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I am giving this product 3 stars because of its poorly written instructions, Besides the iron itself, the kit includes a 3/32" double flat soldering tip, a 3/16" double flat soldering tip, a 5/16" hot knife tapered to a point along one edge, and a hot air blower that can be used with an included air deflector for shrinking electrical heat shrink tubing. It heats very fast, about 15-20 seconds to solder-melting point temperature. For comparison, the heat output of its less expensive companion, the Weller 3PKC, lies in the 25-75 Watt range. The tip cover has a projection which, when the cover is placed on the iron, holds the sliding butane on/off switch in the off position. It works fine.All of the markings on the iron are in raised black symbols on a black background. Don't expect to find a parts list, or information on the cylindrical tip cover, anywhere in the instructions. Also included is a small sponge for wiping the soldering tips, and a cylindrical tip cover. Its maximum heat output is equivalent to 125 Watts (adjustable).
The instructions, however, do contain the obligatory identical instructions in French and Spanish. The instructions are written in such small print that it almost requires a magnifying glass to read them, particularly if one is over 55.The iron itself does what it is designed to do. I have used the 3/32" soldering tip and the air blower/heat deflector to solder and to shrink electrical tubing. Experience will teach which symbols stand for off and on.The kit is made in Ireland, The instructions may have come from the darkest region of Tibet.
I felt like it heated up much faster than my old electric iron, and it maintained it's heat better, as well. This thing is great.I bought this to solder over a hundred connections for the XLR microphone patch panels in my son's new music studio. It was SO nice not having to deal with a cord, and the unit felt balanced and comfortable in my hand. Butane consumption was totally acceptable-I filled the unit twice to make all those connections. My total burn time was well over 3 hours, since I let it 'idle' while I was tracing wires, stripping them, etc.This is one of those tools I wish I'd picked up a long time ago-I'm now going around and systematically soldering my landscape wiring connections, which is something I never would have done with an extension cord and an electric iron.
No static with this butane iron and fast in warming up. This is a great soldering iron. I work in the industrial-electrical field and use this tool a few times every month. Solders from very tiny connections to bigger cables. Also great for heat shrinking.
The Weller Portasol PSI100K is probably the best butane iron I have used so far. The method of changing tips is great, and the heat shrink tip included is so helpful. I would recommend this iron to ANYONE who does a good amount of soldering. Now if you solder something like once a year, this is not the iron for you because the price just isn't worth it for a yearly use.
My suggestion is to look at the SOLDERPRO 70. But I do know that I work out of a truck as an electronics technician and the change of seasons probably wrecked havoc on the ignitor.
At first it worked. I liked this portable soldering tool.
I'm not certain. But after a year or two, it would not ignite, regardless as to how much butane was put into it.
Why. My supervisor has about 6 of these in a junk pile in the stockroom from my other coworkers.
This one needs only an external spark or an external flame to ignite.
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