Monthly Archives: April 2023

How Do Butane Soldering Irons Work?

Butane soldering irons use a butane gas fuel source to generate heat for soldering. Here is how they work:

The butane gas is stored in a refillable tank within the soldering iron. Butane is a hydrocarbon gas that is commonly used in portable heating devices because it is easy to store, transport, and ignite.

The ignition system on a Portasol butane soldering iron involves a piezoelectric system, which generates an electric spark when it is struck. This spark ignites the butane gas flowing from the tank, creating a flame at the tip of the soldering iron. The flame heats up a catalyst which in turn heats the tip, which then is used to heat the metal surfaces to be soldered and the solder itself, causing it to melt and flow onto the metal. The user can then control the temperature of the soldering iron by adjusting the gas flow and flame size.

Portasol soldering irons include safety features such as a locking mechanism