BlueShift Posted November 22, 2012 Posted November 22, 2012 Hi Guys, Its new soldering iron time (I know, exciting...). I have a selection of mains powered fellas which work great for the bench jobs, but I need something super portable to take in my super portable compact tool kit. 3pin XLRs and Mic cable is the largest gauge stuff this will need to work with. Most of the time It will be smaller DB connectors etc... So I'd like some recommendations on gas or battery powered products. Not interested in another mains iron. Battery powered is particularly interesting because I always have ready access to batteries, and it saves having to carry around little gas refills. So, anyone had any success here? Thanks!
Rigger Posted November 22, 2012 Posted November 22, 2012 I have always used Antex Gascat gas irons for the last decade and found them to be faultless. They have a variety of sizes each on its own or in a kit as eell as selling a variety of nibs seperately including heat gun, blow torch, hot knife along with a variety of solder tips plus a heat shield. What I do find however is me filing down nibs as they dont go quitee small enough for some applications. I hope this helps.
Bobbsy Posted November 22, 2012 Posted November 22, 2012 +1 for an Antex gas powered. I've had one long enough that it's not one of their current models but it's still going strong after way more than 20 years.
MarkPAman Posted November 22, 2012 Posted November 22, 2012 I bought a battery powered on a few years ago. It lives in my small toolbox and very occasionally it will get me out of a problem, but if I know I'm going to want to be soldering without mains power then I always take my Antex gas powered one. The battery one will, with brand new batteries, will just about get hot enough for a 3 pin XLR, but I usually can't do the screen of a Neutrik jack plug. It's usually fine for doing bad joints on a circuit board. But used batteries from radio mics do not get it hot enough to do anything.
BlueShift Posted November 22, 2012 Author Posted November 22, 2012 Thanks guys. Looks like its the Antex for me then... Thanks.
Cheeseweasel Posted November 22, 2012 Posted November 22, 2012 I use a Weller WP3EU. Only £41 from Machine Mart and I have no complaints at all. It's well-built, has a selection of tips including a reflector for heat-shrinking cables (though I've not used that yet) and comes in a sturdy plastic case. It performs much better than the cheap Maplins wired one I have at home.
Pete McCrea Posted November 22, 2012 Posted November 22, 2012 Out of curiosity I picked up a cheap (well £15 from Maplin/£10 from CPC) battery powered soldering iron. Heats up in about 15 seconds and will do DSub and XLR's reasonably well. Fairly light and reasonably balanced - great for those XLR's that need soldered when up a ladder...
MarkPAman Posted November 23, 2012 Posted November 23, 2012 Out of curiosity I picked up a cheap (well £15 from Maplin/£10 from CPC) battery powered soldering iron. Like this one? Looks to be a bigger brother of mine, which is only 3V. Would you mind seeing if it will do NP2X (or similar) for me? Fixing (usually other peoples) jack leads seems to be the main reason I need to solder when I'm away from my workbench!
paulminott Posted November 23, 2012 Posted November 23, 2012 http://www.maplin.co.uk/solder-pro-70-gas-soldering-iron-34514 this is the one I use . It seems to be a cheaper version of the ampex one
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