Shawn Knight

In brief: iFixit is taking a modern approach to a classic tool. Their new portable soldering system tackles a common pain point in electronics tinkering and repair: the cumbersome power cord attached to traditional soldering irons.

The FixHub portable soldering station is exactly what you think it is: a battery-powered, portable soldering kit. The 55 watt-hour hub can provide up to eight hours of soldering without recharging, and has dual USB-C power delivery ports to connect up to two irons at once (or you could use the other port to charge your phone).

The 100 watt smart soldering iron, meanwhile, is factory preset to 350 degrees Celsius and heats up to soldering temperature in less than five seconds. iFixit says the tip temperature can be adjusted between 100 C and 420 C using the FixHub power station or the web interface, and includes an illuminated ring for heat indication. There is also a cap for safe storage and handling as well as built-in safety features like auto standby and fall protection. Interchangeable tips are also a thing, should you happen to wear yours out or ruin them like I tend to do.

In true iFixit fashion, the portable power station is easy to repair. The company provides full specifications, repair guides, and circuit schematics online, and replacement components will be readily available.

iFixit said the idea came about after founder Kyle Wiens had to run an extension cord to his car just to fix his stereo.

The iFixit smart soldering iron is priced at $79.95, is available to pre-order now, and is scheduled to ship in mid-October. Notably, it does not have to be used with the portable power station; any USB-C power delivery source with enough output can run it. The full kit with iron and portable soldering station will set you back $249.95, and also ships in mid-October.

Last but not least is the toolkit, a bundle that includes a slew of accessories and materials to get going, and even comes with a roll to carry everything. It goes for $299.95 and ships next month.

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iFixit reinvents the soldering iron with portable, battery-powered FixHub

p51d007

Bit on the EXPENSIVE side when you can find a lot of similar options, for MUCH less.

Axeia

Just get a 'pinecil', it runs an opensource operating system, it's far cheaper, it's well reviewed, it can run off usb-c or barrel plug - whats not to love.

SRB

You can get a damn nice butane soldering iron for that price, and it can be used as a torch as well as a hot air tip that is used for heat shrink. Best of all, no cord at all.

bviktor

Or... just get a digital Weller for half the price.

mbrowne5061

bviktor said:
Or... just get a digital Weller for half the price.

What digital Weller are you buying for $40? Weller's entry-level 30W consumer station is $75. The next one up - the 80W one - is $100. And neither one of these are digital; they have an analog knob and no temp display. their consumer digital station is $105 and 70W. All that vs. this $80, 100W digital iron.

The point others have made about the Pinecil being half the price is a good one, though. Though, best I can find suggests the Pinecil is 88W of heat at the tip, vs the 100W this iFixit one is claiming. That extra 12W can make all the difference with beefier soldering jobs.

WhiteLeaff

I definitely want one.

Axeia

SRB said:
You can get a damn nice butane soldering iron for that price, and it can be used as a torch as well as a hot air tip that is used for heat shrink. Best of all, no cord at all.

Just don't get the one from Lidl what a useless piece of kit. By the time it's heated up the gas is almost used up, that's why I mentioned the pinecil above which was a much better purchase.
Strap it to a powerbank and its mobile, easier to refill after closing time for shops as well.

toooooot

Axeia said:
Just get a 'pinecil', it runs an opensource operating system, it's far cheaper, it's well reviewed, it can run off usb-c or barrel plug - whats not to love.

It also has an optional tip set which I think can be very useful in some situations. I doubt this one does.

SRB

Axeia said:
Just don't get the one from Lidl what a useless piece of kit. By the time it's heated up the gas is almost used up, that's why I mentioned the pinecil above which was a much better purchase.
Strap it to a powerbank and its mobile, easier to refill after closing time for shops as well.

I was refering to a Weller Portasol. Runs for about an hour on a refill, uses standard butake lighter refills, one refill can fills the iron at least a dozen times, and comes with hot air tip and the different size soldering tips, and a torch tip.
Been using them for 20 years, mostly for automotive, but have done circuit board work as well.

Shawn Knigh

Posts: 15,444 +193

In brief: iFixit is taking a modern approach to a classic tool. Their new portable soldering system tackles a common pain point in electronics tinkering and repair: the cumbersome power cord attached to traditional soldering irons.

p51d007

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Axeia

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SRB

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bviktor

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mbrowne5061

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WhiteLeaff

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Axeia

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toooooot

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SRB

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