19 ms·

Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

• bmurphy1976 2y ago
  Interesting. I like my Pinecil but I agree the interface is less than ideal. It's unfortunate the tips aren't compatible across the two.
• paulo20223 2y ago
  I think the Smart Soldering Iron Pinecil is better, but some features are really cool, like the soldering iron cap.
• sdflhasjd 2y ago
  What happens if you plug in headphones into the 3.5mm jack?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Hmm... none of my headphone plugs will fit down the barrel!
    • ramon156 2y ago
      Watch me!
  • Kirby64 2y ago
    If you could actually fit something in there, you get your reward of a destroyed pair of headphones I assume. Or maybe it won’t sense a thermistor and nothing will happen. I’d assume without a thermistor it won’t actually function (although you could probably trick it)
  • throwaway74354 2y ago
    You'll be able to know for sure, whether headphone burn-in is a placebo or not.
    • varispeed 2y ago
      I am sure the tracks it plays are fire...
• lloydatkinson 2y ago
  I am definetly interested to hear how this performs versus industry standards like Weller and the like!
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Here are some other reviews! We'll be shipping on October 15 and you can try it out for yourself. https://www.pcmag.com/news/ifixit-new-soldering-iron-power-station-is-portable-powerful-fast https://www.pcmag.com/news/ifixit-new-soldering-iron-power-s... https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/ifixit-fixhub-portable-soldering-station-review https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/ifixit-fixhub-portab... https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/12/24242497/ifixit-fixhub-usb-soldering-iron-station-battery-toolkit-price-release-date https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/12/24242497/ifixit-fixhub-us... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LOTlQ3Cc8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LOTlQ3Cc8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IRP2LCswHs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IRP2LCswHs
• bebna 2y ago
  don't see what tips are compatible or will be on offer. Shame that I can't control it on the pen.
  • wildzzz 2y ago
    Looks like it only takes their proprietary tip design (never seen one using a 3.5mm jack) but they don't have any others for sale yet. There are at least a few different tip designs out there already that don't require tools to replace (Metcal for example) so why not just do that? Unless someone comes out with an adapter, I can't use any of the tips I already own and would need to rely on iFixit for replacements. Also, can you safely put 100W through a headphone jack? The ones I can find on Digikey that list a power rating seem to max out at 75W but most are well below that. Headphone jacks aren't exactly meant for high power, there is only a small amount of contact between the terminals since there's very little power required for line audio. Obviously big speakers require more power but those use things like XLR, RCA, and wire posts that provide way more contact. Adding to this, I don't want to use their Chrome-only web app to configure it. Is this thing actually a serial device or is it something that only Chrome can talk to? If the former, just make it an Electron app if you want to be lazy. Can I still run the web app locally if iFixit decides to stop hosting it? iFixit acts like they are all for open hardware and then go make something that uses proprietary tips and a (likely) closed source web app. I'm glad I could repair it if necessary but seems like a step back from a cheap solder station from Amazon that has a control panel and takes Hakko tips.
    • Kirby64 2y ago
      Literally all the cheap soldering irons (Miniware TS80/100/etc, Pinecil) use a 3.5mm jack for their tips. These look incompatible, though, with those designs, which is a shame.
      • wildzzz 2y ago
        The Pinecil nor TS100 definitely do not take 3.5mm jack tips but I see that the TS80 does. Thanks, never seen that before. I still don't trust putting 100W through it though!
• jsheard 2y ago
  Unfortunate that they didn't make it compatible with genuine Hakko or JBC tips like many of the no-name knock-off soldering stations are, but I suppose being based in the US they might be wary of violating the design patents of those companies. Anyway it's good to have an option that's cheaper than the big names but presumably built to a higher standard than an AliExpress special, and has an actual warranty and safety certifications.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    We'll have a range of tips. Hitting the high performance we wanted, with 100 Watt output in a small iron, required really optimizing the entire system. The heating element and temperature sensor are in the tip itself. We really see JBC as our competition here. Performance and responsiveness should be comparable or better, at a fraction of the price.
    • omgtehlion 2y ago
      Where can I buy these cartridges? For JBC we have official catalogue, local retailers, aliexpress, and secondary market full of any tip I might need. What kind of tips do you plan producing for the fixhub? P.S.: all JBC stands (genuine and most of knock-offs) have really comfortable holder with detents to change cartridges on-handed on the fly. Do you plan any such features? I do not see any steps or hooks on a tip.
      • kwiens 2y ago
        Good questions! Tips we'll have at launch: Cone, Bevel 1.5, Wedge 1.5, Point, Bevel 2.6, Knife 2.5, Knife 1.4. They'll be on sale in our store on October 15. https://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Soldering_and_Wiring https://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Soldering_and_Wiring We will also be selling a complete line of replacement parts. I'm working right now on our distribution partners, but we'll have a variety of local and online distributors who you can also buy the system through. Rather than designing it to change tips on the fly, we set up the Power Station to handle two irons, with two USB ports and a mounting socket on both sides.
• quitit 2y ago
  I am interested to know its repairability score.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    We are, too! It didn't seem fair for us to rate it ourselves. Hackaday took theirs apart and seemed to like it. We're posting full service information and schematics here: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iFixit_Soldering https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iFixit_Soldering We'll be selling spare parts starting October 15.
• nightpool 2y ago
  I hear https://github.com/google/web-serial-polyfill https://github.com/google/web-serial-polyfill gets used a fair amount on Android devices, so that might be one road you could go down. Additionally, I can't imagine it would be that hard would it be to build a mobile app that could provide a WebSerial interface to a friendly webview of your choosing. You'd need the user to download an app, but then you could use the same code for both web and app versions.
  • scottbez1 2y ago
    Oh interesting, I'll have to try that polyfill - I've been using web serial for all my projects lately because I hate users having to install anything, but Android has been an annoying gap.
    • mschuster91 2y ago
      > but Android has been an annoying gap If I were to guess - the issue is that many phone basebands appear (at least) as a serial device, and we all know from late 90s/early 00s dialer scams how bad that can go if some hardware manufacturer forgets to label the serial port in a way that can be detected as "never fucking ever expose this to apps"...
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Very interesting, I will check that out! And yes, if it seems like mobile browsers don't plan to add support then we'll have to look at wrapping it in a native app. I'm hopeful that smartphones will start supporting higher power output from their USB-C ports. The iPhone does 4.5W right now, which is (barely) enough to melt solder, but not enough to do anything with.
    • ryukafalz 2y ago
      My phone only has a 16 Wh battery; I'm not sure I'd want it to dump 100 W out its USB-C port even if it could!
      • 2y ago
• fragmede 2y ago
  Pretty cool, but it has to compete with the P80, and also with Fanttik's soldering iron, which has a battery and thus doesn't have the cable leash. https://fanttik.com/products/fanttik-t1-max-soldering-iron-kit https://fanttik.com/products/fanttik-t1-max-soldering-iron-k...
  • bogwog 2y ago
    I'm very much a noob at soldering so idk if I'm missing out on anything, but the Pine64 Pinecil[1] has worked great for me so far and is surprisingly cheap. It also uses a RISC-V chip and even has open source firmware[2] 1: https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/ https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-solde... 2: https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil_Firmware https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil_Firmware
    • wildzzz 2y ago
      This iron has more power than the Pinecil so it gets hotter faster and will heat up big chunks of metal faster (like ground planes or connector shells). Honestly, I've never been that interested in the Pinecil. It's nice that it's small but you still need a big type C supply. I could give a rats ass that it has open firmware and runs a RISC-V. I only care if it can push a lot of heat accurately and if the tips are affordable and available. Anything else does little to sway me. My solder station at work is an incredibly dumb Metcal that only has a power switch. Heat is controlled by the tips you use. When you pull it from the iron rest, it turns on instantly. Put it back and it turns off. The handle is just a plug for the tip, all the power electronics are in the base unit. It's got two plugs so you can run dual irons for microsoldering or if you just want a big chisel tip at the ready.
      • fragmede 2y ago
        > incredibly dumb Metcal The amount of technology in a Metcal to make it work as well as it does, justifying its $1,000 sticker price back when I did that kind of stuff, makes it far from dumb! The rest of the market has caught up, but back when it was released, Metcals were highly sought after! It does this induction heating thing with the Curie point which makes for a very good soldering iron.
• the__alchemist 2y ago
  How does this, in practical terms, compare to a Hakko station? Can I use Hakko tips?
• riedel 2y ago
  Looks much like the pinecil [0] (which I love btw if I have no acess to decent equipment) but with Webinterface ?!? Love the look though. [0] https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/ https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-solde...
  • gs17 2y ago
    They compare the two in the article: >The star of the show is, of course, the Smart Soldering Iron. It’s a 100 watt iron that comes up to operating temperature in under five seconds and can work with any suitably beefy USB-C Power Delivery source. The size and general proportions of the iron are very close to the Pinecil V2, though the grip is larger and considerably more comfortable to hold. The biggest difference between the two however is the absence of a display or configuration buttons. According to iFixit, most users don’t change their settings enough to justify putting the interface on the iron itself. That doesn’t mean you can’t tweak the iron’s settings when used in this stand-alone configuration, but we’ll get back to that in a minute.
  • omgtehlion 2y ago
    Pinecil can not deliver actual 100w, and most chinese type-c handles can neither. This one uses real buck converter which can help with this problem.
    • ssl-3 2y ago
      Pinecil V2 is specified to be 88w -- less than 100, but not very far off. And with a (simple) firmware change and the appropriate 28v EPR charger, it can do 140w.
      • ssl-3 2y ago
        I goofed up. It can do 126w (not 140w) with the appropriate charger. https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil#Power_Chart https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil#Power_Chart
        • 2y ago
• alnwlsn 2y ago
  Well done! I'm mostly a TS100 user, so I'm looking at it from that angle. Why no boost button (unless I missed it)? That's the one on-iron UI feature I'd be missing - very useful for GND planes. I'm guessing its not a matter of rated power, but just the thermal resistance from the physical size of the tip which restricts heat entering into a heavily-heatsinked joint. Helpful to increase the iron temperature momentarily for such cases. Then again, I can't see heat transfer - happy to be told I'm wrong. Is this your own tip design or is it the same as the TS80? Can't speak to the TS80 but I've found the TS100 tip quality to be somewhat lacking (I've had tips plainly break off before).
  • scottbez1 2y ago
    Yeah, boost button was a huge step up when I got my TS100 and now I can't imagine ever buying a new iron without it. Plus, not having the ability to quickly tune temperature settings on the iron itself seems like a step back as well. I'd be happy to be proven wrong on these, as iFixit's screwdriver sets were one of those things I needed to use to understand the hype (and then promptly bought my own set), so maybe this is another case of subtle quality you have to see for yourself?
    • kwiens 2y ago
      We spent a lot of time tuning it. We've found that temperature settings really aren't needed for most use cases as long as the heating algorithm is responsive enough. But that may not be for everyone: With the Power Station, changing the temperature is fast and easy with the dial, so you can pick a workflow that works best for you. (You can also change the temperature with the web interface.)
      • scottbez1 2y ago
        Appreciate the response! I'm still not immediately sold (my TS100 is doing great and I can't justify replacing a perfectly acceptable iron), but I'll have to give it a try sometime because it does look really thoughtfully designed!
  • 2y ago
• jareklupinski 2y ago
  i literally just bought a pinecil and usb-c battery pack (with carry case) to make basically a DIY version of this three weeks ago, but would have gotten this one instead if it existed back then after a few days trying to turn that into a daily driver however, i've had to go back to my weller desktop station, for one weird reason: i dont have anywhere to put the hot iron in between uses! i dont know if it's just me, but my work cadence involves me using my soldering iron about 30-40 times over the course of an hour or so, for about 3-4 seconds each time. sometimes i'm soldering a row of headers, or just one or two joints, but then theres 3-4 minutes where i'm moving wires around or programming something quickly, and i dont want to wait for the tip to cool each time so i can set it somewhere and work on the board a bit, if I can just leave it in a safe place while hot, which my weller always had. I got one of those bent sheet metal desktop 'holders', but the iron is so light compared to the cable, there's no way it's not falling off the table at some point.
  • varispeed 2y ago
    It seems like they didn't thought this product through. Holder is one thing, but holder should be able to put the iron on idle when not used. Otherwise it will be burning through tips like there is no tomorrow. I had one of these pencil soldering irons as I needed to solder something at a location. Once I powered it on, I was like oh snap, where do I put this thing now. Very much noped out and got the thing home where I could solder it properly with proper tools.
    • teraflop 2y ago
      The article mentions that the iron has an accelerometer-based idle mode, like most of its competitors. So no special holder is required.
      • varispeed 2y ago
        So you can just toss it anywhere?
  • sandreas 2y ago
    Try buying a third Party holder and flash ironOS[1] to allow cool extra features. 1: https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS
• bkanuka 2y ago
  Can you comment on the compatibility with other 3.5mm tips like the TS80/TS80P? Will there be other tip shapes available? Is the tip design patented (and enforced) or will you allow for 3rd party tips?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    We did not patent the tip design, anyone is welcome to make third party tips. Tips we'll have at launch: Cone, Bevel 1.5, Wedge 1.5, Point, Bevel 2.6, Knife 2.5, Knife 1.4 We made some different electrical design decisions than they did. TS-80 tips aren't rated for the power that we're putting out, so being compatible with the TS-80 tips could be pretty sketchy.
    • bkanuka 2y ago
      Amazing! Thanks for clarifying. Now I'm much more interested
• moffkalast 2y ago
  I always see these USB-C irons marketed a lot, but I've recently bought a travel iron that's the same form factor with adjustable temperature and all that jazz but just ends with an outlet plug for $16 and couldn't be happier with it tbh. Unless you're somewhere out in the wilderness, finding an outlet to do any on the road repairs is pretty trivial and you don't need to lug around a large heavy box that does grid to USB-C DC conversion nor a powerbank.
  • anamexis 2y ago
    You don't need a "large heavy box," just a standard USB-C PD power brick. e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1FZWT8M/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1FZWT8M/
    • moffkalast 2y ago
      On one hand I agree that if everything you have uses PD, your laptop, your phone, your powerbank and a charger like that and it's powerful enough to handle it all then it probably makes sense to also have an iron that works with it and it's all interchangeable. On the other hand we already have a standard power thing, it's called an outlet. And in practice you need to charge/use things in parallel so you'd need to carry around like four of these.
      • ewoodrich 2y ago
        I charge any combination of my Macbook Pro, Thinkpad, Chromebook, phone, tablet etc at the same time almost exclusively with high wattage GaN multiport chargers. I keep one in my backpack with 2 or 3 100W cables so charging in parallel is never a problem away from home from a single outlet/charger.
• systemtest 2y ago
  I really appreciate that iFixit made the schematics publicly available, unlike a certain other right-to-repair advocate.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Schematics are table stakes! https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iFixit_Soldering https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iFixit_Soldering
• varispeed 2y ago
  Never buy cheap tools. It looks like a cool gadget, but is it actually useful for soldering? Does it maintain correct temperatures? How long the tips last and can you buy them easily? Are there many variety of tips? etc. etc. If you are into soldering, do yourself a favour and buy something tried and trusted like Hakko FX-951 if you are on the budget. It will probably outlast you.
  • vault 2y ago
    the Hakko FX-951 is discontinued and its replacement FX971-44 costs GBP 350. would you also recommend the FX888D that is half the price, ignoring second-hand market?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    I agree. We put an incredible amount of effort into making this a functional workhorse that will last a lifetime. Tips we'll have at launch: Cone, Bevel 1.5, Wedge 1.5, Point, Bevel 2.6, Knife 2.5, Knife 1.4 What kills tips is oxidation. With our auto-sleep sensor, it drops below the temperature that will wear it out. When you pick it up, it's back at soldering temperature in a few seconds. Give it a chance! You're right, it's not tried and tested, yet. But Tom at Hackaday is not an easy person to convince: he's been around the block and used every iron out there: "iFixit didn’t just raise the bar, they sent it into orbit."
    • varispeed 2y ago
      Thanks! That sounds reasonable. I would still consider making a holder. I could also suggest a Barrel 0.8 tip, that wraps around pin that one wants to solder.
  • jeffbee 2y ago
    I don't see why maintaining tip temperature would be even slightly difficult with modern electronics. It should be possible to make a very cheap and excellent soldering iron at this point.
  • deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
• ChrisArchitect 2y ago
  Alternate link: https://www.ifixit.com/News/99434/introducing-fixhub-the-portable-soldering-system https://www.ifixit.com/News/99434/introducing-fixhub-the-por...
• dlevine 2y ago
  I paid ~$100 for my Hakko FX888D, and have had had that for almost 10 years. Looking on the Internet, the price hasn't gone up much. Not sure whether this (for $250 including the power supply) is a class above that. The repairability is a definite plus (assuming parts continue to be available for many years), and all the nerdy features are also cool, but not sure how useful they will be in the real world.
  • jsheard 2y ago
    The FX888 is an older style iron where the tip and heating element are separate components, the newer generation (such as this iFixit one) have the tip, heater and temperature sensor integrated as a single component which allows them to regulate the tip temperature much faster and more accurately. Hakko does make irons of that type now but they're very expensive, up in the $500 range. Another benefit of the newer style irons is the tip can usually be hot-swapped (literally while it's still hot) without having to unscrew anything, you just need something insulating to pull the tip out with.
    • mysteria 2y ago
      It's worth noting that with some practice you can unscrew the hot metal tip holder with pilers, flip the tip out into a tray, drop the new cold tip in, and screw it all back using the pliers in 30 seconds or so.
  • anamexis 2y ago
    Only $80 for the iron itself though, compatible with any USB-C PD power supply.
    • themoonisachees 2y ago
      The pinecil is $25.
      • jve 2y ago
        Visiting US shop pinecil is 26$: https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/ https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-solde... EU shop? 65 Euros... https://pine64eu.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/ https://pine64eu.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-sol...
• agys 2y ago
  Long time Miniware TS80 user. Very happy with it, with a couple of extra tips. Installed IronOS on it and it got even better…! https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS
• BugsJustFindMe 2y ago
  > The accelerometer detects when you pick it up and heats it back up. I don't want this. I would rather push a button and wait for a light to turn on. Automatic off, fine, I guess, though I don't love it and would never want to rely on it. Automatic on, no way.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    By default, the timer is set to 30 seconds. You can turn the whole feature off, and it'll never bother you again!
    • BugsJustFindMe 2y ago
      > You can turn the whole feature off, and it'll never bother you again! Awesome. Thank you!
  • LeifCarrotson 2y ago
    Agreed. There's a place for open, smart tools. Some things want to have serial interfaces and sensors and so on, that will do a whole host of actions automatically. Other times you just want the equivalent of a drill or toaster. Pull trigger, drill spins. Twist chuck or shift gearbox, it slips or changes speeds. Push toast down, it toasts, twist the dial if you want darker or lighter. An on/off switch, a potentiometer or 7-segment and some buttons to set temp, and a nice, fast, powerful PID loop to control the temperature (with a 120V AC cable to make 100W all day not a problem) is all I want in a soldering iron. I have a combination soldering/hot air station that's almost 20 years old, it just always works.
  • wvenable 2y ago
    I have something like this on a TS100 and it works fine. You set it down for a while because you're still soldering but you need to move stuff and it reduces the heat. Then you pick it back up and by the time you've gotten to part it's already back up the temp. How is that worse than it just being full temp the whole time?
    • 2y ago
• MostlyStable 2y ago
  So is this iron competing mostly with other portable, USB c irons, or is there s case for it to also be someone's only, at home, soldering station iron?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    It's on my workbench! We designed it as a soldering station that can replace the station on your workbench. The cap mounts to the battery pack. https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-power-series-portable-soldering-station https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-power-series-portable... You actually get a few more watts of power (104 W or so) if the hub is plugged into an AC charger (there's a third USB-C port on the rear).
    • MostlyStable 2y ago
      Yes, I definitely got that it can be a pretty good workbench iron, I guess I was asking if the price/feature balance works out mainly for people who also need a good portable iron, or if it's still competitive if you are comparing it to non-portable stations as well.
• atoav 2y ago
  100W via TRS 3.5mm connector? I checked and I didn't even find a power rating for these connectors, but that seems excessive.
  • zerocrates 2y ago
    Where are you seeing a TRS connector? Looks like it's USB-C everywhere to me...
    • kwiens 2y ago
      We use a TRS connector between the tip and the iron. And yes, it's a lot of amps! It's amazing how versatile a well designed analog connector can be.
      • zerocrates 2y ago
        Ah! I was looking around for one: not on the battery pack, not on the iron-to-cable connection, but didn't think about the tips. So you can plug an unused tip into your Walkman's headphone jack for safekeeping...
    • deleted 2y ago
      [deleted]
  • fecal_henge 2y ago
    The twist is that the TRS is the heating element.
  • mrWiz 2y ago
    Weller uses TRS too. In my experience the connection is a little flaky, but I don’t know the provenance of the lab irons I’ve used; it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve been abused. https://www.weller-tools.com/us/en/industrial-soldering/products/soldering-stations/wx2 https://www.weller-tools.com/us/en/industrial-soldering/prod...
• donatj 2y ago
  Every time I see a soldering iron use a 3.5mm headphone jack for the tips, some dark dumb part of my brain wants to plug a pair of headphones into it to see what happens.
  • Forge36 2y ago
    Magic smoke is released. Do try to avoid doing this with headphones in ears.
  • marcosdumay 2y ago
    Results vary depending on the phone. EDIT: I take the following back. The actual cable is USB-USB. The P2 connector links directly to the heated head, what is perfectly equivalent to "labeled". But yeah, people that design products, please if you make a non-standard use of a standard connector, label it. I would absolutely not buy this because that USB-P2 cable will mix with every other thing that thought was a good idea to use an unlabeled USB-P2 cable that only God knows whether they are compatible or not. (Common sense would imply they are, but common sense already flew out of the window long ago when you see a cable like that.)
  • deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  • thebruce87m 2y ago
    Before the invention of lead-free solder you would hear heavy metal.
  • dunham 2y ago
    Back in the 80's a friend of mine had a system for launching model rockets built out of power cords - a extension cord with multiple outlets for distribution, and power cords with microclips on one end to hook to the rockets. And of course he had to find out "what happens if I plug this in". (If I remember right the microclips were fused together, but they may have just melted, it's been a while.)
• myrmidon 2y ago
  This looks really nice! Can the base station be used like a normal powerbank (for plugging phone or laptop into it)? Also while it is in use?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Yes! You have two ports on the front, so you can charge your phone or laptop while you solder. Or, mount two soldering irons with different tips. The wheel controls the temperature, and the blue action button toggles between which one you're controlling. Two soldering irons can be hot at once.
• syntaxing 2y ago
  Overall a great idea, though not a fan that you can’t directly change the temperature on the soldering iron without the power station.
  • rcarmo 2y ago
    That's a no-go for me then.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    You can set the temperature on the iron with our web console, which uses Web Serial: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console Once you set the temperature, the iron remembers it and you can use any power source. We've spent a lot of time talking to engineers and makers who solder all day, and it turns out that most people rarely change the temperature. Pick a temperature you like and leave it there. Our heating algorithm detects and dynamically responds to load, so you don't need to turn the temperature up for larger thermal masses: it'll add as many joules as required to get it to temperature.
    • syntaxing 2y ago
      I definitely can see that, I rarely change my solder iron temp too but the biggest issue is that I purposely do not keep my phone or laptop within reach where I solder. I still use lead solder and I don’t want to accidentally rub off any. Seems like a huge pain to wash my hand, get my laptop, change temp, then continue. But like you mentioned, I probably haven’t changed the temp on my iron in a while, ironically the last time I changed it was because I used silver solder.
    • green-salt 2y ago
      Do you have plans to have an actual local application to do this? Chrome-only web tools are not sustainable and a deal breaker.
      • KingOfCoders 2y ago
        [flagged]
• thesh4d0w 2y ago
  The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me. $110 cad for the soldering iron is semi-reasonable, if a bit high compared to their competitors. $342 for the iron + battery means that's a $230 battery pack, which is absolutely insane. Requiring the battery pack to be able to easily change controls means anyone doing more than super basic work, needs the $342 combo.
  • myrmidon 2y ago
    For tools that you use regularly, it is sometimes worth it to take a step back, put the cost into an absolute perspective and then just get the thing if you know that it's well-made and you use it regularly, instead of getting a cheapish, price-optimized knockoff instead (my experience). I spent over 200$ on a glorified PCB holder and some probes (PCBite), which is in hindsight one of the most useful tools I own and still makes me happy every time I use it (even that alone is kinda worth it over time!). I don't know your financial situation, but just consider: How much do you spend each month on meals/entertainment? Is $300 actually an inappropriate cost for a quality thing that you often need? Note: Iron + station shows up as $250 to me, $350 is the set with some additional bits and bobs.
    • 420official 2y ago
      Why buy this for $250 when you get the same thing from a pinecil v2 and use it with any 20v 100w PD USB-c power pack? I'm not seeing any differentiating features.
      • myrmidon 2y ago
        Because I have more trust in ifixit then in pine64 to sell robust, quality tools. And most of what you are going to overpay (?) for this is going to ifixit, which is also a plus. It's like buying merch from a band you like.
        • brailsafe 2y ago
• rcarmo 2y ago
  WebSerial is indeed a bummer. I hate having to switch browsers to configure QMK keyboards or doing some ESP32 stuff, and need something that will work in Safari and Firefox (or a cross-platform app that doesn't suck).
  • scottbez1 2y ago
    Eh, I'm mostly just sad Firefox hasn't implemented it yet. I daily drive Firefox, but switching browsers temporarily still beats installing single-use applications with full local machine permissions by a huge margin. So I've been opting for building web serial companion apps on my own projects as well and it's great (besides Firefox)!
• dvh 2y ago
  If you feel like $80 is too much, I recently bought $6 temperature regulated soldering iron (model 908S) on AliExpress and it has no problem soldering even LQFP-48 or MSOP-10 packages.
• barbazoo 2y ago
  But can it run Doom?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    We didn't lock down the firmware on the Power Station, so go right ahead!
• madeofpalk 2y ago
  Interesting that new products are shipping 'relying' Web Serial, given it's tenuous position as a web standard.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Google depends on it for firmware updates and repairs on the Pixel lineup. https://pixelrepair.withgoogle.com https://pixelrepair.withgoogle.com
    • crote 2y ago
      That's not exactly surprising, given that Google is the one who's pushing it in the first place.
• omgtehlion 2y ago
  Thanks for using real buck converter, unlike many other type-c soldering irons. Hope this helps achieve full USB PD power range.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Thanks! It cost more but I think the outcome was worth it. We really pushed the envelope on every aspect of the hardware to max out the joules we could push into the material. The trick is being really responsive to the load so that you don't overshoot the target temperature too much. With the Power Station plugged into the wall and a full charge on the batteries, you can get about 104 Watts into the iron.
• cruffle_duffle 2y ago
  Soldering is one of those things where the tools you use have a direct impact on the quality and enjoyment of the work. Shitty $20 soldering irons from Home Depot not only produce awful results but they are incredibly frustrating. I’m pretty sure most people who think they suck at soldering and hate it only feel that way because their tool sucks. A good quality soldering iron and high quality, thin solder make a huge, huge difference in output. If your experience with soldering is one of those cheap flimsy $30 dollar things from Amazon paired with fat, chunky solder… yeah you will hate soldering and you’ll never get even remotely good results. You don’t need to spend $500 dollar or anything but something like what is in this post and a $40 roll of thin gauge solder (which will last the rest of your life) will make soldering actually fun and enjoyable. …I should also mention a solid, heavy parts holder factors into this as well.
  • luqtas 2y ago
    dunno. my first ever soldering project was a handwired keyboard. i was popcorning when i finished. it was my first time using a mechanical switch keyboard too. not bad... 2° project, right after finishing the keyboard was soldering a PMW3360 sensor to someone's board from Github. it was a freaking blast on my 40W, 40 BRL (~ 8 USD) solder i still have it & i'm selling handwired keyboards at a very cheap price (made with it), trying to set a non-profit that sells fair priced handwired keyboards with Vial & aims to teach the basics of electronics for teens... i can't see myself supplying anything more expensive than cheap solders, nor i can see what joy i would get from an expensive solder tool my wiring for reference -> https://happort.org/keyboard_example.png https://happort.org/keyboard_example.png
    • timfsu 2y ago
      That's wonderful - I used to solder with a cheap iron until university. A nice iron gets a lot hotter, and it makes everything easier and faster. It may not matter for keyboards, but on a small PCB where everything is a few mm part, the precision of a good tip matters too.
    • arcanemachiner 2y ago
      Popcorning: "the happy little jump that guinea pigs give when they are full of joy" In case anyone else was wondering.
• mrandish 2y ago
  After a quick look at the specs: Plus * 5 secs to temp. * Heat resistant, vented cap. * User can change auto idle and sleep times. Minus * Need iFixit power station or computer to change temp and other settings. * No temp indicator on the iron. No mention if the LED indicates it's reached set temp. I'd love to keep a small, lightweight, high-quality portable iron in my tool bag ready for quick repairs. It needs to heat fast and be instantly capped and tossed back in the tool bag without waiting for cool down. However, I don't want to carry the iFixit power bank in my small tool bag. Yet without it, I'd need to pull out a laptop to change temp. And I do need to change temp enough for that to be annoying. Especially when there USB irons which have temp readouts and controls on the device. While cheap, those irons generally don't get to temp in 5 secs, have a well-thought out heat resistant cap and aren't high-quality.
  • dghlsakjg 2y ago
    Look up the Sequre S99 soldering iron. Basically what you are looking for.
  • w4rh4wk5 2y ago
    I do have a TS100 which I use either with a battery pack or a wall charger. For storing it, I am using a metal casing that is used for a single cigar. There's also room for a tiny metal cleaning brush which protects the tip during storage. Given that all of this is metal and that the soldering iron doesn't have that much thermal capacity, I can pack it up while the tip is still hot and the casing will only get mildly warm, but not to the point where it'd cause damage.
    • jalk 2y ago
      /me going to the store, to buy a cigar
  • kwiens 2y ago
    The LED on the iron turns orange once it reaches your target temperature. It glows purple while it's heating, and blue when it's safe to touch.
• adolph 2y ago
  This is a really beautiful system. The pen-cap style cover is great. The Lamy Safari style cap clip that uses the lugs on the battery to become the holder is inspired. (see 0 for better view than the linked article's picture) If this was available back when I got a Pinecil and PowerWheels Ryobi adapter [1], I would have been severely tempted to spend 400% more. 0. https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-soldering-toolkit https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-soldering-toolkit 1. https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil_Power_Supplies#Tool_Batteries_18V-21V https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil_Power_Supplies#Tool_Bat...
• tamimio 2y ago
  It looks interesting. I know some people will start comparing it to workstation ones, but I personally always look for portability. A few times I would be in the field with my drones and I need something small, battery-powered, and good enough for a quick job. So maybe people with similar use cases will find it useful. The only thing that I would say would have been good to have is a phone app and connection over Bluetooth to adjust the settings.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Our goal here was to provide workstation-level performance in a portable form factor. Phone configuration: I agree, that would be nice. If we can find a way to do it from a web browser on a phone, that's our preference. Otherwise we'll take a look at a native wrapper.
• Fwirt 2y ago
  Why overcomplicate a simple tool? If you're not soldering professionally and only need it a few times a month, I never see anyone recommend the Hakko FX-600. I couldn't be happier with mine. Heats up in seconds, adjustable temperature, uses standard Hakko tips, and very affordable. And takes up no bench space, you just shove it in your toolbox (with a tip cover) when you're done with it. The only downsides are that it's not as slim as a soldering station, and the temperature adjustment is in 20 degree intervals. Hakko is a reputable brand, and I have had 0 issues with mine.
  • wvenable 2y ago
    I would recommend a TS100 or TS80 over the Hakko FX-600 for occasional hobbyists. Those are both closer in design to the iFixit iron. Digital display, standard (replacable) power connectors, safety features, etc. Even more compact.
    • imp0cat 2y ago
      Yeah, another vote for the TS100. It's quite easy to use.
    • Fwirt 2y ago
      Sure, but there’s also less to go wrong with an FX-600. It’s literally a wall jack and an analog switch. No pushbuttons, no displays, no power adapters. Safety features are worth considering but everything else seems unnecessary.
      • wvenable 2y ago
        I'm not a fan of devices with a built in non-replaceable power cord. With the T100 I've already replaced the cord with a longer one. I can also run it on batteries, if necessary. T100s aren't known to be failure prone.
    • irjustin 2y ago
      TS100 here! Take a look at the OSS firmware https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS It's a very nice, incremental improvement making the occasional hobbyist soldering a joy.
• mixmastamyk 2y ago
  Looks neat. I might have thought web features were cool ten years ago but no longer want any more devices with wifi and possibility of telemetry in my house. Not to mention having to bring up a browser to configure instead of pushing a physical button. No desire for limited Tesla-like design. Is that the case, or did I misunderstand?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    I completely agree and love buttons and knobs. In this case, we didn't think the setting was necessary at all. It's very rare that you need to change the soldering temperature. We found that most of the reasons that people historically change their setting is because their iron isn't responsive enough to the actual workload. With 100 Watts of power and an ultra-fast response time, you can flow the joules that you actually need into the material at the temperature you set. Give it a try! If you still feel like you need a temperature knob, we'll refund your purchase. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LOTlQ3Cc8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LOTlQ3Cc8
    • mixmastamyk 2y ago
      Hmm, the power supply has a knob, that’s ok. Why does it mention a web console? Video didn’t mention.
  • scottbez1 2y ago
    No wifi - it's web serial so connects locally via the USB connection when you plug the iron (or base station) into your computer. It's only "web" in the sense that it uses a browser and web technologies for the GUI, not "web" as in over the internet or wireless.
    • mixmastamyk 2y ago
      Cool, thanks.
• Zak 2y ago
  What I'd really like somebody to do is just stick a field-replaceable 18650 or 21700 battery in the handle. If you want to get fancy, add a dial for temperature control. Webserial and such makes for a cool tech demo, but I just want portable soldering with standard field-replaceable batteries.
  • Ancapistani 2y ago
    Is the discharge rate for an 18650 be enough for a decent soldering iron? I normally power mine off either a power bank with PD, or a LiPo battery that I also use for drones.
    • Zak 2y ago
      Yes. The Sony VTC6, for example is rated to deliver up to 30A with temperature monitoring to ensure it doesn't exceed 80C. At 3.0V (partially discharged and with voltage sag from the load), that's 90W. I don't actually need 90W in the application I have in mind. I'd be more than happy with 60, and there are quite a few 18650 cells that can do 20A comfortably. Runtime at full power would be short of course, but I don't find I'm continuously heating work for very long in the field. Here's a test of the VTC6. It does look like it's struggling a bit at 30A, but it's happy at 20. https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Sony%20US18650VTC6%203000mAh%20%28Green%29%20UK.html https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Sony%20US18650VTC...
      • kube-system 2y ago
        > Max. discharge current vs. time: 30A-40A > 44s I figure that might be workable for a few power cycles and a few big solder joints, but it would probably be a frustrating experience for anything more than quick fixes in the field.
        • Kirby64 2y ago
          If you're using full power for longer than 40 seconds, you're almost certainly doing something wrong (or, need to switch to a chunkier soldering iron). At a certain point, the limiting factor becomes how quickly you can transfer heat from the iron into the solder, and you won't pull 100W anymore. I have a JBC iron capable of 130W. It never pulls 130W, even on extremely chunky power planes, besides when initially heating up (on startup). When trying to heat some super thick, I can watch the power meter max out at ~70W (and it pulses 70W, not continously). And this is on a thick tip, far chunkier than what I see from iFixit.
• Ancapistani 2y ago
  This looks cool, and I'd buy one if I needed one... but I already have a full-sized soldering station and a Pinecil. The station has a hot air gun and a solder vacuum, so it's far more suitable for use on the bench due to those capabilities. The Pinecil plugs into the Anker power bank that I carry with me everywhere anyhow, and runs basically forever on it. The UI took a day or so to get used to, but it's simple and straightforward enough for field use. I've even used it for bigger jobs on trucks and tractors in the past, and it didn't miss a beat.
• ssl-3 2y ago
  Meh. Seriously. Pros: 1. "Portable, sorta" 2. Reasonably high-power 3. Has an accelerometer (as does everything else in its class) 4. "Repairable" Cons: 1. No Hall effect sensor to detect when iron is placed in holder 2. A walled single-source garden of soldering tips that doesn't even exist yet instead of using commodity COTS parts 3. The fucking temperature control is fucking paywalled behind a proprietary USB power bank. What in the fuck? (And no, it is not possible to create an argument that will persuade me to think that this is an improvement. (Yes, I know that it can be programmed; this changes nothing.)) 4. Expensive. --- I'll just stick with my Pinecil iron. It gets all of these things right. If it breaks (I haven't broken a soldering iron yet in over three decades of trying), I'll fix it or buy another one. I mean: For the $250 this iFixit product costs (including the paywalled temperature control), I will be able to buy several lifetimes of worth of Pinecil irons.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    We considered having a sensor to detect when the cap is installed, but found that the accelerometer met that need. The default sleep timer is 30 seconds, but I set mine to 5 seconds and it works great. All of the settings, including the temperature setting, are available in the web interface for free. The settings persist permanently on the iron so you can use it with any USB-C PD power source that you've already got. We worked hard to make sure that the iron works well standalone from the power station. https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console
    • ssl-3 2y ago
      I mean... Here I am soldering in the field with my fancy microprocessor-controlled portable soldering iron. I've been using it with 63/37 and doing SMD work, but in front of me now I've got a big wire on a 1/4" TS plug to work on that was put together with lead-free solder and I simply need a higher temperature in order for anything to melt. I never expected an audio tech in the US to use lead-free solder for anything, ever, but here I am anyway. So now, I've got choices. Do I find a computer to plug my soldering iron into so I can reprogram it? Do I use the $170 temperature control (more than twice the cost of the iron itself) that I left on the bench for safe keeping? Or do I see this situation in advance, and buy seemingly any other temperature-controlled portable soldering iron instead?
• bjkayani 2y ago
  I think this is not a bad product, just a bad price. I agree that changing temperature is generally not done super often but I would have loved to see a ring adjustment for temperature. Overall, compared to the competition, I am not sure how much people would be willing to pay the much higher cost just for promise of quality and high heating capacity which is not as big of a edge that iFixit seems to think in my opinion. But I applaud the effort of trying to make something new and different in a crowded and competitive space.
• felurx 2y ago
  That looks awesome! I was wondering if it requires a 100W PD supply, but according to the manual everything with at least 20W should work.
• deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
• ryukafalz 2y ago
  Any plans to make a hot tweezer tip for this? It's hard to come by those for a reasonable price and that would be very appealing since I've often found myself needing to desolder surface-mount components. I was initially skeptical about the cap vs. a traditional stand until I saw that it mounts to the side of the battery pack to double as a stand. I like that idea! Also, is there documentation on the serial protocol used in case someone wanted to write a temperature control program that didn't rely on a webapp?
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Hot tweezers is a fun idea we've been talking about. How would you like to see it implemented? Yes, we really love the cap. It instantly safes the iron when you're done. We'll post more documentation on the serial interface, it's pretty straightforward. A temperature control program would be no problem.
    • ryukafalz 2y ago
      > Hot tweezers is a fun idea we've been talking about. How would you like to see it implemented? I suppose probably as a separate USB-C soldering iron. I was initially thinking of them as an attachment to the existing iron that would add an extra grip section, but now that I'm thinking about it a bit more that might be a bit too unwieldy. (And it would be helpful for hot tweezers to also have swappable tips for working with different components.) > We'll post more documentation on the serial interface, it's pretty straightforward. A temperature control program would be no problem. Thank you! I wish more companies would be this open about their products' interfaces.
• IshKebab 2y ago
  Oof £240 though. That's the same price as something like a Metcal PS-900 which is undoubtedly better. Edit: never mind £240 is actually for the battery powered version
• fnord77 2y ago
  The PINECIL Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron is 26 bucks... This is just a luxury gewgaw
• riversflow 2y ago
  I'm going to go ahead and sling mud at iFixit for using a Battery pack instead of individual cells and springs. It also doesn't seem that this expensive power supply supports power pass-through. A soldering iron shouldn't have a shelf life. Easily replaceable commodity batteries with spring terminals are massively superior to packs. What a gross product that makes me think significantly less of iFixit. They seem to have gotten so caught up in the "things should be repairable" that they've forgotten the true thing most people care about is, "I shouldn't have to replace my stuff". They are acting like parts salesmen, not consumer advocates. $200(? looks like you get the iron when you buy the power supply) would be a fair price for the base if it allowed me to charge and use any 6 18650s(bonus points if it can accept a variety of cell sizes) as a power bank and had circuitry to do pass through as well as charging. It would also be nice if you could use it charge batteries to a specified amount, and use custom charge patterns. Considering this is iFixit, it should also have a way to use it as a DC power supply as well. $250 for a glorified power brick is pathetic.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    I agree with you. We wanted to use individual 18650 cells so badly! We designed the whole thing that way. We did exactly what you proposed, and built cell balancing circuitry and code. It worked great! Then we went to the safety certification bodies and they said, absolutely not, there is no way you can sell that. We tried so many avenues to persuade them, from proposing 18650s with built-in safety circuitry to showing the safety system that we designed into the pack. No dice. There are a variety of safety standards to blame, but the primary one is UL 1642. It needs to change. I'm planning to join the standards body to see if I can shift things. Our pack is a set of six 18650s welded together with a standard connector. https://valkyrie.cdn.ifixit.com/media/2024/09/10113528/iFixit-FixHub-Portable-Power-Station-Teardown-1-1536x922.jpg https://valkyrie.cdn.ifixit.com/media/2024/09/10113528/iFixi... We'll sell replacement battery packs. Or you can make your own.
    • ssl-3 2y ago
      After my initial consternation about the temperature control costing $170, I think I have an idea that may placate my concerns. A compact temperature control widget without batteries at all. It accepts the appropriate USB PD power input in a standards-compliant way. It has a knob, and also a screen for status. It talks to the soldering iron and provides power to it. It does not have batteries or any special facilities for batteries *though if a user chooses to use it with an appropriate USB PD battery then they certainly can). This all seems possible, and adherence to USB PD specifications should tend to make it safe by default. The rub, and this may not be possible at all, is that it must be substantially cheaper than soldering iron itself. But because you've done the right thing and documented the protocol, then maybe someone else will implement this (as DIY or otherwise) and it won't be your problem at all. :)
• LeoPanthera 2y ago
  I'm going to hijack this thread to see if anyone recommend a power screwdriver? I'd like something smaller than an electric drill!
• physhster 2y ago
  I have a USB-C soldering iron that works with most power-banks. Does a better job than my old corded soldering station. I like the repairability of the iFixit one, but for $35, mine is hard to beat...
• ryukoposting 2y ago
  Does that tip mount with... a 3.5mm audio jack? An accelerometer instead of a power button? An app to change the temperature? All this amateur-hour idiocy, and it still costs 80 bucks before you even get a power supply? I love my iFixit screwdriver kits and I support their mission, but this thing is preposterous.
• Animats 2y ago
  Nice. The soldering iron is only US$80, but the battery is US$250.[1] Not shipping yet, still in pre-order. Does iFixit have enough manufacturing capacity to satisfy demand? This should be on DigiKey. [1] https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-power-series-portable-soldering-station https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-power-series-portable...
  • kwiens 2y ago
    We're talking with Digikey! Stay tuned. Preorders start today and will ship on October 15.
    • Animats 2y ago
      Is there a holder that doesn't include the $250 power supply?
      • aidenn0 2y ago
        you might be able to fix the magnetic cap to something, I suppose.
• themoonisachees 2y ago
  My experience in soldering is a hobby one, but I've done hard enough things like install a Nintendo switch modchip without a microscope. I want to love this product, but I really think you're hitting the worst of both worlds in what you're trying to achieve. On one hand, you're competing with "you're in the middle of a field and there exist no power outlets nearby" optimized irons, and you're offering some nicer features like 100W usb-c, but I don't think this is a field where one cares very much about the quality of their iron. I've fixed drones with the shittiest of usb-c irons, and I've done it with a pinecil, and when you're hunched over in a field, it frankly does not matter. On the other hand, it seems you're also trying to compete in at-a-workbench soldering, a class in which your price point is simply never going to work for what you offer. You're being outclassed by half as expensive stationary stations, even more so when you consider that they don't use proprietary tips. My 40€ AliExpress special station came with 3 tips, heats up in 2 seconds, and offers about the same experience as your several hundred dollars one, at the supposed cost of repairability (I haven't come across an iron that doesn't work ever. I suspect it would be a comparable fix.)
• getcrunk 2y ago
  PSA: non leaded solder is chosen primarily for environmental concern. Whichever solder you use the fumes are probably toxic and are rarely lead. It’s probably the rosin or flux or the other metals in alt. solder. The health issue with leaded solder is primarily ingestion. the lead particles get all over the place so wash your hands after and maybe change your clothes. And definitely don’t keep and food or water nearby, cus it’ll get on that and you’ll eat it!
• WheatMillington 2y ago
  That price is quite outrageous, and I don't want an app to control my soldering iron. Hard pass.
• bagels 2y ago
  "MAY BE THE LAST SOLDERING IRON YOU EVER BUY" It's got batteries in it. Is it really going to last longer than something that runs on AC with no chips in it?
• grvz 2y ago
  Why the hell would you buy this when a Metcal is the same price (new PS-900 or second hand MX)?!?
• tohnjitor 2y ago
  I thought this was going to be about a DIY USB-C cable.
• ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
  That looks like something I'll get. I have a very primitive old iron (and a gun, which I seldom have a use for).
  • herzzolf 2y ago
    I've been thinking about it as well, as I wanted to upgrade mine, but I think I'll go with a Pinecil that costs 25$...
• CarVac 2y ago
  As a gamecube controller modder who uses a TS101 on the go, the handle isn't such a bad deal. I paid the same price for the TS101 bundled with a barrel jack power supply that I never use. The short tip-to-grip distance seems nice, and the higher power is good. But the full station price is kind of outrageous. I got my Thermaltronics TMT-2000S for less, and that's a monster. But then again, I don't have to use their battery, I can use my $70 Ugreen one. My one concern about the cap is: I worry that someone with bad depth perception will poke their hand with a hot iron when trying to cap it...
  • cadr 2y ago
    Reading the description of the Thermaltronics TMT-2000S on their web page. Do you not have to set a temperature, and it just senses and figures out the right temperature?
    • CarVac 2y ago
      The tip alloy is set to have one of three curie points: 600, 700, or 800(ish) °F, and the curie point automatically regulates how much the RF energy actually heats the tip. The instant it cools down, power is delivered.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    The cap has a magnet on it that auto-homes so that really isn't a risk. The Power Station has a 55 Watt Hour battery, which is where most of the cost comes from. It doubles as a battery bank for your phone or laptop, or any other USB-C devices in your life.
    • CarVac 2y ago
      Good to hear that it self aligns. My battery bank is 72 Wh... On the other hand, I've had battery banks abruptly stop working for no reason and I'd love a repairable one.
• idunnoman1222 2y ago
  But there’s a hole in my bucket
• kayson 2y ago
  Curious how this compares to something like a Metcal MX-500. Got one from work for free a long time ago, and while its old, it works great. I only checked just now and it's rated at 40W but that's always been plenty for what I do, including big ground planes. It's insanely responsive because of the whole curie effect thing, and with the tip saver stand, it cools off instantly when I put it down. The tips are stupid expensive though.
• plasticeagle 2y ago
  This device seems perfectly insane. I have two Quecoo soldering stations : https://www.quecoo.com/products/quecoo-t12-956-soldering-digital-station-electronic-soldering-iron-oled-1-3inch-with-black-m8-handle-and-t12-soldering-iron-tips https://www.quecoo.com/products/quecoo-t12-956-soldering-dig... They're very cheap, they heat up just as quickly as any other induction iron. They are very repairable. They come with multiple tips, which are cheap to replace. They don't contain expensive batteries or pointless USB-C WebSerial-based interfaces. You turn them on. They heat up. I've had mine for years, so they're reliable too. iFixIt have a laudable mission generally, but this product will be an expensive failure.
• drmacak 2y ago
  Looks really great! I never imagined that we will be "stealing" design from Chinese companies.
• johnwalkr 2y ago
  I have been a huge advocate of the pinecil and haven't used anything else in years. It's just so easy to grab my pinecil and temporarily use my laptop's power supply for the iron, or use a mobile battery, instead of moving myself and the things I am working on to the location of my soldering station. These look like upgrades compared to pinecil: - comfier grip - shorter tip length and presumably a more solid feel (the pinecil's mechanical interface to the tip is pretty loose-feeling) - higher power over usb-c (actually can't think of a time I've needed more than 60W for hobby stuff, but I can imagine use cases like large ground planes) - storage cap (this is a major improvement for working in a temporary, tight space) All of these would be worth the price increase over pinecil, but unfortunately I think the lack of on-iron temperature settings is a dealbreaker. The pinecil in my toolbag is practically the size of a sharpie and works with my existing usb-c cables and batteries with no extra space taken up, and the killer feature (portability) is broken once you need a proprietary battery or a laptop to change temperature.
  • kwiens 2y ago
    Thanks for the feedback! The storage cap indeed makes a huge difference when you have to do something quickly and then put the iron away. In our testing, we rarely need to change temperatures. I think our algorithm does a better job of responding to the power load and flowing heat into the material than other irons. Of course, if you're changing solder then you'll need to change the temperature setting. We built the web interface with mobile in mind. We just need a mobile browser that supports web serial. Someone else posted a WebUSB polyfill, and I'm going to check that out tomorrow.
  • Zekio 2y ago
    Pinecil isn't limited to 60W at least not the pinecil v2, I think the v2 goes to like 140W using EPR
• aidenn0 2y ago
  Can anyone recommend an affordable hot-air tool for SMD rework that takes 110V? All of the cheap options I could find were 220V only and wouldn't do low enough airflow for smaller parts.
  • mastax 2y ago
    I like the quick 957dw+, the airflow is very adjustable.
• wileydragonfly 2y ago
  I’ve got some Yihua station that replaced a Weller I used for 20 years. Towards the end, the Weller kept blowing through so many expensive parts, it was cheaper to get a Yihua. Frankly, it’s been incredible and a far better experience than the Weller ever was.
• idiotsecant 2y ago
  What's the draw of a portable soldering iron with fancy firmware? I have the same dial adjusted 120vac weller knockoff that I have had since the 90s and it has done board level repair, automotive, structural art soldering in a pinch, etc and always worked great.
  • rpcope1 2y ago
    I have the exact same question, I don't get it. A reasonably recent ESD soldering iron like a Hakko or a Metcal has never (outside of stupidly small pitched chips) caused me to think "this sucks, I need something better...if only it was webscale."
• 5ADBEEF 2y ago
  Anybody notice that the example for their shell is using the Zephyr shell subsystem? Very cool that it's using Zephyr!
• Lwrless 2y ago
  Looks cool! My current one is an Alientek T80 soldering iron, it goes up to 100W, but does not have a heat-resistant cap. This FixHub kit by iFixit looks much more sophisticated, would like to try it sometime.
• userbinator 2y ago
  I agree with some of the others here that this is far too complex for what is fundamentally a heater with a thermostat. Why hellishly-complex USB-C with its effete tiny-pinned connectors instead of a plain old robust barrel jack? And requiring software instead of a simple analog feedback loop? Software which could fail and cause runaway heating is never a good idea. Soldering irons have always been quite repairable, especially the simple ones: https://320volt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/yihua-hakko-936-schematic-aoyue-936-schematic-hakko-936-schematic.png https://320volt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/yihua-hakko-9... https://www.next.gr/uploads/79/lm358_simple.png https://www.next.gr/uploads/79/lm358_simple.png
  • davemp 2y ago
    The article even talks about using it with an API I’d never heard of: WebSerial, https://hackaday.com/2022/03/21/web-serial-terminal-means-its-always-hacking-time/ https://hackaday.com/2022/03/21/web-serial-terminal-means-it... I guess that’s the inexorable trend in tech—add more and more shim layers between problems we’re not allowed or too lazy to fix.
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• juliangmp 2y ago
  Absolutely love the idea that a soldering iron has a serial connection! Though I already own a pinecil, I don't think I'll switch especially with the additional tips I already got.
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• devwastaken 2y ago
  Buy a pinecil instead, it has proper tips and a good price. Ifixit fails to produce good tools because all they've done in the last 5 years is coast on their bit sets. They're not people who actually work with these tools. If they were the LTT screwdriver wouldn't have needed to be built. Hundreds of dollars for what is done for $50 is a clear example of attempting to turn ifixit into a brand that sells tools not a tool designer that sells effective solutions.