I have a couple of these, very handy for working on my old car and odd jobs.
The problem with them for anything serious is that the tip temperature is
not well controlled. 
1) The heat output from the catalytic combustion heater is not calibrated;
it can be set to anything. Probability is that it will end up on max,
because when things don't work in soldering that's what people do.
2) the overall design is geared to a quick warm up, so there is little
thermal mass, this will allow big temperature variation with more than one
joint or if the work requires  long heat time because of its own thermal
mass.
3) The bit is a screw on type and this gives poor thermal coupling
especially after some period of use.
The reason I have two, is that the first one had these problems in spades,
the second I paid a lot more for. It is better, so I can solder up my old
car wiring and stuff like that just fine. For circuit board work they make
me nervous.
Cordless irons tend also to go for a high temp, low mass, quick warm
approach. 
Need to think in terms not just of temperature but the amount of heat
available. A lot of heat is not the same as a high temperature.

So overall it means you would be putting a high premium on operator skill.
IT would be worth going to some trouble to avoid them. 
For example low voltage irons that could run from a car battery.
Alternatively an inverter so you could use a regular iron.
Example: for my bush camping trips I just have a small inverter which
generates 140W mains output. It’s the size of a small apple and plugs in to
car socket and cost about 50USD. Probably less in USA. Saves buying a
separate charger for each piece of kit and doesn't become obsolete if I up
grade anything.
So one of those with a mains extension cord could do it I think.

Regards

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gregg Owens
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 3:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] Butane Soldering Irons

Since we hand solder outside of the normal manufacturing floor, our
technicians are requesting to use a butane soldering iron. I have no
previous experience with this type of soldering iron. With a temperature
setting of 1076°F it seems rather high and potentially damaging to resulting
solder connection, insulation, people, etc.

http://www.apexhandtools.com/brands/CF_Files/model_detail.cfm?upc=0371030609
76

Any thoughts from experience would be most appreciated.

Gregg

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