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Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

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Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#121

Post by brailsafe »

myrmidon wrote: post #116
420official wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why buy this for $250 when you get the same thing from a pinecil v2 and use it with any 20v 100w PD USB-c power pack? I'm not seeing any differentiating features.

Because I have more trust in ifixit then in pine64 to sell robust, quality tools. And most of what you are going to overpay (?) for this is going to ifixit, which is also a plus. It's like buying merch from a band you like.

I love iFixit, but their tools, parts, and kits have been a bit mixed (bit of poor, bit of good) in terms of quality.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#122

Post by tdeck »

omgtehlion wrote: post #80
tdeck wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would be surprised if TS100 style tips couldn't do that power output. Folks have gotten the Pinceil to 140W with the right power supply.

These 140w are peak power, only in specific cases. To have useful power at all times you need to perfectly match supply voltage to i-v curve of your tip. Which pinecil (due to its schematic) cannot do.

That makes sense, thanks for the response!

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#123

Post by thesh4d0w »

kwiens wrote: post #102
thesh4d0w wrote: post #62

The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me. $110 cad for the soldering iron is semi-reasonable, if a bit high compared to their competitors. $342 for the iron + battery means that's a $230 battery pack, which is absolutely insane. Requiring the battery pack to be able to easily change controls means anyone doing m…

We designed the system to work for people at a variety of price points. If you just buy the iron, you have access to all the settings in our web console: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console The iron persists settings when you unplug it. You can change the sleep timer and timeout, set target temperatures, calibrate the accelerometer, and more. The Power Station is nice to have, but you don't lose any functionality w…

I was a kickstarter backer of the pokit who thought "oh that's cool", and it just sits in my drawer because I don't want to have to use an app to use basic functionality on my tools. I learned my lesson on that one and I know if I bought this soldering iron I would have the same issue. I'd rather use other soldering irons because I don't have to plug them into my computer to change the temperature between tasks.

FWIW this is just my $0.02. I'm sure you'll still sell lots, but if that had an onboard display + buttons then I'd have ordered one right away for the other nice tweaks you've done.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#124

Post by alias_neo »

myrmidon wrote: post #82
thesh4d0w wrote: post #62

The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me. $110 cad for the soldering iron is semi-reasonable, if a bit high compared to their competitors. $342 for the iron + battery means that's a $230 battery pack, which is absolutely insane. Requiring the battery pack to be able to easily change controls means anyone doing m…

For tools that you use regularly, it is sometimes worth it to take a step back, put the cost into an absolute perspective and then just get the thing if you know that it's well-made and you use it regularly, instead of getting a cheapish, price-optimized knockoff instead (my experience). I spent over 200$ on a glorified PCB holder and some probes (PCBite), which is in hindsight one of the most useful tools I own and…

While I agree with all of your points on determining value, it's never that simple, and is often determined, in someone's mind, by the comparison made.

The comparison here is a Pinecil. I've been using a Pinecil for a couple of years now, I power it from a USB-PD power bank that's already in my backpack, and charges everything else I carry, and has more capacity and a lower price than this one, and the Pinecil without the power bank is much cheaper and more functional with its buttons and display than this iron alone; I don't need a PC (and I don't use Chrome anyway, though I do really like the WebSerial configuration).

I already own a Hakko soldering station, but I find I reach for the Pinecil 99% of the time due to convenience; only when I know I'll be doing a _lot_ of soldering in one go, and I'm going to do it at my desk, do I get the Hakko out.

This looks like a nice iron, and I'm all for supporting repairability (and iFixit in general), if someone will use it as their main station, and assuming this can perform, it seems like an excellent option.

For everyone else, a Pinecil and that powerbank you already have is an excellent option at a trivially low price.

EDIT: Fixed some typos

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#125

Post by [deleted] »

kwiens wrote: post #75
jareklupinski wrote: post #16

i literally just bought a pinecil and usb-c battery pack (with carry case) to make basically a DIY version of this three weeks ago, but would have gotten this one instead if it existed back then after a few days trying to turn that into a daily driver however, i've had to go back to my weller desktop station, for one weird reason: i dont have anywhere to put the hot iron in between uses! i dont know if it's just me,…

Yes! You need a way to pull the iron out and put it away quickly. Our cap is just a game changer there. You handle it more like a Sharpie than a soldering iron. Put the cap on and stick it back in your bag. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GXR8kMVbgAEeRgd?format=jpg&name=... I set the motion timer on mine to 5 seconds. It heats up so quickly when you pick it back up that there's no reason to bother with the power switch.…

[deleted]

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#126

Post by Zak »

Ancapistani wrote: post #113
Zak wrote: post #109

What I'd really like somebody to do is just stick a field-replaceable 18650 or 21700 battery in the handle. If you want to get fancy, add a dial for temperature control. Webserial and such makes for a cool tech demo, but I just want portable soldering with standard field-replaceable batteries.

Is the discharge rate for an 18650 be enough for a decent soldering iron? I normally power mine off either a power bank with PD, or a LiPo battery that I also use for drones.

Yes. The Sony VTC6, for example is rated to deliver up to 30A with temperature monitoring to ensure it doesn't exceed 80C. At 3.0V (partially discharged and with voltage sag from the load), that's 90W.

I don't actually need 90W in the application I have in mind. I'd be more than happy with 60, and there are quite a few 18650 cells that can do 20A comfortably. Runtime at full power would be short of course, but I don't find I'm continuously heating work for very long in the field.

Here's a test of the VTC6. It does look like it's struggling a bit at 30A, but it's happy at 20. https://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Sony%20US18650VTC...

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#127

Post by brailsafe »

thesh4d0w wrote: post #123
kwiens wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We designed the system to work for people at a variety of price points. If you just buy the iron, you have access to all the settings in our web console: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console The iron persists settings when you unplug it. You can change the sleep timer and timeout, set target temperatures, calibrate the accelerometer, and more. The Power Station is nice to have, but you don't lose any functionality w…

I was a kickstarter backer of the pokit who thought "oh that's cool", and it just sits in my drawer because I don't want to have to use an app to use basic functionality on my tools. I learned my lesson on that one and I know if I bought this soldering iron I would have the same issue. I'd rather use other soldering irons because I don't have to plug them into my computer to change the temperature between tasks. FWIW…

I feel the same way, but did just realize that because they used web serial, you could use the iron to make yourself a little 3D interface, could be a fun project.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#128

Post by myrmidon »

disiplus wrote: post #119
myrmidon wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For tools that you use regularly, it is sometimes worth it to take a step back, put the cost into an absolute perspective and then just get the thing if you know that it's well-made and you use it regularly, instead of getting a cheapish, price-optimized knockoff instead (my experience). I spent over 200$ on a glorified PCB holder and some probes (PCBite), which is in hindsight one of the most useful tools I own and…

Is this for professionals?. I need the soldering iron maybe 3 times a year. I'm ok throwing 100eur for something ok/good. But not 300.

I think you could justify the soldering iron itself then for like 80€, maybe not the basestation/powerbank.

IMO 340€ for the whole set with the wirecutters and tweezers and such is still an ok deal, even though it is slightly expensive, because the accessories are probably good quality also, and there are few things as frustrating as bad wirecutters ;).

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#129

Post by kwiens »

cruffle_duffle wrote: post #76

Soldering is one of those things where the tools you use have a direct impact on the quality and enjoyment of the work. Shitty $20 soldering irons from Home Depot not only produce awful results but they are incredibly frustrating. I’m pretty sure most people who think they suck at soldering and hate it only feel that way because their tool sucks. A good quality soldering iron and high quality, thin solder make a huge…

Agree. It's kind of like a chef's knife: a better tool makes you a better chef.

A sharp knife is also quite a bit safer than a dull knife. By heating to operating temperature in 5 seconds and rapidly pouring heat into the material, you don't have to hold the hot iron as long. As soon as you're done, pop on the safety cap and instantly shield the hot metal.

Soldering isn't remotely mainstream, and part of that is the quality of tools. We set out to streamline the entire process to make soldering as accessible as possible.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#130

Post by urda »

kwiens wrote: post #102
thesh4d0w wrote: post #62

The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me. $110 cad for the soldering iron is semi-reasonable, if a bit high compared to their competitors. $342 for the iron + battery means that's a $230 battery pack, which is absolutely insane. Requiring the battery pack to be able to easily change controls means anyone doing m…

We designed the system to work for people at a variety of price points. If you just buy the iron, you have access to all the settings in our web console: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console The iron persists settings when you unplug it. You can change the sleep timer and timeout, set target temperatures, calibrate the accelerometer, and more. The Power Station is nice to have, but you don't lose any functionality w…

No Firefox support? Seriously?
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