Butane pencil, handy?

[Danglerb]

Does this sound like something handy, heat up a reluctant bolt, that sort of thing?

 

[rose jackets67]

Not nearly enough heat to use for anything I could think of... Maybe you could solder with it?

 

[PoorOwner]

To heat up bolts I would use a propane or MAPP torch.. (propane is cheaper because the nozzle is cheaper).

The pencil torch might be used to solder something rough like speaker wire but then I have a soldering iron, so I don't know if I really care to use this unless there is no electricity available.

 

[chad s]

We use them in the field for shrinking heat shrink tubing on smaller guage wire, but I wouldnt waste your money on anything other than a Weller. I dont trust HF for tools with an open flame, or flamable gas (or really for any tool they sell, for that matter).

 

[Danglerb]

I have a butane soldering iron, and its good to have when electricity isn't handy and you have just one or two connections to make like in a car, up a ladder etc. The flame is fully contained though, one of those screen things so it only heats the tip.

This pencil torch would set the car on fire under the dash. Don't ask me how I know this.

Must be useful for something, but might depend on exactly what the flame is like. Big cigarette lighter or small torch. Even if the flame is small why wouldn't it be enough to heat up a bolt?

BTW I do have a typical quart sized propane torch, but its kinda big.

Wow, I sure hope I don't already have one of these someplace.

 

[shopforeman]

I'm not sure about that one but I had a butane torch/heat gun/soldering iron that was nearly indispensable to me. It beat an electric soldering iron for soldering wires, quick to heat up and no cord dangling to tick me off but may be too hot for circuit boards, IC's etc. The heat gun option is most handy for heat shrink and for warming RG-6 RF ends to install in -30C weather! I don't remember ever using the torch on it for anything though. Sadly it cracked and was rendered useless at that point. Planning on getting a new one. Looking at Weller, Benzomatic and Ronson.

 

[kartracer55]

For soldering I have a weller butane soldering iron. In fact, that is ALL that I use. As others have stated, I dont think that could really get anything hot enough, but maybe for melting plastic together or something?

 

[bmwpower]

If you're stuck in the wilderness and you need to solder, this would come in handy. If you are able to use it as a torch (some you can) then it might be handy for small stuck fasteners in tight locations.

For a couple bucks, buy it and stick in the toolbox for a rainy day.

 

[mikeyr]

as a soldering gun, it is ok in an emergency or when 34miles off shore

I have a "blade" on mine and its great for cutting lines (ropes) and melting them as you cut the line so they don't unravel on you. That was actually the reason I purchased it but it has come in handy other times, I only use it for soldering when I don't have 110V electricity handy.

 

[Danglerb]

BAh, its not a torch, so it goes back tomorrow.

Its a big version of the butane soldering iron I bought from Radio Shack a couple decades ago and still use. HF sells two different ones, a smaller one on sale for $1.38, and this one item 41169 on coupon for $4.

Nothing I've used beats a Weller magnetic temperature controlled tip soldering iron. Mine is ancient, when it dies it gets replaced with the same thing.

I have a heat gun, that or my propane torch will have to do any non soldering work I need. Propane torch is the cheapo with a qt tank from ACE I bought to do a bit of copper pipe plumbing repair.

 

[shopforeman]

BAh, its not a torch, so it goes back tomorrow.

That price sounded too good to be true!

For a mini torch to replace my old one I am leaning towards this one.

http://www.ronsoncorp.com/techtorch_auto.cfm

As an accessory to the old propane torch I saw this.

http://www.bernzomatic.com/bernzomatic/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=BernzoProd100040

 

[goodfellow]

Nothing I've used beats a Weller magnetic temperature controlled tip soldering iron. Mine is ancient, when it dies it gets replaced with the same thing.

Ditto on the Weller -- had mine since the early 1970's.

As to the small torch, I bought it for heating shrink tubing when climbing into tight spaces under the dash or the engine compartment. It does OK for light soldering, but is absolutely perfect for shrink tubing.

For heating purposes it isn't powerful enough.

 

[Danglerb]

What I like about the weller is that on small stuff, printed circuits it behaves like a 2 watt soldering pencil, but on big stuff the power kicks in and you can solder structural stuff like copper or brass plates for models etc. As long as the tip is clean and in good shape its never failed to quickly flow the solder for me.

I do like the look of the Bernzomatic, $46 shipped from amazon. I used to have a mapp torch like it, only nicer, closer to $100 and very nice to use. Maybe I will add it to my list of stuff to look for.

HF has one like the Ronson right next to the one I bought. Also looks like the cheaper one may suit me fine, it apparently IS a torch.