A Soldering Iron for Christmas

Interesting! Its 144 MHz RISC-V chip should hopefully be able to handle the soldering element heater algorithm : ) Awesome that there is so much choice, USB-C adoption for portable soldering is really high it seems.

I went for these two, although I probably would have considered the PINECIL had I known about it:

This one, Sequre S60, accepts JBC C210 series tips, which cover a range of surface-mount and through-hole prototyping, but are no good for large connectors:

I also ordered this "Smart Electric Soldering Iron" which looks very basic, it is pretty cheap. I don't expect it to be amazing at this price, but I was still curious if it could function as a basic soldering iron. This one is compatible with C245 series tips, which are fine for large connectors, as well as surface-mount. 

A benefit for these two models though, is that because I already have C210 and C245 tips and know what they solder like, it could be interesting to compare.

I’m definitely interested in seeing the reviews and working setups of these suggestions.

Being able to use your existing tips is definitely a hug plus! The price point is pretty impressive!

The pine64 appears to use a BL702 wifi/BT RISC-V SOC from

I think I have herd of it before but certainly never tried it. There appears to be a number of esp32 like wifi modules based on the bl702 so perhaps sometime I will have to play with one of those!

If one was proficient in the mechanical side of things, you could DIY your own USB soldering iron (others have). I just tried heating up one of my weller tips which like the TS80P use a 3.5 mm TRS jack.

It only needed about 2.6W (2.35V @ 1.1A) to get the tip to a temperature where solder melts.

scottiebabe said:

I just tried heating up one of my weller tips which like the TS80P use a 3.5 mm TRS jack.

Just don't mistake them for your ear buds... 

usb powered heated q-tips! lol

If I ever get to go to DEF CON I think I'll have to take one of these with me for some badge life hacking. I wonder if airport security will care much for it.

Everyone that takes gear to DEF CON worries about their local airport security. There are almost no stories of anyone having to give up tools.

I've traveled around the world with various electronics tools and have never had an issue. In fact, the ONLY thing I've ever traveled with that caused issues was a microphone. Nearly every security checkpoint would ask me to remove it. I asked a friendly agent why. He showed me the x-ray image. On the x-ray it looked like a hand grenade.

That said, it's not hard to find a free station in the hardware village--even when it seems totally packed! But, I would still at least bring supplies.

baldengineer said:

There are almost no stories of anyone having to give up tools.

The UK certainly has more excitement with regards to confiscations.

The "keep it charged" reminds me of pre-2001 travel in the US. You could walk through a metal detector with your phone in hand. (In fact, you had to, maybe? Or you put it in a bowl next to the metal detector.) Then you had to show the agent that the screen "worked."

That was enough for them.