best non-electric soldering iron?

[[email protected]]

the requirement: perform solder joints outdoors, in the winter,
without electricity, up a radar mast.

and the nominations are?

P.S. could a resistance-soldering rig do it, on battery power,in a
form factor that's small/light enough to haul up a radar mast in a
basket?

 

[Kevin R]

Gas powered Uk or Butane powered

 

[NSM]

| the requirement: perform solder joints outdoors, in the winter,
| without electricity, up a radar mast.
|
| and the nominations are?

Gas (butane) or similar. Don't bother with anything that runs on AAs.

| P.S. could a resistance-soldering rig do it, on battery power,in a
| form factor that's small/light enough to haul up a radar mast in a
| basket?

Why bother? Gas is light, cheap (dollar store) and you could even refill it
up there.

N

 

[Dan Richardson]

and the nominations are?

I use the Ultratorch model UT-1000si.

Info on it here: http://www.masterappliance.com/selfign.html

Be sure to check out the accessory tips!

Danny, K6MHE

 

[John Popelish]

the requirement: perform solder joints outdoors, in the winter,
without electricity, up a radar mast.

and the nominations are?

P.S. could a resistance-soldering rig do it, on battery power,in a
form factor that's small/light enough to haul up a radar mast in a
basket?

I think I would look for something like this:
http://www.dansdata.com/portasol.htm

More punch per ounce of weight than battery powered units.

 

[James Horn]

I think I would look for something like this:
http://www.dansdata.com/portasol.htm

I second that. I bought one of the early ones (their Technic model)
twenty years ago. It worked fine until a seal failed last weekend.

Gotta get another!

Jim Horn, WB9SYN/6

 

[TimPerry]

the requirement: perform solder joints outdoors, in the winter,
without electricity, up a radar mast.

and the nominations are?

P.S. could a resistance-soldering rig do it, on battery power,in a
form factor that's small/light enough to haul up a radar mast in a
basket?

how big are the joints?

soldering in the cold can be exasperating.

i use a small oxy-MAP gas torch. it can be a pain dealing with 2 cylinders
but it certainly gets hot enough.

 

[sofie]

Jamie:
The (gas) butane soldering irons are the best for what you want...... the
problem with battery operated soldering irons is that they do not produce a
lot of heat for any length of time.... and usually when you only have a few
more joints to solder, the battery DIES. With a butane soldering iron,
when it runs out of gas you just refill it and you are ready to solder again
in a few minutes.and if more heat is needed just turn up the gas and install
a bigger tip.

 

[NSM]

| look for "Cold heat soldering iron"
| battery operated and it very fast.
| its not good for very fine detailed work but
| may work well for your use.
|
| https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/vcc/coldheat/coldheat/115785/


Buy one on eBay if you want to try it but it's a joke outside in a slight
breeze. Even a 25 W AC iron won't work there and these toys are no good at
all.

http://search.ebay.com/cold-heat_W0QQfromZR40QQsojsZ1

N

 

[Jamie]

the requirement: perform solder joints outdoors, in the winter,
without electricity, up a radar mast.

and the nominations are?

P.S. could a resistance-soldering rig do it, on battery power,in a
form factor that's small/light enough to haul up a radar mast in a
basket?

look for "Cold heat soldering iron"
battery operated and it very fast.
its not good for very fine detailed work but
may work well for your use.

https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/vcc/coldheat/coldheat/115785/

 

[Bill]

look for "Cold heat soldering iron"
battery operated and it very fast.
its not good for very fine detailed work but
may work well for your use.

I don't think that will do. They barely work indoors.
Small little torch is the only way to go.

-Bill

 

[Cecil Moore]

| look for "Cold heat soldering iron"
| battery operated and it very fast.
| its not good for very fine detailed work but
| may work well for your use.
|
| https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/vcc/coldheat/coldheat/115785/

Buy one on eBay if you want to try it but it's a joke outside in a slight
breeze. Even a 25 W AC iron won't work there and these toys are no good at
all.

And ... they are not non-electric.

 

[Jim - NN7K]

Also, consider : low temperature solder-- can be melted with a match-
tho NOT advocating THAT technique, would recommend that with a butane
iron, or torch in inclemate weather! And, have used the butane irons
in blizzard conditions, in the Sierras (repairing equipment for the
railroad), useing these. highly recommend them for use in adverse wx!
Jim NN7K

 

[NSM]

| Also, consider : low temperature solder-- can be melted with a match-
| tho NOT advocating THAT technique, would recommend that with a butane
| iron, or torch in inclemate weather! And, have used the butane irons
| in blizzard conditions, in the Sierras (repairing equipment for the
| railroad), useing these. highly recommend them for use in adverse wx!
| Jim NN7K

If you can use them in those conditions then no question they're the best.
Everything I have heard about the 4 AA irons is not confidence making!

N

 

[Bill Janssen]

Also, consider : low temperature solder-- can be melted with a match-
tho NOT advocating THAT technique, would recommend that with a butane
iron, or torch in inclemate weather! And, have used the butane irons
in blizzard conditions, in the Sierras (repairing equipment for the
railroad), useing these. highly recommend them for use in adverse wx!
Jim NN7K

I have a selction of different sizes of "soldering Coppers" that I heat
with a torch.
They work good and I can control where I put heat. They are however not
easy
to heat with the torch.

Bill K7NOM

 

[Cecil Moore]

I have a selction of different sizes of "soldering Coppers" that I heat
with a torch.
They work good and I can control where I put heat. They are however not
easy
to heat with the torch.

The "cold heat" soldering iron works on the same principle as
an electric welding machine. Thus, there is the germ of a good
idea there. How about a soldering iron using the same principle
as the "cold heat" soldering machine except run off of 110VAC?
It could be transformer isolated, run on low voltage, and thus
be perfectly safe, but with a nearly unlimited source of power
to overcome the battery power limitation.

 

[NSM]

| The "cold heat" soldering iron works on the same principle as
| an electric welding machine. Thus, there is the germ of a good
| idea there. How about a soldering iron using the same principle
| as the "cold heat" soldering machine except run off of 110VAC?
| It could be transformer isolated, run on low voltage, and thus
| be perfectly safe, but with a nearly unlimited source of power
| to overcome the battery power limitation.

Hmm, doing that up a pole in wet, cold weather. Why do I see a Homer Simpson
episode in my mind?

N

 

[John Popelish]

I have a selction of different sizes of "soldering Coppers" that I heat
with a torch.
They work good and I can control where I put heat. They are however not
easy
to heat with the torch.

Especially while hanging from a tower, 50 feet up. ;-)

 

[Cecil Moore]

| The "cold heat" soldering iron works on the same principle as
| an electric welding machine. Thus, there is the germ of a good
| idea there. How about a soldering iron using the same principle
| as the "cold heat" soldering machine except run off of 110VAC?
| It could be transformer isolated, run on low voltage, and thus
| be perfectly safe, but with a nearly unlimited source of power
| to overcome the battery power limitation.

Hmm, doing that up a pole in wet, cold weather. Why do I see a Homer Simpson
episode in my mind?

Completely transformer/shielded. Why would it be less safe than a
welding machine?

 

[NSM]

| NSM wrote:

| > Hmm, doing that up a pole in wet, cold weather. Why do I see a Homer
Simpson
| > episode in my mind?
|
| Completely transformer/shielded. Why would it be less safe than a
| welding machine?

Homer and electricity. Not a good combination - ever <G>!

N