tl;dr: a surprisingly effective vape mod

When I first came across a battery-powered USB soldering iron, I was skeptical, to say the least. My initial thought was, “How could something that runs on a small battery provide the heat needed for proper soldering?” But at ~AUD8 (less than 5€), I figured, why not give it a shot? What I found was a genuinely surprising shanzhai-type product.

Design and Build Quality

Right out of the box, this 8W 510-thread battery soldering iron felt more robust than I expected for such a low-cost gadget. The body is compact and lightweight with a “rubbery” feeling which grip is very good, making it easy to carry around or store in a small toolbox. Despite its portability, it doesn’t feel flimsy. The materials used seem durable enough for regular use, and the 510-thread design adds a nice touch, allowing for compatibility with various battery mods, which is a clever and practical feature.

It feels like a vape, and that’s because it essentially is a repurposed vape. Factories in China probably have heaps of vapes lying around and, since the vaping thing faded a bit, it was time to make something with them.

Performance

Here’s where the real surprise came. I didn’t expect much from an 8W soldering iron, but after switching it ON, I was impressed with how quickly it heated up. Within seconds, it reached a workable temperature, making it ready for small repairs and light-duty tasks.

It has 3 temperature settings and, for soldering, using the lowest (green light) one is enough.

The key to the rapid heating of this 8W soldering iron lies in its origin as a vaping device. The same principles that allow vape coils to heat up almost instantly are at play here, repurposed to drive a soldering iron tip thanks to it being a 510-thread battery.

I tested it on a couple of soldering jobs, from fixing loose connections on a circuit board to attaching wires. For such a small device, it delivered consistent heat and maintained a good temperature throughout. I wouldn’t recommend it for heavy-duty jobs, but for on-the-go repairs or small electronics work, it exceeded my expectations.

I soldered small ceramic SMD capacitors, PCB headers and even used it for making holes in PVC pipes. This thing can do stuff!

Battery Life and Charging

The soldering iron runs on a standard 510-thread battery, which is commonly used in vaping devices.

I was able to get some decent ~20min before the battery needed recharging, though the exact life will depend on the temperature setting you use. Charging takes less than 2h, which is okay but its convenient as a portable tool.

Ideal Use Cases & Thoughts

This soldering iron is perfect for small, on-the-go repairs or for those who need a portable option for light electronics work. It’s also a great backup tool to keep in your car or toolkit for emergencies. However, if you’re working on larger projects that require longer using times, you should stick to a more traditional, mains-powered soldering iron.

I’m not a professional and, when I need to solder, it’s only for a couple of minutes on small things. It occupies the same as a pen and I don’t need to bring an extra cable for it, I can charge it using the same USB-C as the rest of my devices. So this soldering iron is perfect for me. Even if I need it for longer periods, I can just connect it to my USB battery or 5V solar panel when I’m not using it, so it will be ready whenever I need it.

I went into this purchase expecting a gimmick but ended up with a surprisingly effective tool that I’m glad to have in my arsenal. The 8W 510-thread battery soldering iron is a fantastic option for anyone who needs a portable, convenient solution for light-duty soldering. For ~5€, it’s definitely worth the investment. So, if you’re looking for an affordable, portable soldering iron that punches above its weight, this 8W 510-thread battery soldering iron is worth considering.