Gear / Technical Help > Cables
PINECIL: Inexpensive and outstanding soldering iron with digital control
voltronic:
I bought one of these a couple weeks ago. It is a bit cheaper than the popular TS100, but comes with the IronOS open-source firmware popular in that community already installed. It also uses the same tips, and can accept a wider variety of power sources.
https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil
https://pine64.com/product-category/pinecil/?v=0446c16e2e66 - Store with lots of goodies. The sets of tips are cheaper here than most other places.
https://www.amazon.com/PINECIL-Smart-Mini-Portable-Soldering/dp/B096X6SG13 - I bought mine on Amazon; currently unavailable, but might come back.
I absolutely LOVE this thing. So light and easy to handle, but heats up very quickly and has simple controls that tell you what they do when you stay on a setting for a while without pressing a button.
Note that it doesn't come with a power supply; you have to feed it something that puts out at least 30W - either a laptop power supply with a barrel connector or an appropriate USB-C PD source. I am using a little RavPower USB-C supply that meets the PD 3.0 spec, and it works great.
Here's a review. Ignore the part where he says the tip is a bit loose and wobbly. This guy clearly didn't tighten the obvious set screw. Once you do that, there is zero play.
https://deninet.com/blog/2021/05/09/pinecil-25-smart-soldering-iron
SMsound:
I'm probably in for one. I'm already 90% USB-C powered. (This is not the first product I've found in your posts!)
Which of their accessories do you recommend getting with it?
voltronic:
--- Quote from: SMsound on January 21, 2022, 08:10:20 AM ---I'm probably in for one. I'm already 90% USB-C powered. (This is not the first product I've found in your posts!)
Which of their accessories do you recommend getting with it?
--- End quote ---
Go for it - you won't be disappointed!
The silicone USB-C cable is nice. Instead of from PINE64, I found it here, a bit cheaper when you factor in shipping:
https://ameridroid.com/products/usb-type-c-to-usb-type-c-silicone-power-charging-cable
You might want one of the tip sets if you need a variety of sizes. For me, the included B2 tip works for everything I do.
Otherwise, just make sure you have a power supply that puts out enough wattage. This was the one I was going to buy if my RavPower didn't work:
https://www.amazon.com/ZMI-zPower-Turbo-Power-Adapter/dp/B07D64QLQ1
morst:
--- Quote from: voltronic on January 22, 2022, 07:40:28 AM ---Otherwise, just make sure you have a power supply that puts out enough wattage. This was the one I was going to buy if my RavPower didn't work:
https://www.amazon.com/ZMI-zPower-Turbo-Power-Adapter/dp/B07D64QLQ1
--- End quote ---
^ that particular power adaptor is out of stock at spamazon right now, but a search for "65W PD UCB-C Charger" yields several options, including this one from Anker (relatively trustworthy brand)
https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Anker-Compact-Adapter-PowerPort/dp/B08F28BH7C
voltronic:
--- Quote from: morst on January 22, 2022, 01:48:13 PM ---
--- Quote from: voltronic on January 22, 2022, 07:40:28 AM ---Otherwise, just make sure you have a power supply that puts out enough wattage. This was the one I was going to buy if my RavPower didn't work:
https://www.amazon.com/ZMI-zPower-Turbo-Power-Adapter/dp/B07D64QLQ1
--- End quote ---
^ that particular power adaptor is out of stock at spamazon right now, but a search for "65W PD UCB-C Charger" yields several options, including this one from Anker (relatively trustworthy brand)
https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Anker-Compact-Adapter-PowerPort/dp/B08F28BH7C
--- End quote ---
Yes, that one looks good. You don't even need 65W, really. Mine is 30W and it works great, though I wouldn't go any lower.
You also can run the iron from a laptop power supply with the appropriate barrel connector, though the USB-C charger setup is going to be more compact and lightweight.
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