernzomatic Detail Pen Torch or Ryobi USB Lithium Soldering Pen for soldering RC battery and motor wires? Both of these options have my intrigued, but I am not sure either gets and stays hot enough to solder thicker RC wires. I am looking for something I can keep at my girlfriend's house and possibly take with me on RC trips at times.

I am open to other portable and cordless options as well. I already have the Ryobi 45W Hybrid Soldering Station that is great, but not portable enough to easily travel with.

Links are below, but they tend to be hidden on this new site.

Bernzomatic Detail Pen Torch: ST500 - Detail Pen Torch
Bernzomatic Detail Pen Torch Kit: ST550K - Detail Pen Torch Kit
Ryobi USB Lithium Soldering Pen: USB LITHIUM SOLDERING PEN KIT - RYOBI Tools

Ryobi 45W Hybrid Soldering Station: 18V ONE+ 45W HYBRID SOLDERING STATION - RYOBI Tools

 

[JimrC]

I think you should try both the ST550K and the Ryobi USB and report back instead of waiting for a reply ... I'm too tight with pennies to find out but wouldn't mind finding out if these are any good.

 

[pwjm]

I'd personally go with the torches over the battery powered kits. They've been making them for ages and it's a much smaller footprint and no need to worry about charging batteries.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I think you should try both the ST550K and the Ryobi USB and report back instead of waiting for a reply ... I'm too tight with pennies to find out but wouldn't mind finding out if these are any good.

In years past I may have done that. The two together are only $100. I've tried to be smarter about money as I get older...

I'd personally go with the torches over the battery powered kits. They've been making them for ages and it's a much smaller footprint and no need to worry about charging batteries.

Have you tried either?

 

[bgredjeep]

I've got the bernzomatic kit I picked up from home depot a while back. It's my only soldering iron. Works fine for me though I've never used a nice soldering station so no basis for comparison there.

I will say, they don't last as long as I would expect on a fill so keep your butane bottle close if you use it for more than a couple minutes. I've also been looking for replacement tips lately and not really finding much available for them. The kit came with a couple different style tips, but I haven't found a pack of just plain replacement soldering tips.

 

[JimrC]

In years past I may have done that. The two together are only $100. I've tried to be smarter about money as I get older...

Yeah, me too ... getting older ... same reason ... does impress the wife these days though so that's a plus

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I've got the bernzomatic kit I picked up from home depot a while back. It's my only soldering iron. Works fine for me though I've never used a nice soldering station so no basis for comparison there.

I will say, they don't last as long as I would expect on a fill so keep your butane bottle close if you use it for more than a couple minutes. I've also been looking for replacement tips lately and not really finding much available for them. The kit came with a couple different style tips, but I haven't found a pack of just plain replacement soldering tips.

Good feedback. The lack of tips, alone, is enough reason not to buy the Bernzomatic. I could not find tips on their website. Did you try contacting them to ask?

 

[bgredjeep]

Good feedback. The lack of tips, alone, is enough reason not to buy the Bernzomatic. I could not find tips on their website. Did you try contacting them to ask?

I haven't yet. I've found some that I think might work on Amazon, but its either an expensive dremel brand ($11.50 each), or a variety pack of no name tips for around $15, but they are all random shapes that I don't want. A 5pk of plain tips for around $15 seems reasonable, but no luck so far.

 

[high plains drifter]

From Bernzomatic - "The ST500 torch only comes with one soldering tip. Generic threaded tips will work with these torches."

But they don't say anything more specific than that. I might gamble on it at only $30 and with Amazon's generally hassle-free return policy. Generic tips should last as long as they're prepped/ tinned before use. I've only ever needed pencil and chisel tips for all my soldering needs.

 

[pwjm]

In years past I may have done that. The two together are only $100. I've tried to be smarter about money as I get older...


Have you tried either?

I've used the torches for work in the past and really liked them. Never used the battery ones, and I don't think I would based on how bulky they are.

 

[Col_Sanders]

One word: Portasol.

They're butane powered. They get hot fast and have adjustable temp. Depending on what package you choose, it has different size soldering tips and tips for flame, heat gun, plastic cutter, and more. I have the "75 watt" version and its more than adequate for RC and automotive use. Mine is at least 10 years old. I burned up one tip but the rest are still good.

 

[1fox2go]

Yes. Highly recommend the Portasol.

 

[Wheelieoldrc’r]

I’ll just leave this here. This is my soldering rig runs off an 18 V rigid battery. I love to share a picture of but I’m not sure how Anyhow, it’s adjustable up to 400°F with different tips in a carrier and a 50 Cal ammo container. I can bring it anywhere and it works on anything after four gauge wire. Do you name it

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I’ll just leave this here. This is my soldering rig runs off an 18 V rigid battery. I love to share a picture of but I’m not sure how Anyhow, it’s adjustable up to 400°F with different tips in a carrier and a 50 Cal ammo container. I can bring it anywhere and it works on anything after four gauge wire. Do you name it

I made a how-to thread showing how to post photos from Imgur. I highly recommend it. Makes forums more fun and useful.

Imgur - Embedding and Posting Photos

Image hosts are going paid left and right so a lot of people have been moving to Imgur. It's not the most intuitive site and organizing albums isn't the easiest, but it is completely free. There have been lots of issues and questions on this forum about posting and embedding images from Imgur...

www.rccrawler.com

 

[durok]

I picked up a Pinecil Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron a while back, they have great reviews.

Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to use it and since I moved to a new apartment most of my hobby stuff is still packed up.

Whenever I finally dig everything out and use it I'll be sure to report how it went to the forum...

PINECIL – Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron (Version 2) - PINE STORE

 

[ferp420]

dang it why did i click on this thread
i now have a benzoitainy thing on the way

thanks guys lol

 

[MAGNUMB]

The one feature about higher end plug in soldering rigs is that they maintain a constant temperature, the other ones seems to lose heat when soldering bigger jobs and then the joint looks dull instead of nice and shiny.