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frontpageSparkiekun posted Feb 26, 2024 03:12 PM
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Item 1 of 2
frontpageSparkiekun posted Feb 26, 2024 03:12 PM

Pinecil Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron Tool

+ S/H

$26

$36

27% off
144 Comments 69,333 Views
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Deal Details
Pine64 Store is offering their Pinecil Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron Tool on sale for $25.99. Standard shipping starts at ~$11.99 (may vary depending on location).

Thanks to community member Sparkiekun for finding this deal

Note: Stock may be limited while supplies last

About the Product
  • Dual power input design: 1) USB-C supports both PD and QC 3.0 and; 2) DC5525 barrel DC jack
  • Speedy Rapid Warmup: Reaches operating temperature in 6 seconds. Support for on-demand rapid boost feature
  • Adjustable soldering tip temperature which can be set between 100° C and 400° C using the adjustment buttons and an easy-to-read OLED display
  • Portable: it features a sleek and slim design, comprised of an SAE 304 stainless steel core housed inside a polycarbonate shell
  • Auto standby mode engages when it is not in use ensuring the user safety
Includes
  • Pinecil Soldering Iron Tool
  • B2 ST (Short Tip) Soldering Tip
Warranty
  • Product includes a 30-day device warranty w/ purchase

Editor's Notes

Written by citan359 | Staff
  • About this Deal:
    • Matches previous Frontpage Deal.
    • The Pinecil is a smart mini portable soldering iron w/ a 32-bit RISC-V SoC and has an operating temperature in just 6 seconds
    • Product is operated on Ralim's IronOS w/ Bouffalo BL-706 chipset w/ OLED white colour monochrome display + power from USB-C or barrel jack; FCC, CE RED, ROHS certified
    • Offer valid while promotional price/supplies last
  • Additional Notes:
    • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by Sparkiekun
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Pine64 Store is offering their Pinecil Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron Tool on sale for $25.99. Standard shipping starts at ~$11.99 (may vary depending on location).

Thanks to community member Sparkiekun for finding this deal

Note: Stock may be limited while supplies last

About the Product
  • Dual power input design: 1) USB-C supports both PD and QC 3.0 and; 2) DC5525 barrel DC jack
  • Speedy Rapid Warmup: Reaches operating temperature in 6 seconds. Support for on-demand rapid boost feature
  • Adjustable soldering tip temperature which can be set between 100° C and 400° C using the adjustment buttons and an easy-to-read OLED display
  • Portable: it features a sleek and slim design, comprised of an SAE 304 stainless steel core housed inside a polycarbonate shell
  • Auto standby mode engages when it is not in use ensuring the user safety
Includes
  • Pinecil Soldering Iron Tool
  • B2 ST (Short Tip) Soldering Tip
Warranty
  • Product includes a 30-day device warranty w/ purchase

Editor's Notes

Written by citan359 | Staff
  • About this Deal:
    • Matches previous Frontpage Deal.
    • The Pinecil is a smart mini portable soldering iron w/ a 32-bit RISC-V SoC and has an operating temperature in just 6 seconds
    • Product is operated on Ralim's IronOS w/ Bouffalo BL-706 chipset w/ OLED white colour monochrome display + power from USB-C or barrel jack; FCC, CE RED, ROHS certified
    • Offer valid while promotional price/supplies last
  • Additional Notes:
    • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by Sparkiekun

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Top Comments

EricE4951
1215 Posts
233 Reputation
Thanks for sharing and including all the links to the extras! You can use this 'in the field' with a PPS battery bank; however, I use this at a desk with a dedicated power supply and the silicone cord. I did initially spring for their solder pen holder, but then commissioned this one and it makes life easier https://thangs.com/designer/ZackF...%21-534477
Mike C
4349 Posts
1581 Reputation
I bought a pinecil along with a bunch of extras a year and a half ago, I already had a hakko, but I wanted something more convenient/travelable for quick jobs (guitar work, various electronics tasks like repairs, replacing batteries, etc.), and it is awesome! I haven't pulled out the Hakko since i got it. I also have the power supply on my work desk which I use daily, love this thing too, best desktop USB charger I have ever had, and I have gone through a lot of them. The V/A display is sweet. Here is what I picked up, along with a small pelican case to store everything in along with solder, etc. Yes the holder sucks, but for $2... it works. I have larger soldering stations w/ helping hands, etc. when needed, linked the main 2 I use below that are decent for the money. Also included links to a couple of good solder... don't cheap out on solder as is makes a huge difference to the ease of the job. Bigger gauge for stuff like guitars, smaller for small electronics:

Pinecil order:

PINECIL – Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron 1 $25.99
USB TYPE-C TO USB TYPE-C SILICONE POWER CHARGING CABLE - 1 meter length 1 $3.49
USB TYPE-C TO USB TYPE-C SILICONE POWER CHARGING CABLE - 1.5 meter length 1 $3.99
PINECIL Portable Mini Stand 1 $1.99
PINECIL Replacement Tip Contacts 1 $1.00
PINECIL Soldering Tip Set (Fine) 1 $24.99
PINECIL Soldering Tip Set (Gross) 1 $24.99
PinePower - 120W Desktop Power Supply - US version 1 $37.99
PINECIL Break Out Board 1 $3.99

Small diam solder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYJ0B7Y/
Large diam solder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AVLM4SO/

Small station: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Y1JZHD4/
Big station: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081MZX8Q8/
Refusername
617 Posts
235 Reputation
It's $38 after shipping vs $40 with prime shipping on Amazon from the same seller, although I'm not 100% sure the Amazon listing is for the v2. https://www.amazon.com/PINECIL-Sm...B096X6SG13

143 Comments

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Feb 27, 2024 11:50 PM
602 Posts
Joined Jun 2012
OPTICSOURCEFeb 27, 2024 11:50 PM
602 Posts
Quote from EricE4951 :
Thanks for sharing and including all the links to the extras! You can use this 'in the field' with a PPS battery bank; however, I use this at a desk with a dedicated power supply and the silicone cord. I did initially spring for their solder pen holder, but then commissioned this one and it makes life easier https://thangs.com/designer/ZackF...%21-534477
Is there any need to use their silcone cord, or will any USB-C cord do?
Feb 28, 2024 12:00 AM
217 Posts
Joined Nov 2017
JDM1457Feb 28, 2024 12:00 AM
217 Posts
Quote from OPTICSOURCE :
Is there any need to use their silcone cord, or will any USB-C cord do?
anything rated 100W will work, but the silicone is high quality and doesn't risk melting if you touch it with the iron.
Feb 28, 2024 01:32 AM
568 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
salmanslimFeb 28, 2024 01:32 AM
568 Posts
Quote from SplendidHorn4071 :
Anybody selling these?
Message me
Feb 28, 2024 02:51 AM
11 Posts
Joined May 2017
SpencerW3618Feb 28, 2024 02:51 AM
11 Posts
Quote from s4rah :
$36 is a lot to spend just to use a pinecil when the heat insert tips cost $8.95 [amazon.com] for a Hakko/Weller type soldering iron
Its alot but I enjoy his content, so i can live with buying them
There are these also

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32...pt=glo2usa
Feb 28, 2024 04:07 PM
4,908 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
Azrael_the_CatFeb 28, 2024 04:07 PM
4,908 Posts
Quote from Earthwormjim :
I wouldn't go that far, no resistive heating based soldering iron is going to match the inductive heating the Metcal or Hakko FX-100 style stations use. It's just not possible.



On the aluminum substrate and copper substrate PCBs I work on, I can use very small tips, and just the very edge of the tip without issue. On the FX-951 and TS101 irons I have, that cannot be done, larger tips must be used, and you must maintain a larger contact surface area, otherwise parts of the tip will droop in temperature.



The inductive heating stations regulate every single part of the tip, down to the molecular level. They rely on the curie point for the tip material, so if even the tiniest portion of the tip cools down, that exact portion will begin absorbing RF energy to heat back up. It's inherently self-regulating, at every single point across the tip.



The small cold portion of the tip on inductive irons, doesn't have to wait for that "coldness" to translate down the rest of the tip body, to the temperature sensor thermistor.
Not sure why you are disagreeing with me. I said it was almost as good not as good. I appreciate your experience however I am fairly certain our team has more experience with these products working on real applications (a dozen metcal irons for use in high power military applications and occasionally soldering bus bars as well as edge soldering QFPs and 0402 packages for light production). No we don't use pinecils in our production facility but recommend them for personal use and projects (unless people want to buy a metcal of their own for

As to your point about resistive not being as good as inductive. Of course, in principle it can't compare. However the inductive tips do NOT regulate the entire body of the tip, similarly to a well designed resistive heater (not one with a ceramic core and a tip as a sleeve) there is a core, with a coil and the tip materials extends from that core leaving a region of thermal resistance and heat flux transfer.

I did want to correct you on how the inductive heating works however. Heat in an inductive tip is produced in the feromagnetic sleeve, which like a resistive element sits in the shaft below the tip taper (see images in metcal's documentation here https://www.metcal.com/wp-content...metcal.pdf). The heat is generated by the eddy currents induced by the circulating magnetic field. It doesn't actually heat all throughout the tip as you seem to be indicating. In fact inductive heating is still resistive in that the eddy currents generate heat by virtue of the resistance of the feromagnetic material. The actual magic of inductive heating in a metcal tip is the removal of need for an external control loop since the temperature sensor is implicit in the ferromagnetic material as the temperature causes the flux resistance (beta) to collapse. Anywho, not a big deal, and sorry for going on about it. I just get excited about the deep physics of these things and like to gush about it!!!

Again not trying to argue that a Metcal is better. but having measured actual tip temperatures on the pinecil and metcal the response time and power delivery are awfully close. Almost mind blowingly considering the 40x price difference. Ultimately however, for professional use the Metcal tips have better geometry options for surface mount work.
1
Feb 28, 2024 08:39 PM
4 Posts
Joined Aug 2017
xmancharFeb 28, 2024 08:39 PM
4 Posts
The Shipping cost is the same amount as Amazon and you know Amazon will get it to you faster. I hate having to say this but if your shipping cost is half the product cost, do better.

https://www.amazon.com/PINECIL-Sm...178&sr=8-2
1
Feb 29, 2024 02:02 AM
21 Posts
Joined Jan 2021
phantomlord479Feb 29, 2024 02:02 AM
21 Posts
I've been soldering for 30 years. I got this a year ago and it's goto iron now. Love it.

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Mar 01, 2024 02:32 AM
6,227 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
vo_danhMar 01, 2024 02:32 AM
6,227 Posts
Quote from Refusername :
It's $38 after shipping vs $40 with prime shipping on Amazon from the same seller, although I'm not 100% sure the Amazon listing is for the v2. https://www.amazon.com/PINECIL-Sm...B096X6SG13
Oh its not free ship my bad. I already bought 2 and all my tips but I didn't know about the silicone cable, might have to buy another one just to get the cables into the order..
Mar 01, 2024 03:34 AM
437 Posts
Joined Mar 2005
nrgMar 01, 2024 03:34 AM
437 Posts
25.99 is the reg price. What am I missing?
Mar 02, 2024 04:55 AM
1,308 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
Tweak42Mar 02, 2024 04:55 AM
1,308 Posts
Quote from Refusername :
It's $38 after shipping vs $40 with prime shipping on Amazon from the same seller, although I'm not 100% sure the Amazon listing is for the v2. https://www.amazon.com/PINECIL-Sm...B096X6SG13
It's definitely the v2 since it's the teal grip and they stopped shipping the blue grip v1 two years ago.

https://pine64.org/2022/07/28/jul...omralimtek

https://pine64.org/documentation/...henticity/
(the authenticity checker appears offline at the time of this writing)

I bought mine from the pine64 store. Definitely recommend both the silicon cables if you order from there. I use them for charging my other usb c devices everyday.
Mar 02, 2024 02:24 PM
1,034 Posts
Joined Sep 2022
TealIdea227Mar 02, 2024 02:24 PM
1,034 Posts
Quote from g10ny :
Nobody is forcing you to buy one, it is just a way better quality tool than the entry-level soldering irons, and the cost difference is worth it. Just don't go overboard with accessories.
Just saying, I don't regret buying both tip sets from Pine at time of purchase, which is a good reason not to order from Amazon (along with the silicone cables.) If I have to replace the BC2 one day, I'll worry about playing the lottery then. I may have dodged a bullet not buying the PSU Smilie
Pro
Mar 02, 2024 03:31 PM
2,090 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
fsx100
Pro
Mar 02, 2024 03:31 PM
2,090 Posts
NOT a SD, with Shipping costs added in. TD.
1
1
Mar 02, 2024 07:32 PM
1,757 Posts
Joined Nov 2005
g10nyMar 02, 2024 07:32 PM
1,757 Posts
Quote from TealIdea227 :
Just saying, I don't regret buying both tip sets from Pine at time of purchase, which is a good reason not to order from Amazon (along with the silicone cables.) If I have to replace the BC2 one day, I'll worry about playing the lottery then. I may have dodged a bullet not buying the PSU Smilie
i mean yes, if you wanted the sets of tips, going directly is the way to go, not to mention that shipping cost per amount spent is less. Though I do question the necessity of having so many tips handy all at once, but if you're doing a lot of soldering, especially in a professional capacity, that's totally legit, you may even get to reimburse them or deduct the expense.
Mar 02, 2024 08:25 PM
1,266 Posts
Joined Jul 2016
BerMM2Mar 02, 2024 08:25 PM
1,266 Posts
Is this equivalent to a TS100 with USB-C?

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Mar 02, 2024 09:19 PM
83 Posts
Joined Nov 2015
redkniteMar 02, 2024 09:19 PM
83 Posts
Quote from SplendidHorn4071 :
Anybody selling these?
Most libraries now have 3d printers and you just pay for the filament. This would likely be 2-4 dollars at my library

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