Gromit Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 My aging Gascat is past its best and doesn't work anymore. When it was younger, it was brilliant. Heated up in seconds, enough heat to solder biggish wire. So good, I never used the electric iron. It even worked in a breeze. A month or 2 ago, while wondering round B&Q, I bought one of these. Used it in anger for the first time yesterday. Anger really was the word, it's rubbish. Makes noise but no heat. Ended up heating the tip of it in a propane torch and then tried to quickly solder a blob on while it cooled. Any recommendations for a GOOD gas iron. I'd buy a gascat again but can't find them. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I'm moving this to tools n fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Ive got a couple of these, http://www.tooled-up.com/ManProduct.asp?PI...-Soldering-Iron I use them daily at work (auto sparks), heat up quickly & you can get a good range of tips. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troddenmasses Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I have had one from RS components for ages - they still sell them, and they're absolutely fantastic. Will try to find a link. WRT the other one from B&Q - take it back. Tell them that you have had it for a couple of months, and that it is broken. If you don't have your receipt, they will give you a credit note to buy something else with over the next year. There will be no questions, and you definately don't need the box or anything. If you have any problems taking it back, drop me a pm and i'll sort it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 I bought a cheapie 120W inverter the other day and one of the things I had in mind was the ability to use an electric soldering iron in a vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 In my opinion, these are the best there is: RS Clicky Link I've had one of these since 1990 (actually BBC Engineering gave it to me during training) - and it's still going strong. Very convenient and reliable - and only £20. Sadly, I lost mine with my 90 - but I'll be buying a replacement nect time I pass an RS trade counter! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troddenmasses Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Wot Simon said - I have one of those, and they're fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 We have these at work, variously known as PortaSol and Weller something or other, brilliant little things - the hot air attachment is ideal for heat-shrink, the knife attachment works well and with no tip on it it makes a damn hot blowlamp! RS, Maplins, CPC et al sell them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 90 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 We have these at work, variously known as PortaSol and Weller something or other, brilliant little things - the hot air attachment is ideal for heat-shrink, the knife attachment works well and with no tip on it it makes a damn hot blowlamp! RS, Maplins, CPC et al sell them. Yep, What he said!!!!!! I use a portasol most days, Brilliant bit of kit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gromit Posted August 29, 2007 Author Share Posted August 29, 2007 In my opinion, these are the best there is:I've had one of these since 1990 (actually BBC Engineering gave it to me during training) - and it's still going strong. Very convenient and reliable - and only £20. Sadly, I lost mine with my 90 - but I'll be buying a replacement nect time I pass an RS trade counter! Si Thanks a lot Si, £20 sounds much better than the other ones closer to £50. Did you loose many tools in the 90? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I had one courtesy of BT which was very good until it died but I can't remember the make. Now I have a shiney snap-on one which is better and comes with a little blow torch fitting and other tips that I don't know how to use works really well too and solders big fat wires outside in the wind and cold. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 90 Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I had one courtesy of BT which was very good until it died but I can't remember the make. Now I have a shiney snap-on one which is better and comes with a little blow torch fitting and other tips that I don't know how to use works really well too and solders big fat wires outside in the wind and cold.Mo Im pretty sure that snap on do their own version plus they sell the portasol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gromit Posted August 31, 2007 Author Share Posted August 31, 2007 Unfortunately many of the big online sites (Machine Mart, RS etc.) don't ship to Ireland but via the magic of Ebay, I've just got myself a portasol Thanks everyone. Happy soldering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 In my opinion, these are the best there is:RS Clicky Link I've had one of these since 1990 (actually BBC Engineering gave it to me during training) - and it's still going strong. Very convenient and reliable - and only £20. I also have one of these and they are A1. I find that the tips need replacing from time to time... although that may be down to abuse... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peatbog Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Im pretty sure that snap on do their own version plus they sell the portasol! dont buy a snapon one!! its a portasol with a snapon badge and usual snapon price tag! i use a portasol every other day and it's great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanny Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I use a tiny little Draper one which takes normal lighter refill fluid. It's probably less than 8" long and as it spends a lot of time inside the dash of many various cars (fitting radio's/alarms/unbodging) its an absolute cracker, used to work really well untill a drunken might involving lots of fireworks and no real lighter/matches does use a lot of gas for its size! Anyways i paid just over £10 in Halfords (trade account) and its still going plenty strong. It has a cap on it which doubles as a little stand and a place to put lots of solder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlandy Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 Hi I bought a gas soldering iron from maplin it was great has different attachments with it for shrinking cable sleaves heats up to a good temp for soldering and has a great blow torch attachment cost me about £16 and well worth the money cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gromit Posted September 24, 2007 Author Share Posted September 24, 2007 ok, so I finally got myself a portasol iron. Looks like a piece of kit. One thing I can't figure out is what the hell the paperclip type thing is! It isn't a handle for the sponge, it's not a rest for the iron, it doesn't help taking the tips off, in fact it doesn't fit anywhere. The only use I can find for it is scratching my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 It's actually called an Oryx Portasol and the design of it hasnt changed since it was introduced probably 15 years ago - it was orginally developed by a couple of Irish brothers who worked for Bosch on their handsfree hair curlers, it uses the same technology. I used to be a development enginer for a company called Greenwood Electronics in Reading who had the worldwide rights to sell them - and they sold zillions and zillions including some branded ones for BT http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/Mechanical,+Offi....jsp?sku=070421 And i think they are cheaper now than way back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairyduck Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I've got one of those bernzomatic ones and it works great??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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