At a time when the word ecology is making a dizzying career, used in ever new – often somewhat surprising – contexts, the trend for non-smoking seems obvious.
While tobacco manufacturers should seriously start thinking about changing trade, lighter gas producers can sleep peacefully. Thanks to the electronics. This is really not a joke. The omnipresence of electronics in modern technological products for research, production, information technology, communication, security of people and property, education, entertainment, etc. is an undisputed fact. Sometimes, and even one could risk saying that often, electronic devices are powered from autonomous sources – fully or even temporarily independent from the power grid. It is also sometimes the case that a device receives its two hundred and twenty““ (soon 230 V) straight to the inside.
The mains socket is nowhere near, and even the longest extension cord is not enough to power our measuring instruments and tools for diagnosis, repair and adjustment. The basic measuring instruments can be successfully battery-powered, which allows them to be used under the described conditions. However, with a soldering iron the matter is not so simple, due to the relatively high power consumption. If we have to operate in field conditions, outside, especially during the cold season – achieving the assumed working temperature of the soldering tip requires providing more power than when working in a heated room.
From a purely energy point of view, a battery of sufficient capacity would be sufficient. However, we can immediately point out the drawbacks of such a solution, related mainly to the size and weight of this popular energy source, as well as the need for recharging (220 V grid again needed) and significant deterioration of parameters at low ambient temperatures. Let us also point out that in the installation or service practice it is often necessary to be able to precisely operate the tools in places that are difficult to reach, where „access“ requires the operator to take an uncomfortable, unstable and sometimes even neck-breaking position.
Under such circumstances the tool must be exceptionally handy. Under these conditions, the power supply cable to the soldering handle can impair freedom of movement and simply interfere with work. The gas soldering irons are the perfect tool for similar situations. The fact that these devices are light, precise, universal and reliable is convinced by the products of Irish company Oglesby & Butler, known under the market brand Portasol.
When using the Super-Pro soldering iron, you can use one of eleven dedicated tips: 8 tips of different shapes and dimensions, hot air blow nozzle, hot knife for plastic processing, cover for shrinking heatshrink sleeves and films. Super-Pro can also be used as a burner. The flexibility of applications goes hand in hand with very good parameters. The maximum power is 125 W, so that high tip temperatures (up to 580°C) and blowing air (up to 650°C) are achieved. The regulator allows to obtain the desired temperature value. It only takes twenty seconds in average conditions to warm up the blade to 350°C. The gas cylinder is in the handle.
Its capacity provides up to two hours of operation on average. If we take the appropriate amount of gas for lighters in standard containers to work in the field, we can work stress-free and almost without interruptions – filling takes 30 seconds. The Super-Pro gas soldering iron is 23 cm long and weighs only 165 g. The piezo igniter completes the list of properties that determine the reliability of the equipment and user comfort of the Super-Pro, and automatic shutdown when the housing is closed guarantees full safety of transport and storage. If, not giving up on high quality requirements, we have more modest expectations for power and number of working tips – we should pay attention to Portasol Proffesional gas soldering iron.
Power adjustable from 10 to 60 W, blade temperature reaching 400°C, five exchangeable blades and a hot knife, spark igniter, average operating time – one hour, filling time approx. 10 s, length 170 mm, weight 60 g. This is still a tool for professionals. For amateurs, e.g. aerospace modelers or boat builders, who build models with remote control, Portasol offers a 50 W gas soldering iron with a power of 50 W, which enables a blade temperature of up to 400°C. The two tips and the hot knife are the tips that ensure that most practical tasks are carried out efficiently. A half-hour ‘one-tank’ working time is sufficient for amateur applications. The properties of the gas soldering irons make them equivalent to electric soldering irons in normal conditions and basic applications, and in some circumstances make gas soldering irons simply irreplaceable. Because gas in soldering irons is not only an „alternative fuel“, but above all the only energy source for special occasions.