Scott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮
I bought a soldering iron. Big deal, right? It has custom upgradable firmware, it’s tiny, fantastic, uses USB-C for power (!), and a little OLED screen? And $25? 🥰 this is not sponsored, it’s just glorious.“the pinecil” from @PINE64 https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/
PINECIL – Smart Mini Portable Soldering Iron (Version 2) - PINE STORE

A smart and affordable soldering iron running on a RISC-V SoC and featuring an open-source firmware. Portable and powerful, $25.99

PINE STORE
Feb 1, 2023 at 8:30amWeb
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@PINE64 it’s sold out now. Here’s an Amazon link #ref https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096X6SG13/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_DJKHWMB55KMEKAJWBJK9?linkCode=ml1&tag=diabeticbooks
Amazon.com

Show threadGerrit ImsiekeFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 Correction: It’s soldered out
Show threadDave Friedel ℠Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 strange, shows in stock for me. Regional?
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@DavidHFriedelJr @PINE64 likely
Show threadDave DustinFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman Why does a soldiering iron need upgradable firmware?
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@venzann features and control. Can turn off for safety when it detects it’s not being held. Screen can flip when the gyro see it’s left or right handed. Can accept different power inputs. Can work in 31 languages. https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS
GitHub - Ralim/IronOS: Open Source Soldering Iron firmware

Open Source Soldering Iron firmware. Contribute to Ralim/IronOS development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadSteve Fenton ➜Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @venzann but can you make awesome solder balls with it and get chastised by the teacher?
Show threadVincentFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman neat! I’ve been considering one of those as well, brings me back to the days of Arduino projects in uni
Show threadSara Joy Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 hopefully you don't work on something that has a lot of metal on it that wicks away the heat! What wattage can USB-C provide?
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@sarajw @PINE64 It’s USB-C PD so that’s up to 100W?
Show threadSara Joy Feb 1, 2023

@shanselman @PINE64 OK if you can get 100W out of it then grand!

I used to do lots of soldering in my work, we are only occasional hobbyists in this house but sometimes a piece of hardware acts as a huge heatsink (usually something connected to Ground) making soldering with anything underpowered very difficult.

We splashed out on the cute blue-purple Hakko FX-888D - which is apparently 70W :)

Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@sarajw @PINE64 ya I used it today on an @adafruit feather and it heated up in 10s to 400C and worked great. Used a Mac power supply
Show threadSara Joy Feb 1, 2023

@shanselman @PINE64 @adafruit

Nice!

Part of me still remains totally suspicious of quite how much data and power can go through those wee USB-C connectors 🥵

Show threadMichael SchurterFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @sarajw @PINE64 Up to 240W depending on what version of USB-C PD it supports! My laptop uses 130W via USB-C PD.
Show threadturbocoolerFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 looks really similar to TS100. Does it have compatible tips?
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@turbocooler @PINE64 yes https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil#Pinecil_Tips
Show threadMiha MarkičFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman And it's using RISC-V, right.
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@mihamarkic yes
Show threadEmily SFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 Oooh nice. I'd look at something like that for my next repair cafe kit soldering iron when my current antex tcs50 ever packs up.
Show threadChrisFeb 1, 2023
@PINE64 @shanselman I keep seeing these or similar pop up. I should probably investigate as currently I have a massive base unit solder station that I only really use at 1 temp most of the time.
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@maninsuitcase @PINE64 this has adjustable temps and works great. I’m using it far more than my massive base station
Show threadJan Dytrych🇨🇿🇺🇦Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 it's an awesome soldering iron, have had mine for about a month and its amazing feature is it can be powered from power bank. As a boat owner, I can't stress much how this feature is very handy. Enjoy 😎
Show threadChristopherFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 beautiful 🤩
Show threadMichael GurskiFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 and to think, my first soldering iron was a cheap Radio Shack pistol-style, and my "better" one was a cheap Radio Shack pencil (which I still have nearly 40 years later). I've got an "older" MCU-based, that can just *barely* handle IronOS, but haven't had a chance to even power it up.
Show threadJan Dytrych🇨🇿🇺🇦Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 for anyone in Europe I do recommend @pine64eu for buying Pinecil or Pine64 phones or tablets.
Show threadCaliFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 sadly, but the time I get to the e-shop or alt seems to be sold out.
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@geekosupremo @PINE64 try https://social.dytrych.cloud/@jan/109788787099985006 ?
Jan Dytrych🇨🇿🇺🇦 (@[email protected])

@[email protected] @[email protected] for anyone in Europe I do recommend @[email protected] for buying Pinecil or Pine64 phones or tablets.

Jan's Mastodon
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@geekosupremo @PINE64 or their affiliates?
Show threadkianryan ☑️🐙🏳️‍🌈Feb 1, 2023

@shanselman @PINE64

Great iron.

Can I recommend one of these 3d printed cases? Makes a great throw it in the bag portable toolkit to to take to events/hackspaces/fields...

https://www.printables.com/model/237958-pinecil-ts100-ts101-ts80-ts80p-case-with-options-s/

Printables

Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@kianryan awesome!
Show threadBen JacksonFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 I have never soldered in my life yet for some reason I want one now. Add it to the list! Thanks Scott 😃
Show threadLars Karlslund Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 it's been a game changer for me. Rather than moving stuff to be soldered, I just bring this to whatever needs fixing. So good value for money.
Show threadBrian AlmeidaFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 I built my darksaber with my Pinecil! Love it.
Show threadmyrmepropagandistFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 The only downside to the new usbc irons is you need a boss power supply to get them working. But the one you use to charge the laptop is probably more than up to the task.
Show threadWes KennedyFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman one of my favorite devices I own. Gonna order a second because I want to have a backup
Show threadSteeleDynamics λ Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 I need a workbench :(
Show threadIsaac Rodriguez 🇺🇦Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 I just wish I had a use for it so I could buy it
Show threadirjudsonFeb 1, 2023
@PINE64 @shanselman this is one of the coolest improvements I’ve my butane one I’ve seen. Thx!
Show threadBradford Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman what are you using it for? Surely something that small and convenient couldn’t be enough for soldering switches for a keyboard…?
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@bradfordc more than enough for that
Show threadBradford Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman I had no idea … now I have to look into this
Show threadAlexander Corby 🇵🇷Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 I haven't used a soldering iron for twenty years and have absolutely no present need for it. But now I really, really want one😁
Show threadLuke KaniesFeb 1, 2023

@shanselman and just to be clear…upgradable firmware on a soldering iron is a *feature*, right?

I’ve not really soldered before, but I thought irons were basically on or off, so firmware would likely just be making things worse through software.

Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@lkanies totally optional but cool https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS no need to touch it. It just works.
GitHub - Ralim/IronOS: Open Source Soldering Iron firmware

Open Source Soldering Iron firmware. Contribute to Ralim/IronOS development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadLuke KaniesFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman well I’m just happy to discover that that soldering iron has less ram than my first computer
Show threadSteve BeattieFeb 2, 2023
@lkanies @shanselman my (family's) first computer was a 128k mac, soooo... oof.
Show threadLuke KaniesFeb 2, 2023

@smb @shanselman it’s true, I’m found out. Even though I’m 47, my first computer was in college, and had a 500mb hard drive with 16mb of ram. And a cd drive! And a *software* modem!

(That also happens to be why I’m skeptical of people who claim programmers have to have coded since they were kids.)

Show threadstarbuck Feb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 any improvements compared to the TS80?
Show threadScott Hanselman 👸🏽🐝🌮Feb 1, 2023
@s7arbuck @PINE64 I don’t know
Show threadChad MetcalfFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman There is a pretty sweet looking case for the pine. All the bits and bobs you'd want to go with it. https://www.printables.com/model/345083-rugged-multipart-pinecilts100ts80-case-v2
Rugged Multipart Pinecil/TS100/TS80 Case (V2) by PjotrStrog | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Standing on the shoulders of giants I've created my personal version of a Rugged Multipart Pinecil/TS100/TS80 Case | Download free 3D printable STL models

Printables.com
Show threadJosh HoganFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman Now I wish I had a need to solder!
Show threadzwangseinweisungFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 are they available again?
Show threadthunsakerFeb 1, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 love mine, I printed a case with a collapsible stand. #soldering
Show threadLothus MarqueFeb 2, 2023
@shanselman Been looking at getting myself one of these for a while. I already have a Hakko workstation but this would be a lot more portable when I need it elsewhere.
Show threadWictor Wilén 🇸🇪Feb 2, 2023
@shanselman @PINE64 it’s awesome- and combines perfectly with the Pokit meter to check your results!
Show threadJoladouilleFeb 3, 2023
@shanselman
Best soldering iron ever
@PINE64