Gas soldering iron

[stownsend]

Morning

Any views on the gas soldering iron / rope cutter. I don't have any mains so was looking at one for cutting ropes and any soldering work ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverlin...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43ba91f8dd

Cheers

Stu

 

[SadlerPete]

Hi Stu.
I've got the cheap n cheerful one from Aldi. Works great, go for it.

 

[john_morris_uk]

There's a good review of what to look for here: http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/gas-soldering-iron.htm

We have one and I use it fairly regularly on board, but I can't see an example of the one we've got anywhere in my very quick search of the web.

I also use one of these a LOT!

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...a=X&ei=PuFcUqHDIaTs0gX9lYDoDg&ved=0CFcQ9QEwAw

 

[Sans Bateau]

I have used a gas soldering iron for the last 20 years, even at home. I could not imagine using anything else!

 

[nigelmercier]

Any views on the gas soldering iron / rope cutter. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverlin...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43ba91f8dd

Complete rubbish. I bought one for use at home, it lasted about 10 minutes. My IRODA on the boat has been working well for 8 years. The full kits (50K / 70K) include various attachments, including a rope cutter. This is the best way to buy them, as they are quite expensive on their own.

PRO-50K http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00687TKJQ/dolcetto-21
PRO-70K http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00687TLKE/dolcetto-21

While looking for my iron, I found a Dremel that also looks good:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000QGC6XW/dolcetto-21

 

[prv]

Gas soldering irons in general are great. However, that one is very much at the budget end of the scale. I used to have a similar one years ago and I don't remember liking it as much as I liked my first Iroda one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IRODA-PRO-50-SOLDERPRO-50-GAS-SOLDERING-IRON-/141030590654 (Solderpro 50)

I completely rewired our last boat with this one, and quite a lot of work on the new boat.

However, I have since splashed out on the big daddy version, in preparation for much more rewiring work:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IRODA-PRO...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1e7d02828c (Solderpro 120)

This really does feel like an excellent tool.

Pete

 

[maby]

I'll second Iroda - bit more expensive than the eBay bargains, but work well and there's a wide range of accessory tips available - see Maplins.

 

[Skylark]

The one listed by the OP is available at a lower price on Amazon but it doesn't get great reviews.

They are very handy tools to have an I think it's worth paying a bit more, without going over the top (unless you practice full time electrickery, of course).

I have one of these, a Dremel, the kit costs £34 and I think is good value for a good quality, versatile tool.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dremel-Hobb...d=1381825158&sr=8-12&keywords=solder+iron+gas

 

[GrahamM376]

I've had one of these for 20+ years, excellent piece of kit - http://www.portasol.com/product-r1.asp?P_ID=331

 

[laika]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IRODA-PRO...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1e7d02828c (Solderpro 120)

This really does feel like an excellent tool.

Similar price at maplin and they very occasionally have the kits on offer. However...maybe I'm doing something wrong (probably am) but I question the "120W equivalent" claim. I was still finding lead-free solder hard work with the solderpro 120. Not as impossible as with my little 25W antex but still awkward. It is easy to operate though (ie fill, turn on, turn off). The kit which I bought has a rope cutting bit but I haven't yet tried it.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I've had one of these for 20+ years, excellent piece of kit - http://www.portasol.com/product-r1.asp?P_ID=331

Thats the one, the grandad of them all!

 

[nigelmercier]

Thats the one, the grandad of them all!

Nice, not cheap though:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003H6NN2Q/dolcetto-21
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1550041487/dolcetto-21

 

[Roberto]

I've had one of these for 20+ years, excellent piece of kit - http://www.portasol.com/product-r1.asp?P_ID=331

+1, another happy user



ps what is the use of what they call "hot air gun" or similar term, the tip which is basically a curled piece of metal plate ?
it makes no hot air

 

[maby]

+1, another happy user



ps what is the use of what they call "hot air gun" or similar term, the tip which is basically a curled piece of metal plate ?
it makes no hot air

Doesn't that blow heated air into the curl? I have something similar for the Iroda and the idea is that you enclose an item that needs to be heated uniformly in the curl which effctively focusses the heat onto it. Very useful for heat shrink sleeving.

 

[Roberto]

Doesn't that blow heated air into the curl? I have something similar for the Iroda and the idea is that you enclose an item that needs to be heated uniformly in the curl which effctively focusses the heat onto it. Very useful for heat shrink sleeving.

ha-ha, now I understand, you have to enclose the piece to be heated *inside* the curl
I thought air was just being deflected out by the curl, perpendicularly to the iron, but of course it did not heat at all

Thank you



top tip for gas soldering iron users: before changing the tip, wait till it's cold

 

[Lodesman77]

Another Iroda user, I have the 70 version kit which I bought from Maplins when it was on offer, which it seems to be fairly often - looks a bit pricey at the moment. Immensely useful, well worth having. The Dremel looks reasonable too.

 

[davidpbo]

However, I have since splashed out on the big daddy verstheion, in preparation for much more rewiring work:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IRODA-PRO...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1e7d02828c (Solderpro 120)

This really does feel like an excellent tool.

Pete

+1 for the larger Irodo. Better than the £120 + Weller IMHO.

Tried the rope cutter I have for it with a smaller (Irodo ?) Iron from Aldi. The Aldi iron was not powerful enough.

Always handy to have more power especially when soldering outdoors and tinning larger cables.

Blow torch very good for localised heating of seized nuts.

 

[contessaman]

the cheap ones are rubbish. just a blow torch with a tip.
proper ones (iroda, gascat, solderpro, dremel) are catalytic and are brilliant.

I have the dremel one and as others have said, have never looked back. the antex mains iron has been sat on the shelf in the garage for years since I use the gas one for everything. I also keep a cheaper gascat on the boat for day to day stuff. If im doing a planned big job I take the dremel down.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTEX-XG0...werTools_SM&hash=item48597fc157#ht_1111wt_758

having had the rubbish blow torch type ones, they not only dont last, cant control the temperature but they are much more affected by wind outside where the catalytic ones are not bothered

 

[makingplansfor]

I bought one of the higher end Iroda irons (£80ish) mainly for use as a rope cutter. Have to say I am a little disappointed at its performance, perhaps my expectations were unreasonable?

 

[davidpbo]

I bought one of the higher end Iroda irons (£80ish) mainly for use as a rope cutter. Have to say I am a little disappointed at its performance, perhaps my expectations were unreasonable?

Hard to say without knowing what you were trying to do. Iirc the Iroda iron pictured above was around £ 40 maybe plus vat. I do a lot of on site soldering and it is fine for me.

Rope cutting is its secondary function for me and it is okay at it but I would not expect it to be brilliant outside in much wind. I have soldered outside on the aft deck of a moving ship Ok.