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Weller ML500MP Mini Butane Soldering Iron

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Weller ML500MP Mini Butane Soldering Iron

(2 customer reviews)

SKU:

AR_3994103

In Stock

Availability: Usually ships in 1 business days

USE FOR SOLDERING HEAT-SHRINK TUBING & ELECTRONICSADJUSTABLE GAS FLOW VALVE CONTROLS TEMPERATURE RANGETIP TEMPERATURE: 750 F 900 FUP TO 30 MIN CONTINUOUS USE ON MEDIUM SETTINGWINDOW ALLOWS USER TO SEE FUEL LEVELBASE ALLOWS TOOL TO STAND FOR HANDS-FREE OPERATIONREFILLABLE WITH WELLER WBI OR WB2 FILTERED BUTANEUPC : 037103220912Shipping Dimensions : 8.00in X 4.00in X 1.75inEstimated Shipping Weight : 0.3373

List Price:	$19.99
Our Price:	$17.55 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
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Product Details

Product Length:	3.88 inches
Product Width:	2.0 inches
Product Height:	7.88 inches
Product Weight:	0.2 pounds
Package Length:	7.9 inches
Package Width:	3.7 inches
Package Height:	1.7 inches
Package Weight:	0.25 pounds
Average Customer Rating:	based on 2 reviews

Features

Use For Soldering, Heat-Shrink Tubing and Electronics
Adjustable Gas Flow Valve Controls Temperature Range
Tip Temperature: 750-Degree f - 900-Degree f
Up To 30 Min Continuous Use On Medium Setting
Window Allows User To See Fuel Level

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: 3.5

( 2 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 found the following review helpful:

great idea, with some problems Dec 12, 2007 By YSC "ciac"
I've been shopping for butane soldering iron, and this thing seemed terrific. However it is not without some issues. Let me summarize:

Pros:
- Very small. It is really portable and easily fits anywhere.
- no wires and no location limitation.
- Included cap protects the tip when stored in toolboxes among other messy places. Snaps on tightly. (it's clear acrylic instead of white as shown in photo)
- Piezo ignition - no need for a lighter to light up the torch! I wonder why others haven't been doing the same. It make so much sense.
- It stands up on its own, instead of requiring a stand or the usual horizontal placement of other butane irons that ends up damaging the surface with heat.
- Refillable via port at the bottom
- Heats up quickly, with a good mesh of metal heating elements to aid in combustion. It is quite hot enough for soldering.
- Runs for a fairly long time.
- Relatively cheap, without feeling cheap.

Cons:
- The tip came a bit oxidized already as solder won't stick even after some flux cleaning with solder, which leads to the next problem:
- The tip is relatively hard to find. Only Weller seem to be supplying this 1.6mm size? With mail order shipping it ain't cheap.
- Torch doesn't work consistently. With the solder tip removed, the metal mesh elements start a combustion on its own, killing the blue flame and turning red with heat. Using the piezo igniter brings the blue flame back sometimes. I suspect it may be the butane purity/pressure that causes this problem instead of the unit itself, however.
- I don't know if it has something to do with the butane quality (ronson), but there doesn't seem to be much difference in the heat output or flame with the butane adjustment. It is fully blasting at the lowest setting and maybe sputters a bit at the highest.
- There's no window to see butane level, unlike claimed in the description here. I had no idea where the recommended 3/4 full is.

It's a great tool, but the solder iron is only as good as its tip. The weird non-binding oxidized tip kinda pooped on the package. With the torch function somewhat unreliable among other missing claims (e.g. no butane window), it does leave a bit of a bad taste in the mouth. However as a solder iron only, and if you have access to replacement tips, it does work well in a very portable and thoughtful package.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

It was great out of the box for about an hour's total use Aug 11, 2010 By Dennis Lambert
The first hour I used this iron I thought it was the best soldering iron on the market! Push button ignition, quick preheat, precise temperature control, great solder joints. Then things started to go wrong...

As the other reviewer pointed out, there is definitely something wrong with the soldering tip and its finish. After a short time, solder refused to stick to it and soldering wires became cumbersome. I tried wiping it with a wet sponge, diping it in rosin soldering flux, giving it a good scrub with a green scouring pad and nothing helped. I even resorted to using some 800 grit wet/dry trimite sanding paper to clean the tip. The sandpaper definitely helped the appearence of the tip as it had a solder like shine. But when I tried using the iron again, same problem, solder won't won't stick. It looks sooty like a wood stove residue and makes the iron almost useless after a very short time.

Right about the time the tip began acting up, I also noticed the piezo ignition stopped working too. I would light the tip about once out of every 10 or 15 tries and I resorted to using a bic lighter to get the iron going.

So at first blush it was a fantastic butane soldering iron. After that, I went back to my trusty bernzomatic. I can't recommend this iron to anyone.