Battery Soldering Iron

[prv]

One had the (irreplaceable) catalyst go.

Irreplaceable? If I remember rightly, the catalyst is part of the soldering tip (or hot-air tip or knife tip) and hence unscrews. In fact, with the Maplin ones, if you buy the pack of extra tips to get the hot-knife and hot-air (for heatshrink), you get a spare soldering tip, complete with catalyst, along with them.

Pete

 

[mcframe]

I'm intrigued that so many people seem to have had good service from their gas irons.
As I said earlier, I've found they don't last very long. One had the (irreplaceable) catalyst go. One just fell apart. The third went when a leak developed from the tank. Two have been from Maplin (Irodo?), I can't remember where the other came from.

I'ld be interested to know what make peeps have?

When they work they're very good. Portable, powerful, good range of accessories (the knife edges are superb on rope, and the blow lamps are good on heat shrink), fairly controlable. But they never seem to last. Maybe I've just been unlucky.

I've found these pretty handy:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solderpro-50-gas-soldering-iron-34949
http://www.maplin.co.uk/micro-jet-gas-torch-27919

Doesn't everyone have a pocket blowtorch for ropework†, a kitchen one for creme brulee and a big garage one for plumbing? ;->

† and old kitchen knife & small block of wood.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Irreplaceable? If I remember rightly, the catalyst is part of the soldering tip (or hot-air tip or knife tip) and hence unscrews. In fact, with the Maplin ones, if you buy the pack of extra tips to get the hot-knife and hot-air (for heatshrink), you get a spare soldering tip, complete with catalyst, along with them.

Pete

Yes, I've bought a range of new tips/catalysts for my Maplin ones. However, on the first one I had (long since binned) the tip was replaceable but the catalyst was not. I can't remember what make it was, but it's history now.

 

[Talbot]

I have had a couple of gas soldering irons - worked well, but wore out very quickly

I have had a 12v soldering iron - worked OK unless it was cold or in the wind, but not very satisfactory.

By far the best solution on a boat that does not have an inverter and 240v wiring, is a small 150w portable inverter and a 240v iron.

 

[CreakyDecks]

By far the best solution on a boat that does not have an inverter and 240v wiring, is a small 150w portable inverter and a 240v iron.

I'm sorry but I don't see the logic in that. I have a 240V 25W Antex iron at home (cheapo yellow one) that is excellent but I don't imagine it is any more or less efficient that their 12V 25W model, which is the same price.
A 25W iron is a 25W iron, voltage is irrelevant as far as heat production is concerned.

 

[guernseyman]

Just a tip when using one.

run the engine ( or switch on the battery charger) to push the volts up as high as possible. Because watts is proportional to volts squared it makes a bigger difference to the heat produced than you might at first think.

Strictly speaking, the Joule heating effect is proportional to the current squared. In some circumstances that equates (via Ohm's Law) to voltage squared, but not always.

 

[doug748]

As per Vics in post 10.

I Keep a substantial mains iron and heat it up on the gas.

 

[TonyMiles]

Portable soldering iron!

Portasol gas soldering iron - I have found this far more convenient and useful than a puny 12volt iron. What is more, they make a superb little hot knife attachment to neatly cut and seal all your ropes as well. Lots of uses.
The soldering iron is so efficient and versatile that I have treated myself to one for home use as well as keeping one on the boat, and often use it in preference to my 240 volt iron.

 

[Billjratt]

As per Vics in post 10.

I Keep a substantial mains iron and heat it up on the gas.

+1 for the gas cooker - especially if it's a cold day.( heat the work on the gas!)
I keep 1x 75watt, 1x 25watt (both mains) and 1x 25watt 12V on board and use a generator if required.
Never had a gas iron that didn't lose all its fuel just before I needed it.

 

[maby]

+...
Never had a gas iron that didn't lose all its fuel just before I needed it.

But all you need to refill is a lighter refill cylinder...

 

[Rigger Mortice]

But then the cylinder runs out.........

 

[maxi77]

+1 for the gas cooker - especially if it's a cold day.( heat the work on the gas!)
I keep 1x 75watt, 1x 25watt (both mains) and 1x 25watt 12V on board and use a generator if required.
Never had a gas iron that didn't lose all its fuel just before I needed it.

Then try the Aldi ones when they are in, cheap as chips and my house one is still running on the fill up 18 months ago (as I am mainly in the a
Algarve it doesn't get much use these days)

 

[maby]

But then the cylinder runs out.........

lasts a lot longer than a couple of AA batteries!

 

[Rigger Mortice]

lasts a lot longer than a couple of AA batteries!

Now that is so true!

 

[elton]

+1 for the gas cooker - especially if it's a cold day.( heat the work on the gas!)
I keep 1x 75watt, 1x 25watt (both mains) and 1x 25watt 12V on board and use a generator if required.
Never had a gas iron that didn't lose all its fuel just before I needed it.

My Maplin gas iron is 1st class kit. It's transparent so you can see how much gas is left. As long as you treat the bits properly tinned and clean they last forever. The cat is 3 years old and still going strong.