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Portable soldering iron grows into hot multi-tool

Portable soldering iron grows into hot multi-tool
The Solardoodle Plus is raising production funds on Kickstarter
The Solardoodle Plus is raising production funds on Kickstarter
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The Solderdoodle Plus has a hot tip for creating burnt wood art
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The Solderdoodle Plus has a hot tip for creating burnt wood art
The Solderdoodle Plus comes with a tip removal tool
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The Solderdoodle Plus comes with a tip removal tool
The Solderdoodle Plus kit on Kickstarter comes with seven hot tips and a tip removal tool
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The Solderdoodle Plus kit on Kickstarter comes with seven hot tips and a tip removal tool
The Solderdoodle Plus is reported to give up to an hour of continuous heat per charge of its Li-ion batteries
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The Solderdoodle Plus is reported to give up to an hour of continuous heat per charge of its Li-ion batteries
The Soldeerdoodle Plus can be used as a cordless 3D finishing tool, soldering iron and burner for wood art
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The Soldeerdoodle Plus can be used as a cordless 3D finishing tool, soldering iron and burner for wood art
The Solardoodle Plus is raising production funds on Kickstarter
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The Solardoodle Plus is raising production funds on Kickstarter
View gallery - 6 images

Four years ago, Solarcycle's Isaac Porras launched on Kickstarter to raise production funds for a USB rechargeable soldering iron called the Solderdoodle. The design has now been revised for crafters and makers to pop in a special tip and use the Plus version as a hot multi-tool.

Developed as a cordless 3D finishing tool, soldering iron and burner for wood art, the Solderdoodle Plus comes with various snap in hot tips for cutting, scooping, digging and chiseling your chosen material. The kit comes with a tip removal tool so you can keep your fingers away from the hot end when swapping from chisel end to needle.

The prototype looks to have a similar 3D-printed body as the original Solderdoodle, but there's a touch-controlled adjustable power strip up top with LED status lights. Dimensions are given as 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) in length and 1.75 inches (4.4 cm) in diameter, with a weight of 5.3 oz (149 g).

The Soldeerdoodle Plus can be used as a cordless 3D finishing tool, soldering iron and burner for wood art
The Soldeerdoodle Plus can be used as a cordless 3D finishing tool, soldering iron and burner for wood art

Porras says that the hot end can get up to 572° F (300° C) in 15 seconds and the Plus will provide up to an hour of continuous heat per charge of its 7.2 V/2,000 mAh L-ion batteries. A sleep mode kicks in when the device hasn't been used for a while, and a low battery warning informs users when the hot multi-tool needs to be connected to a power source over USB.

The Solderdoodle Plus is expected to retail for US$194, with a set of seven tips coming in at $55. Before sales can begin, Porras is raising production funds on Kickstarter. Pledges for a hot multi-tool and seven tips start at $159 and, if all goes to plan, shipping is estimated to start in December 2019. The video below has more.

Source: Kickstarter

Solderdoodle Plus: Cordless USB Rechargeable Hot Multi Tool

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2 comments
2 comments
ljaques
I already have a battery powered soldering iron. Maybe it's time to make some other tips for it and modify it for 18650s. I sure as heck won't be spending $194 when I can either make my own or wait until next month when China puts out the $27 set, with tips. Heck, at $55 with tips, they'd likely sell a million of them. At $194, they'll be lucky to top 1,000 sales worldwide. (So far, they have, um, 48.) Why are so many new inventors so bloody greedy, when doing so prevents so many of their products from seeing production?
Solarcycle
If you take the a portable soldering iron on the market today, add extra tips, and add a 10W battery pack, that will add up to close to $200 easily. Solderdoodle Plus is lower cost, more compact, easier to use, more powerful, can solder 14ga wire, and can even melt solder to a thin copper plate!