Weller Pyropen

The Weller Pyropen is one of the best portable soldering irons out there. I like them because I get almost an hour and half of heat, and I can move around — no cords. So, while I have an electric soldering station, I almost exclusively end up using this Weller, even when I’m near the station. I just find it easier. So, you switch it on, it lights the butane up, and it makes this cool high-pitched scream. And when it glows red, it's very hot. It heats up faster than an electric; it will reach full heat in about 30 seconds. I love these things.

-- Adam Savage

 

Weller Pyropen
$125

Available from Weller

 

Note: According to a spokesman at the manufacturer, the Weller Portasol (PS100), previously reviewed on Cool Tools here, and the Weller Pyropen are nearly identical products. The Portasol is about half the price and has a slightly hotter max temperature and is made in Japan. The Pyropen is currently made in Ireland. Both are considered the same high professional quality. --KK

• [Andrew Golding]

  I’ve been using the Portasol Superpro 125 for half a year and I love that thing.  I use it for electrics and making control cables or even small brazing jobs.

• [s2redux]

  I like gas irons for outdoor work, but for bench/indoors work I use a pair of Iso Tip 7700 Cordless Electric irons, since work doesn’t have to stop to re-fill the wall outlet.

• [Paul Renault]

  I also have the Portasol SuperPro – also made by Weller.   (It’s a little too hot for delicate electronics, but great for the jobs where more heat is required.)

  It’s an obviously much better gas-powered soldering iron than the Pyropen: when the cap in on, I can pretend it’s a turned-off light saber.

  I could only find one photo on the ‘Net where the iron is closed.  So, I hope this is fair use:

• [Tim Escobedo]

  Sheesh… $125? Weller makes a good enough butane one for, like, $15 at Frys. I use it all the time.

  • [Stephen Schenck]

    What I came to say. This one may be better, but is it ten times better?

    • [Andrew Golding]

      It depends on how you intend to use it.  I bought mine specifically for making control cables after borrowing a Snap-On branded iron pretty much identical to the Portasol to fix a broken clutch cable, and I am continuing to use the hell out of it for a variety of tasks.

    • [Sparrow]

      If you use a soldering iron frequently enough, then, yes, it is ten times better. It isn’t uncommon to spend three times as much (or more) on a professional soldering station. For simple jobs, the Fry’s model might get the job done, just like a doctor might be able to remove your appendix with a Swiss Army knife if it were enough of an emergency.

• [technogeekagain]

  Sounds like it’s running at what I would consider an unreasonably high temperature. I’m a firm believer that you can do what you want with power leads but nothing higher than about 25W-uncontrolled equivalent gets near semiconductors.

  • [Alan Ball]

    or you could cool it, with a wet sponge, and use it for anything. 

• [jimkirk]

  I have an old Radio Shack branded unit similar to this.  Soldering tips, hot knife, hot air and torch.  Very nice.  At least two decades old & still works great.
  http://www.amazon.com/PORTASOL-COMPLETE-SET-SEMI-PROFESSIONAL-GAS/dp/B004XZQB9M/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1350333323&sr=8-18&keywords=butane+hot+knife

  • [Paul Renault]

     Wow!  Three votes for the Portasol kit.

• [francoisroux]

  I’m using a Dremel VersaTip equivalent at a much lower price and probably the same quality. Dremel don’t habitually make crap tools. It’s got a bunch of attachments and tips too.

  I bought it 2 years ago for around R499, which is about $58.