Miniware
TS101 Portable Soldering Iron
Hits 300C in 8 seconds, runs off your laptop charger, fits in a pencil case. The TS101 goes where bench irons don't. USB-C PD or DC barrel jack input means one 65W GaN brick covers your laptop and your iron.
The OLED display shows live temperature, input voltage, and detected tip type on startup, so you can confirm PD handshake before touching a pad. An internal accelerometer triggers sleep mode when you set it down and auto-shutdown if you walk away. Fine enough for 0402 SMD work, thermal mass to handle chunky through-hole connectors.
Things to build with this
- Assemble a mechanical keyboard PCB at a meetup or hotel room by powering the TS101 from the same 65W GaN charger running your laptop, no second outlet or dedicated power supply needed
- Build a field repair go-bag around the dual power inputs: run off USB-C PD at a cafe, swap to a DC barrel jack from a bench supply or battery pack when USB-C isn't available, covering both scenarios from one iron
- Drag-solder fine-pitch QFP or SOIC packages on a rework session away from your bench using a TS-BC2 chisel tip, confirming thermal stability through the OLED live temperature readout before touching pads
Key Features
- 8-second heat-up to 300C: no warm-up ritual, just solder
- USB-C PD input up to 65W: 20V PD required, standard laptop chargers work
- DC barrel jack input: dual power path, use whichever is available
- Adjustable temperature range 100-400C: spans SMD reflow through heavy terminal lugs
- OLED display: live readout of tip temperature, input voltage, and detected tip type
- Interchangeable TS-series tips: conical, chisel, fine-point, all tool-free swaps
- Accelerometer sleep and auto-shutdown: idles when set down, cuts power if abandoned
- Compact aluminum body with silicone grip: pencil-case portable
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the TS101 compare to the Pinecil V2?
Both are USB-C PD irons in the same price range. The TS101 heats slightly faster and has a broader catalog of TS-series tips available. The Pinecil V2 runs IronOS (open-source, actively maintained, RISC-V chip) with stronger community firmware support. Tip variety and heat-up speed favor the TS101. Firmware customization and open-source software favor the Pinecil.
Can I power this from a phone charger?
Only if it negotiates USB-C PD at 20V. A standard 5V charger will not deliver enough wattage to heat the iron properly. The OLED shows input voltage on startup so you can confirm the PD handshake completed before you start work. A 45W or 65W PD laptop charger is the reliable choice.
Which tip should I start with for general use?
The included tip covers most through-hole and moderate SMD work. For fine-pitch SMD or drag soldering, add a TS-BC2 chisel tip. For point-to-point work on tight or small pads, a TS-I conical is the standard pick. All TS-series tips swap without tools in a few seconds.
Does the auto-shutdown actually work reliably?
Yes. The accelerometer detects when the iron is stationary and steps down to sleep temperature after a configurable idle period, then cuts power if left untouched beyond the shutdown threshold. Both timers are adjustable through the OLED menu. Useful when you get pulled into debugging and forget the iron is on.
Why we stock this
Curated by Kindly Morrow. We test and vet every product before it hits the store. If we wouldn't use it in our own builds, we don't sell it.
Things to build with this
Fun projects to try once you get your hands on it.
Your first blinking LED (seriously)
The "hello world" of hardware. Wire an LED to a board, write 3 lines of code, watch it blink. Then realize you can make it do anything.
Temperature logger with a graph
Read a sensor, log the data, plot it on a web page. Your first real IoT project. Show it to someone and watch their eyes light up.
Desk button that does one thing
Big red button on your desk. Press it and something happens. Order pizza. Turn off all the lights. Play a sound effect. You decide.
Build a theremin (sort of)
Ultrasonic distance sensor + a buzzer. Wave your hand and it changes pitch. It sounds terrible and you will love it.
