Gadgets?

[Allan L. Gilreath, RPT]

Patrick,

I've been using the Weller Portasol PK-1 for several years and don't know
how I would get by without it in the field case.  Of course I still keep the
heat gun for shopwork but the little butane kit works wonders.  I also do
some electronic work so the soldering iron is of great use and the hot knife
is great for removing keybushings that were installed with the white
thermoset glue used by several of the factories.  I've found the hot air tip
to be of limited if any use in piano work but the little torch tip is
perfect for heating damper wires, burning shanks, heating a drywall screw
for broken shank removal and a multitude of other applications. The flame is
a little weak for heating a hammer iron but I picked up a second butane
torch at Home Depot (or someplace like that for about $5 that works well for
some minor band instrument soldering and heating the aforementioned hammer
iron as well as burn in knives.  I know that many folks prefer the electric
hammer irons and such but the butane is very portable and fast for my work.

Refilling just uses the bulk butane cartridges available in any hardware or
home store so they're very cheap to run.  In short, worth every penny in my
estimation.

Hope this helps.

Allan
Allan L. Gilreath, RPT
agilreath@mindspring.com

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of J Patrick Draine
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 2:22 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Gadgets?



On Tuesday, December 11, 2001, at 11:43 PM, Joseph Garrett wrote:

> I could go on for days about such. My favorite place for tool cases of
> all
> sorts, is Jensen Tool, in Phoenix.

Speaking of Jensen, this post reminded me I had been intending to look
into an alternate heat gun (ie compared to the electric Unger heat gun
that died on me a long time ago) that another tech showed me a few years
ago. It's the Weller Portasol [WelPortsol] "Butane Powered Tool Sets:
Tools operate as a cordless soldering iron, open-flame torch, flameless
heat tool and hot knife. Sets include tips for all four functions. Fully
adjustable heat source."
http://www.jensentools.com/product/group.cfm?parent_id=54345
Any of you using one of these? Well worth the bucks, or have you gone
back to those $3 butane lighters?
TIA,
Patrick