Ive had good success and some failures.... I concur about needing more heat than estimates as the wind and low temperatures can be more lossy, secondly, keep the gas container warm if its Cold.
If your outside at below zero temps the gas will not vaporize/want to escape if it gets real cold. I used to get 3 minutes of use on a 60W equiv device outside at -45C before it stopped working, and of course your bring up metals from a much lower temp :-) This was the Pyropen - nice unit. Pretty unfair test really but great in more temperate climes. I could get it going again by taking my gloves off and using the heat from my hand to warm the gas chamber, but then my hands stopped working...
> Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:58:03 +0200
> From:
[email protected]> To:
[email protected]> Subject: Re: LF: Re: OT - Butane Powered Soldering Iron?
>
> Hi Alan and all,
>
> Alan wrote:
> > I did try to buy a cheapy at a a rally and found it wouldn't hold
> gas( you get what you pay for :-(( ).
>
> Sounds VERY familar. Mine lost a complete fill of gas within two weaks
> or so. Glad to be a non-smoker, because when opening the toolbox where
> the damned thing was stored, there could have been a pretty explosive
> mix of air and gas in the box.
>
> The thing was bought at a large ham radio fair; has transparent gas
> container, and a red plastic cover with pushbutton for the piezo
> igniter. Beware.
