In the absence of electricity, you will not be able to use an electric soldering iron. Therefore, in some situations it may be better to get the job done with a gas soldering iron. A similar tool operates on propane-butane or isobutane.
How does a gas soldering iron work?
In terms of design and principle of operation, a gas soldering iron is significantly different from an electric one. It consists of a container for liquefied gas, an ignition system, a gas burner and a special working nozzle. Inside the burner there is a special platinum-coated ceramic grate. In fact, it has a very important catalytic function to prevent open flames. As a result, the soldering iron heats up in a matter of seconds.
Elements of the soldering iron ignition system can be mechanical or piezo. And the intensity of heating should be regulated using a special valve. The operating time of the tool ranges from two to three hours when fully charged. By the way, you can refuel the soldering iron from a regular gas can for tiles or lighters.
Usually, the device is equipped with a cylinder with the necessary gas supply, various tips, wire, a plastic case for transportation and other accessories. Gas-fired soldering irons from the Dremel company are now considered very popular.
The main advantages of a gas soldering iron
Perhaps the main advantages of the above-described tool are its quick warm-up and the ability to work portable. After turning on the electric soldering iron, it takes some time for it to warm up. And you can start using gas immediately after switching on.
A similar device can be used for soldering with different sizes of soldering points. It turns out that they can solder the smallest parts of microcircuits and rather large wires. Also, a gas soldering iron is often used as a knife for removing paint or a gas torch. Only for operation in burner mode, it will be necessary to remove all the nozzles present. When working with such a soldering iron, a very high heating temperature is achieved. That is why the tool is in great demand for melting copper or brass. At the same time, the maximum temperature can reach 2000 ° C.
The gas soldering iron allows you to work with a wide variety of materials, which is very convenient. You don't have to worry about the cost-effectiveness of using such a device. One 250 ml cartridge can be enough for approximately 50 working cycles. There is nothing dangerous in working with a gas soldering iron. It is equipped with a special switch lock, which prevents self-activation.
