4 ms·

Can’t speak for the OP but having USB C devices is far tidier, and allows you to go portable. I’ve always had a 110 soldering station, but recently bought a Pi

by wepple 3y ago

Can’t speak for the OP but having USB C devices is far tidier, and allows you to go portable. I’ve always had a 110 soldering station, but recently bought a Pinecil portable iron for soldering in the field, and damn that thing is so convenient and fast to heat and accurate, I hardly bother with my full solder station any more

steve_adams_86 3y ago
It’s actually good? It’s so inexpensive. My soldering station was $200, and I thought that was on the cheaper side. It looks like Pinecil V2 is only $25 at the moment.
- noman-land 3y ago
  It's strangely good. I also haven't used my Weller since getting the Pinecil.
- graphe 3y ago
  What do you need it for? I've used $4 ones that were "good". Once you go hot air it's different.
  - wepple 3y ago
    Repairing crashed drones, so maybe nothing fancy. If I’m doing precise SMT I prefer to be at a desk
    - graphe 3y ago
      I think these will do fine my nice soldering iron was $70ish when I got it and has temperature control. You don't need a weller or anything that was nice from back in the day, I think the in general temp control is very good from my experience with cheap ecigs too.
- wepple 3y ago
  If they’d charged me $85 I’d be a very happy buyer. But I paid like $45 or something crazy? The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey because they seem to include the actual heating element, but even then it’s still such a great device IMO
  - duskwuff 3y ago
    > The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey And, at $25 for a set of four, they aren't even that expensive.
    - moffkalast 3y ago
      Depends on the tip quality. The one I got with my toolcraft soldering station lasted a good while, but any replacements I get just freaking melt away and are only good for a few uses. On the other hand they are $3 for a pack of 10, so it's probably still cheaper overall than the OEM stuff lol.
      - duskwuff 3y ago
        The ones I'm referring to are the official tip sets from Pine64, e.g.: https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-soldering-short-tip-set-fine/ https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-soldering-short-tip-set-f...
  - steve_adams_86 3y ago
    That’s a strong endorsement. Do you know how long does a tip normally last?
- xnyan 3y ago
  My electronics background is that I worked under Underwriters Laboratories where I’ve used some very nice soldering irons. The pinecil is unbelievably good for what it costs. I find myself using it more than any other soldering iron, only pulling out bigger more expensive models when I need more thermal mass. I can’t recommend it enough.
  - hobs 3y ago
    Just a mention that if it isn't working up to spec you probably dont have a power source capable of delivering what it needs, it truly blew me away how good this thing is.
- stavros 3y ago
  It's amazing, both in general, and especially for its price. I have four of them (not exactly Pinecils, but two Pinecils, a TS-100, a TS-80, etc). I love it.
- jdietrich 3y ago
  If your soldering iron uses the old style of slip-on tips, then the Pinecil would represent a significant upgrade. Cartridge-style tips have really rendered older irons obsolete and allow something as cheap and simple as a Pinecil to have genuinely excellent performance. Brands like AiXun and Handskit make inexpensive stations that are compatible with JBC C215/C245 cartridges, which gives you a ridiculous level of performance for the price. Also, don't sleep on knife tips. For a long time I thought that the Chinese phone repair guys were goofy for using them so much, but they were right, I was an idiot and I now use them 99% of the time.

by wepple 3y ago

steve_adams_86 3y ago

It’s actually good? It’s so inexpensive. My soldering station was $200, and I thought that was on the cheaper side. It looks like Pinecil V2 is only $25 at the moment.

noman-land 3y ago
It's strangely good. I also haven't used my Weller since getting the Pinecil.
graphe 3y ago
What do you need it for? I've used $4 ones that were "good". Once you go hot air it's different.
- wepple 3y ago
  Repairing crashed drones, so maybe nothing fancy. If I’m doing precise SMT I prefer to be at a desk
  - graphe 3y ago
    I think these will do fine my nice soldering iron was $70ish when I got it and has temperature control. You don't need a weller or anything that was nice from back in the day, I think the in general temp control is very good from my experience with cheap ecigs too.
wepple 3y ago
If they’d charged me $85 I’d be a very happy buyer. But I paid like $45 or something crazy? The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey because they seem to include the actual heating element, but even then it’s still such a great device IMO
- duskwuff 3y ago
  > The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey And, at $25 for a set of four, they aren't even that expensive.
  - moffkalast 3y ago
    Depends on the tip quality. The one I got with my toolcraft soldering station lasted a good while, but any replacements I get just freaking melt away and are only good for a few uses. On the other hand they are $3 for a pack of 10, so it's probably still cheaper overall than the OEM stuff lol.
    - duskwuff 3y ago
      The ones I'm referring to are the official tip sets from Pine64, e.g.: https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-soldering-short-tip-set-fine/ https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-soldering-short-tip-set-f...
- steve_adams_86 3y ago
  That’s a strong endorsement. Do you know how long does a tip normally last?
xnyan 3y ago
My electronics background is that I worked under Underwriters Laboratories where I’ve used some very nice soldering irons. The pinecil is unbelievably good for what it costs. I find myself using it more than any other soldering iron, only pulling out bigger more expensive models when I need more thermal mass. I can’t recommend it enough.
- hobs 3y ago
  Just a mention that if it isn't working up to spec you probably dont have a power source capable of delivering what it needs, it truly blew me away how good this thing is.
stavros 3y ago
It's amazing, both in general, and especially for its price. I have four of them (not exactly Pinecils, but two Pinecils, a TS-100, a TS-80, etc). I love it.
jdietrich 3y ago
If your soldering iron uses the old style of slip-on tips, then the Pinecil would represent a significant upgrade. Cartridge-style tips have really rendered older irons obsolete and allow something as cheap and simple as a Pinecil to have genuinely excellent performance. Brands like AiXun and Handskit make inexpensive stations that are compatible with JBC C215/C245 cartridges, which gives you a ridiculous level of performance for the price. Also, don't sleep on knife tips. For a long time I thought that the Chinese phone repair guys were goofy for using them so much, but they were right, I was an idiot and I now use them 99% of the time.