USB-powered coffee makers are a thing. There's a USB-powered fondue maker. A USB-powered mini-fridge. A USB-powered toaster.

There's also USB heated fingerless gloves for cold winter days. And I have several USB powered fans.

USB-C power delivery cables are pretty useful and better than a dozen transformers fighting for space on a power strip.

I think the nice Weller irons are using 24 volts DC between the box and the tip. Why deal with filtering and conversion to run a PID temperature controller, which you'll need anyway to get a mains iron to run as precisely as a high-end device?

Thyristor/SCR control works too.

Can’t speak for the OP but having USB C devices is far tidier, and allows you to go portable.

I’ve always had a 110 soldering station, but recently bought a Pinecil portable iron for soldering in the field, and damn that thing is so convenient and fast to heat and accurate, I hardly bother with my full solder station any more

It’s actually good? It’s so inexpensive. My soldering station was $200, and I thought that was on the cheaper side. It looks like Pinecil V2 is only $25 at the moment.

My electronics background is that I worked under Underwriters Laboratories where I’ve used some very nice soldering irons.

The pinecil is unbelievably good for what it costs. I find myself using it more than any other soldering iron, only pulling out bigger more expensive models when I need more thermal mass. I can’t recommend it enough.

Just a mention that if it isn't working up to spec you probably dont have a power source capable of delivering what it needs, it truly blew me away how good this thing is.

It's strangely good. I also haven't used my Weller since getting the Pinecil.

If they’d charged me $85 I’d be a very happy buyer. But I paid like $45 or something crazy?

The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey because they seem to include the actual heating element, but even then it’s still such a great device IMO

> The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey

And, at $25 for a set of four, they aren't even that expensive.

Depends on the tip quality. The one I got with my toolcraft soldering station lasted a good while, but any replacements I get just freaking melt away and are only good for a few uses. On the other hand they are $3 for a pack of 10, so it's probably still cheaper overall than the OEM stuff lol.

The ones I'm referring to are the official tip sets from Pine64, e.g.:

https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-soldering-short-tip-set-f...

That’s a strong endorsement. Do you know how long does a tip normally last?

What do you need it for? I've used $4 ones that were "good". Once you go hot air it's different.

Repairing crashed drones, so maybe nothing fancy. If I’m doing precise SMT I prefer to be at a desk

I think these will do fine my nice soldering iron was $70ish when I got it and has temperature control. You don't need a weller or anything that was nice from back in the day, I think the in general temp control is very good from my experience with cheap ecigs too.

It's amazing, both in general, and especially for its price. I have four of them (not exactly Pinecils, but two Pinecils, a TS-100, a TS-80, etc). I love it.

If your soldering iron uses the old style of slip-on tips, then the Pinecil would represent a significant upgrade. Cartridge-style tips have really rendered older irons obsolete and allow something as cheap and simple as a Pinecil to have genuinely excellent performance.

Brands like AiXun and Handskit make inexpensive stations that are compatible with JBC C215/C245 cartridges, which gives you a ridiculous level of performance for the price.

Also, don't sleep on knife tips. For a long time I thought that the Chinese phone repair guys were goofy for using them so much, but they were right, I was an idiot and I now use them 99% of the time.

I carry mine in my backpack, uses as much space than a couple pens and I can use it with my powerbank and usb-c charger which I always carry anyway.

The TS 100 / pinecil type irons can be run off an RC lipo battery or USB PD power bank. For small field repairs work they are fantastic.

Because then you can only sell to countries that have 110V mains. All three of them.

If your product is more complex than a light bulb, dealing with mains power can be quite a hassle. It requires bigger and more expensive parts than negotiating for 20V DC with a USB PD source.

You might want to take a look at USB-C to barrel connector adapters intended to run older laptops on modern chargers. They are tiny and cheap, I use one to liberate a thunderbolt 4 hub from the massive power brick it came with.