Butane soldering gun

[paisley_tele]

Was wonder if any one uses a butane solder in gun to build there amps. On high the one I seen does 2500 degrees and it like a 75 watter. I can see a couple good things about them less electric , wireless , fast heat up time think less than 30 seconds. What's your thoughts

[Andy Le Blanc]

You've got to watch out not over heat componants, But for joins where there
is a lot of mass to heat, use whatever works.

[Aurora]

Generally no good for components, if you ask me.
Too hot, mostly, and difficult to adjust.
A typical "blacksmith's" tool

[VacuumVoodoo]

I have one in my bag to use only in an emergency if I need to do a mcgyver.

[jbrew73]

i have two smaller ones that i use for work in the field. they work well but they have a "window" on the side where you light them and it will melt the insulation on the wires and components or your fingers if you are not careful.
very handy but not a replacement for an electrical iron.

[Wayne]

I guess I'll dare to be different - I haven't owned an electric iron in about 5 years. My iron of choice has been an old Weller Portasol I "inherited" from my previous employer.

All the things mentioned above do certainly apply - there is a lot of heat available, so you have to get a feel for how much flame corresponds with how much heat. On the other hand, by the time you get 3 or 4 leads stuffed into an eyelet, you need a bit of heat to make the joint in a reasonable amount of time. (less time with heat on a joint = better for components)

I also have encountered the "window" problem when working in tight quarters. It took a little getting used to, but now I don't have a problem remembering to point the flame away from anything critical. In extreme cases, I'll run the tip up good & hot, then shut it off & solder with the residual heat.

W

[Phil_S]

I have a Portasol, too. It's good for places where the wire gets in the way. It's also good for a lot more heat, like when dealing with the occasional solder direct to chassis, but I recently inherited a Weller 100W gun!

It makes combustion exhaust. I wouldn't use it in a closed space for any appreciable length of time. There's got to be some amount of carbon monoxide commng off it.

It's a good tool, but I'm not ready to give up the electric iron.

[Wayne]

I've never had any luck soldering directly to chassis with mine.

If a butane iron is a blacksmith's tool, I hesitate to tell you what I use for chassis joints. It's the copper soldering iron that slips on over a regular propane torch.

W

[Noel Grassy]

I actually had to go out and buy one in order to get the PL-259
plugs soldered on some co-axial antenna lead. Even with all of
Hell's heat in my hand there was a fair amount of time passed
before that PL-259 would cause solder to melt and flow. I half
expected the plug to be glowin' Orange/Red but it never reached
those temperatures luckily.
That little torch has to be more efficient than using one of those
soldering tools with the broomstick handle on 'em. You know,
the ones that look like a Yankee screwdriver.

[Structo]

I have an old iron that looks like your description.
It was my dads, and he had it since I can remember (late 50's)
I got it when he passed on.
I don't even know how many watts it was but he used to use it to solder joints in galvanized rain gutters.

[Phil_S]

I've never had any luck soldering directly to chassis with mine.

I confess that my answer was incomplete. I used the butane and the electric at the same time. It was a 3 hand operation. Sorry for giving the wrong impression. The 100W gun is really the right thing for the chassis.

[dovii]

My co-worker was going on about how great his new butane soldering iron was. He was going to give me a demo. As he proceded there must have been a leak for when he tried to solder the butane dripped on his project and the whole thing went up in flames (including the soldering iron). I have never considered one after that

[dovii]

My co-worker was going on about how great his new butane soldering iron was. He was going to give me a demo. As he proceded there must have been a leak for when he tried to solder the butane dripped on his project and the whole thing went up in flames (including the soldering iron). I have never considered one after that

[Richie]

i think they are real handy for some things. mainly things outside, or in the car,where it would take longer to drag an ext cord to hook up a soldering iron,the butane one works really good for things like that..

the one you never want to get is that cold solder thing they had on TV, i've seen alot of people get those,and they just don't work.

[Aurora]

As said, they are handy in a few situations, but I'd never use one as my primary tool for components and PCBs.... usually too hot and hard to control properly.
I also find the ones i've used difficult to use outdoors - to sensitive to wind...???