Portable Soldering Iron Recommendations?

EagleTG

Active member
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Messages
1,349
Reaction score
24
Location
Quakertown, Pennsylvania
I've been in a couple of scenarios where a portable quick-heating soldering iron would really help out. Unfortunately, ALL of the portables I've used are terrible. Especially Cold-Heat, their stuff is the worst of the worst.

I'll likely stay away from anything battery or rechargeable due to prior awful experiences, and am thinking about butane-powered (which I have never owned) unless anyone has any strong recommendations one way or the other. I currently like what I've seen about the Weller PortaSol P2C, so if anyone has hands-on experience with that one, I'd love to hear about it.

I need something with the "uumpf" to solder up to 16 GA wire, pinball solenoid lugs, and yet still be dainty enough to do quick board work. Might be too much to ask from a portable, but I'd think I should be able to get relatively close.

Thanks!
 
As a very happy user of the original Weller Portosol, mine is still going strong after almost 20 years of use. Weller makes a wide variety of tips for the Portosol series (both the old version and the current version).

It certainly gets plenty hot plenty fast. I use a small wooden board with the wireform soldering iron holder screwed to it so I have a place to set the hot iron down during use.
 
I love my Portosol.. I've done some pretty heavy wire and lugs with it and some board level repairs.. Like Ken said.. there are a variety of tips available. If you buy the kit it comes with the most common, but I believe I bought a smaller point than whats in the kit.
 
Back
Top Bottom