Thanks for the tip on bleeding out the inert gas. I was ready to buy a new tool I was unaware about the buildup of inert gas inside the tool. Now I can use my tool again.
Nice solids review. I happen to own a snap on that has lasted me about 15 years and will be purchasing the Amazon replacement you spoke of. Thanks for the info.
Thumbs up on the brass-based tip cleaner. Regardless of lead or lead free, have a mini fan blowing the fumes away from yourself. A wealth of RU-vid videos on soldering basics.
I've Been Running The Master Ultratorch For Years. I send It off With My Matco guy when it acts up. They Rebuild it. I Use My tool Guys Loaner. Thanks For The Tip on the Inert Gas. I'll try it
I bought a Dremel butane soldering iron, used it maybe 3 times. It oxidized like crazy. I hadn't needed to use it for 6 months, now I try to use it and it won't fire up. I tried putting more butane in it, just in case, but cannot hear the gas hissing out of it. Any idea what may have happened to it?
I Have the SnapOn YAS32A and need replacement tips..Im trying to buy Portasol ones but cant seem to pick the right version I have etc?...Im not going to SnapOn for them to charge me £400 for a £7 tip!!
The grass steel wool ball you can get replacements for 98 cents ,but if. You take them out and shake the old solder out of them and the holder regularly they last a long time,when You have to replace the brass balls they are cheap 98 cent at eBay or Aliexspress I only use 60/40 kester solder .031 diameter.has great fast melt and lots of built in flux.
Very helpful to know about the inert gas issue! I know that's Dremel and Lexivon recommends triple (filtered, pure, or something) butane for their butane soldering irons. Do you know if that higher quality butane would affect the inert gas issue, Or what kind of problems does cheap butane cause? It looks like the powerprobe is the same as Dremel and Lexivon btw..
By and large more expensive butane is a great scam unless you're operating precision - or really expensive, like snap-off - equipment. The assorted crud, of which there is very little in even the cheapest butane, is destroyed by the heat of the flame unless the device is built specifically to avoid that (again, wouldn't put it past snap-off to design their tools that way) The inert gas (propellant) is going to be present no matter what, and it's something you'll learn to detect and deal with if you're spending a lot of time using butane irons. Mostly it's just a matter of remembering how many refills you've had since the last time you purged the tank.
I had the Snap-on iron a small handful of years ago & currently have the Power Probe PPSK. In my opinion, the Power Probe is a way better iron for the money. I also use it to heat shrink butt connectors. Great video.
I have a Blue Point YAKS 1 (snap on) Butane Soldering Iron which leaks gas out of the filler valve. Does anyone know where i can get a replacement filler valve please.