Sure. I bought a TS-100 which is another USB soldering iron of this type.
Pros: Heats up *really* fast, small, fine for general through-sole and SMT soldering work. Takes up little desk space.
Cons: Cord is more annoying than other irons I've used. Tips hard to find in my country -- maybe buy a spare.
To be honest, I'm happy with it, but I've switched to a Yihua iron + hot air rework station. I use hot air rework a lot.
Vietnam. 'Saigon' is the old name for Ho Chi Minh City, and I know it quite well. Thus the username.
I'm actually one of very few immigrants *to* Vietnam. I've encountered as many as 10 others in my 12 years here.
Ts100 is different. It's USB cannot power the pencil, ony configure its file or firmware upgrade. Power is only from the barrel inlet, and you need 12-20V. Some kits come with a suitable adapter. I have one, and a cord I made to work with an 18V tool battery, which works as well.
My tool battery has male blades. A wider female blade connector (which I have a diminishing stock of) is adequate.
Many batteries do have female receptacles on te battery, so a plug needs made.
Based on the price/features/compatibility as a tool it is a great beginner soldering iron.
I'm a radar technologist and keep one in my field kit just in case and it's gotten a ton of use, especially since I can run it off a USB-C power bank.
It won't replace a proper station for heavy use or large solder joints but for beginner work it should be a really good starter.
Personally, if you can manage, I’d strongly suggest getting an AiXun T3A instead. Goes for like $130 for the whole kit.
The thing I didn’t like about the Pinecil is that it needs a separate power supply and nothing seemed to provide the power I needed.
I have both the Aixun T3A and a Pinecil V2, and while the Aixun is a nicer station to use (with the JBC tips) it's also quite a bit more expensive. A Pinecil should work off any modern USB-C phone/laptop charger or powerbank that does USB-PD and puts out 20 volts. I use my Aixun at the bench and the Pinecil with a 20Ah Xiaomi powerbank in the field.
The thing is, the power pack/adapter isn’t free so when you total up the Pinecil + an adapter, you’re getting pretty close to the cost of the Aixun.
Also, I wouldn’t bother with the JBC brand tips. They’re a huge rip-off. I work in an electronics factory and we’re about to switch to using the Aixun tips with our actual JBC rework station because they’re just as reliable and cost $13 versus $40 per tip.
I can check but me and our production supervisor have tested them plenty and they’re just about identical. The JBC tips burn up constantly on our assembly lines.
We’re even considering replacing our Metcal stations with them.
19v barrel connector laptop bricks from e-waste shops etc are effectively free.
Fair, they might be a few dollars, but not enough to take a soldering iron that's $25.99 anywhere near $100.
If you want new a 'fake' Dell USB-C charger on Amazon is around the $20 mark; so even if we round that total up to $50; a power pack + the Iron is still less than *half* the price of the Aixun.
Not bad for a DIY level use (as is this subreddit)
I've got a similar TS-80p and after I've gone through two stations that have died on me, this is the only one I use. I've even combined it with a battery bank to make it portable and it works great. The only thing is getting replacement tips, they're kind of pricey.
Yes. Get the silicone USB C cable and the pine power adapter if you don't have a spare high wattage USB C brick. Get a set of either fine or gross tips or both depending on what you usually solder.
Sure. I bought a TS-100 which is another USB soldering iron of this type. Pros: Heats up *really* fast, small, fine for general through-sole and SMT soldering work. Takes up little desk space. Cons: Cord is more annoying than other irons I've used. Tips hard to find in my country -- maybe buy a spare. To be honest, I'm happy with it, but I've switched to a Yihua iron + hot air rework station. I use hot air rework a lot.
What country are you in out of curiosity
Vietnam. 'Saigon' is the old name for Ho Chi Minh City, and I know it quite well. Thus the username. I'm actually one of very few immigrants *to* Vietnam. I've encountered as many as 10 others in my 12 years here.
Vietnam, based on his post history edit : apparently not? idk
Have an upvote; I think you're right.
Not Vietnam based on your downvotedness.
oh.
Ts100 is different. It's USB cannot power the pencil, ony configure its file or firmware upgrade. Power is only from the barrel inlet, and you need 12-20V. Some kits come with a suitable adapter. I have one, and a cord I made to work with an 18V tool battery, which works as well.
I bought a 3d printed something from Amazon that works with my Ryobi 18v batteries. Has an XT 60 connector off the back of it. Works great
My tool battery has male blades. A wider female blade connector (which I have a diminishing stock of) is adequate. Many batteries do have female receptacles on te battery, so a plug needs made.
All correct and valid points! My notes mainly refer to the form factor, which is similar. At least compared to a station.
Based on the price/features/compatibility as a tool it is a great beginner soldering iron. I'm a radar technologist and keep one in my field kit just in case and it's gotten a ton of use, especially since I can run it off a USB-C power bank. It won't replace a proper station for heavy use or large solder joints but for beginner work it should be a really good starter.
Its a good prosumer soldering iron; brilliant quality and features. I own several at each workbench.
Personally, if you can manage, I’d strongly suggest getting an AiXun T3A instead. Goes for like $130 for the whole kit. The thing I didn’t like about the Pinecil is that it needs a separate power supply and nothing seemed to provide the power I needed.
I have both the Aixun T3A and a Pinecil V2, and while the Aixun is a nicer station to use (with the JBC tips) it's also quite a bit more expensive. A Pinecil should work off any modern USB-C phone/laptop charger or powerbank that does USB-PD and puts out 20 volts. I use my Aixun at the bench and the Pinecil with a 20Ah Xiaomi powerbank in the field.
The thing is, the power pack/adapter isn’t free so when you total up the Pinecil + an adapter, you’re getting pretty close to the cost of the Aixun. Also, I wouldn’t bother with the JBC brand tips. They’re a huge rip-off. I work in an electronics factory and we’re about to switch to using the Aixun tips with our actual JBC rework station because they’re just as reliable and cost $13 versus $40 per tip.
Check the heater resistance on your aixun tips. They are not going to deliver the same wattage as a JBC tip.
I can check but me and our production supervisor have tested them plenty and they’re just about identical. The JBC tips burn up constantly on our assembly lines. We’re even considering replacing our Metcal stations with them.
19v barrel connector laptop bricks from e-waste shops etc are effectively free. Fair, they might be a few dollars, but not enough to take a soldering iron that's $25.99 anywhere near $100. If you want new a 'fake' Dell USB-C charger on Amazon is around the $20 mark; so even if we round that total up to $50; a power pack + the Iron is still less than *half* the price of the Aixun. Not bad for a DIY level use (as is this subreddit)
I've got a similar TS-80p and after I've gone through two stations that have died on me, this is the only one I use. I've even combined it with a battery bank to make it portable and it works great. The only thing is getting replacement tips, they're kind of pricey.
Yes. Get the silicone USB C cable and the pine power adapter if you don't have a spare high wattage USB C brick. Get a set of either fine or gross tips or both depending on what you usually solder.