I swapped my old $20 soldering iron for a Pinecil V2 and wow, the difference is huge

For years I used this basic plug-in iron from the hardware store. It worked, but it was slow to heat up and the tip would get crusty fast. Last month I got a Pinecil V2, which is a small USB-C iron. It heats from cold to 700 degrees in about 10 seconds, and the temperature control is rock solid. I was fixing a Nintendo Switch power chip, and being able to quickly switch between a fine point for small pads and a bigger tip for ground planes without waiting minutes made the whole job smoother. The old iron just couldn't keep up with modern, heat-sensitive boards. Has anyone else made a similar jump to a better iron and found it changed how you tackle repairs?

2 comments

2 Comments

evanfox4d ago

Wait, you're still using a basic Weller? @sage_lewis10, I can't imagine going back to that after using something with proper temp control. The old style just cooks everything.

sage_lewis104d ago

Honestly, what was the issue with the old iron? I've been using a basic Weller for ages and it handles everything from old radios to new game consoles just fine. The trick is keeping the tip clean and tinned, not having a super fast heat up time.

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