Dremel Multi Tip

Why did you choose this product over others?:I chose Dremel because it has a solid reputation. Other Dremel products that I already own are very well made and robust.Quality:This tool is significantly better to use than other, similar ones that I have owned.

Bought this for my electronics hobby needs, replacing a 12 year old Iroda gas iron which kept bursting into flames whenever I used it!Not enough to knock my confidence with gas irons, I spent a few hours reading reviews on this product before buying it.It comes with a range of accessories, such as a storage tin for small components, soldering sponge, some pretty high quality electrical solder, a plastic protective cap for the tool, and even a range of tips for soldering, cutting, heating and even wood burning/pyrography. The set includes two different sized spanners for changing and securing the various tips.This tool can even be used with an open flame. This would be especially useful for plumbing jobs where a blowtorch might be needed.I'm not sure what the average burn time will be on one tank of gas, as this will be largely dependent on the tips being used and the heat setting selected, but around 90 minutes was achieved while soldering earlier today. It's worth noting at this stage that butane gas seems quite hard to come by these days. Where I live, anyways. I eventually found a petrol station 5 miles away that stocks it. Might be readily available elsewhere, but it's something to bear in mind when considering a gas tool purchase.It's done me well so far, and although a few of the tips glow orange when in use (something never experienced with my Iroda iron) I have nothing but confidence in this tool. Dremel really have made it a versatile tool that you will want to keep close at hand.It's also proved invaluable for a wiring job on my motorcycle, where using an electric soldering iron would never have been an option.In summary, I think this is quite possibly the best "gas multitool" you can buy for this price. I can't recommend it enough.

Firstly I have used soldering irons for over 50 years in various guises, and have also taught electronics, but now my old Maplin gas soldering iron tip is useless, (not bad considering it has had lots of use for over 15 years !) so I needed a replacement.You have to remember that ANY soldering iron gets hot and this applies more so to portable soldering irons because they use gas, and the heat will escape in more areas that say an mains powered iron does, so you have to be much more vigilant when using a gas iron or you will burn yourself or components around where you are trying to solder, but this is just the 'nature of the beast' I'm afraid, if you use a mains soldering iron the same dangers are there of course - saying it is 'easy to burn yourself', just means you aren't taking enough care and nothing more than that.I looked at least 30+ different makes and models before deciding on this one, to me price really didn't matter whether it was £20 or £100, but the one thing I DID want was the ability to get a replacement tip and when you look into that my favourite brand of all time was totally eliminated... and so a lot of other brands were eliminated too.Needless to say when I purchased this, I purchased 2 spare tips as well.When I purchased my Maplins gas iron I bought 2 spare tips, had I not done that I would have only has around 4-5 years of uses and not 15, and tips do wear out, especially if you are using an acid flux.I spent 4 weeks thoroughly researching all theses irons, reviews and the availability of spare tips and this is the ONLY one that meets these requirement, please feel free to do the same exercise if you wish !The iron itself is well built, slightly more bulky then my previous iron but that is OK by me.You need to fill the iron with lighter gas, and I found that if you buy really cheap gas it tends to smell a lot more than the more expensive ones, you will of course get a little smell anyway... because it is gas.When it is full of gas you will get a slight liquid spill fron the filling area, so just stop then.It comes with a selection of tips (as did the Maplins one) but for me personally I will only use the standard soldering tip (as fitted on the iron when you receive it) and the 'heat shrink' attachment.You ignite the iron with the button and you can then lock it on to, so it doesn't go out when you release the button.You can then regulate the flame/temperature with the lever.The first week I had this, I joined about 150 wires which where then covered with heat shrink, and the second week I did about 100 more so it got plenty of use, you do need to clean the tip on the sponge provided, after soaking it water then squeezing it out, so it is just damp but don't get obsessed doing this, only do it when needed, when the end of the tip is black, with the excessive flux from the solder.I do have a top of the range mains powered soldering station which I love but this is and excellent iron for use where mains isn't available, although I can understand people using it as there only soldering iron.As fat as price goes it is in in the lower price bracket and to be honest if I get 5 years out of it I will be very happy, but I suspect it will last a lot longer.To sum up it is a well made and well presented soldering iron in a good tin case with room for everything, including my extra tips (even much more expensive ones just come in a plastic case, if you are lucky).It is a joy to use (no burnt fingers here !) and heats up very fast.Nothing to dislike about it really, the only thing on my wish list would be a little window to see how much fuel is in it, but my other iron didn't have it so I won't miss it !I hope this review helps someone.