A $26 Open-Source Soldering Iron With a Cult Following — Is It Deserved?

The Pinecil V2 from Pine64 has become one of the most talked-about tools in the maker community. A portable USB-C soldering iron powered by a RISC-V processor, running fully open-source IronOS firmware, weighing just 30 grams, and costing under $30 — it sounds too good to be true.

But the Pinecil V2 isn't just a novelty. It's a genuine temperature-controlled soldering iron that heats to 350°C in 6 seconds, runs off any USB-C PD charger or power bank, and has a passionate open-source community pushing regular firmware updates with features no traditional station offers — including Bluetooth Low Energy remote monitoring and fully customizable PID tuning.

In this Pinecil V2 review, we put it through real-world soldering tasks: through-hole components, SMD drag soldering, wire splicing, and ground-plane desoldering. We test heat-up speed, thermal recovery, tip compatibility, and compare it head-to-head with the Miniware TS101 — its closest competitor. Let's see if the hype is justified.

📋 Pinecil V2 — Full Specifications

Here are the complete Pinecil V2 specifications. Pay close attention to the power input options — they directly determine your soldering performance.

🌡️ Heat-Up Speed & Thermal Performance

The Pinecil V2's heat-up speed is impressive for a portable iron. Connected to a 65W USB-C PD charger, it reached 350°C in approximately 6 seconds from room temperature — faster than the Hakko FX888D (20 seconds) and Weller WE1010NA (25 seconds). With a 24V DC barrel jack supply, the short-tip (ST) models push up to 88W, bringing heat-up even closer to 5 seconds.

Heat-Up Times by Power Source

Thermal recovery is where the Pinecil shows its limitations. On through-hole joints and thin traces, recovery is instant. But on heavy 2oz copper ground planes, the 65W power ceiling struggles to maintain temperature. The tip drops 40–60°C and takes 3–4 seconds to recover — noticeable compared to the Hakko FX888D's 2 seconds or the JBC's instant recovery on the same test. For occasional ground-plane work, it's manageable. For repeated heavy-duty joints, a bench station is the better tool.

💻 IronOS Firmware — The Pinecil's Secret Weapon

What truly separates the Pinecil V2 from every other portable iron is IronOS — a fully open-source firmware created by Ralim and maintained by an active global community. This isn't a gimmick. IronOS transforms the Pinecil from a simple soldering iron into a programmable precision instrument with features that rival stations costing 10× more.

Key IronOS Features

🔧 Tip Ecosystem & Compatibility

Choosing the right Pinecil V2 tips is essential for getting the best results. The Pinecil V2 uses TS100-compatible tips, which means you have access to a massive ecosystem of affordable replacement tips from both Pine64 and third-party manufacturers. Tips are secured with an M2 screw and swap in seconds.

Two Tip Families

Recommended Tips for Different Tasks

⚔️ Pinecil V2 vs Miniware TS101 — Head-to-Head

The Miniware TS101 is the Pinecil V2's most direct competitor. Both are portable USB-C soldering irons with temperature control and TS100-compatible tips. Here's how they compare:

🔌 Choosing the Right Power Supply for Pinecil V2

The Pinecil V2 ships with no cable and no power supply — just the iron and one tip. Choosing the right Pinecil V2 power supply is critical because it directly determines the performance of your USB-C PD soldering iron.

Recommended Power Sources (Ranked)

🧪 Real-World Testing Results

Through-Hole Components

The Pinecil V2 excels at through-hole work. Arduino headers, resistors, capacitors, IC sockets — all soldered cleanly and quickly at 320°C with the ST-D24 chisel tip. The lightweight body and pencil-like grip provide excellent control for pin-by-pin work. On a full Arduino shield build (68 joints), joint quality was indistinguishable from our Hakko FX888D results.

SMD Work (0805 and SOIC)

For 0805 passives and SOIC packages, the Pinecil performs surprisingly well. The fine conical tip (ST-B2) places solder precisely, and the fast heat response prevents heat damage to nearby components. Drag soldering on SOIC-16 and TQFP-44 with the knife tip worked — though the tiny OLED display makes it harder to monitor temperature during delicate work compared to a station with a full LCD.

Heavy Copper / Ground Planes

This is where the Pinecil V2 struggles. On a 2oz copper ground plane with thermal relief, it took noticeably longer to achieve proper flow — the tip temperature drops significantly and recovery is slower than any bench station. Using the boost mode (+20°C) helps, but it's a workaround rather than a solution. For regular ground-plane work, you want a 70W+ bench station.

Wire Soldering & Connectors

Soldering 18AWG stranded wire to barrel connectors and XT60 plugs was manageable with the D24 chisel tip at 380°C. The Pinecil handled it, but required slightly longer contact time than a bench station. For occasional wire work, it's perfectly adequate. For production cable harness assembly, use a station.

✅ Who Should Buy the Pinecil V2 (And Who Shouldn't)

The Pinecil V2 is the best portable soldering iron for electronics fieldwork and maker projects — but it's not for everyone. Here's an honest breakdown:

❓ Pinecil V2 — Frequently Asked Questions

✅ Pinecil V2 Review — Final Verdict

The Pinecil V2 delivers a proposition no other soldering iron can match: genuine temperature-controlled performance in a 30-gram package, powered by any USB-C charger, running fully open-source firmware with Bluetooth connectivity — for under $30. It won't replace a Hakko or JBC on your bench, but it wasn't designed to. It's the iron you grab for quick fixes, field repairs, hackerspace builds, and travel. Every electronics workbench should have one.

This review is part of our Best Soldering Station for Electronics 2026 series. The Pinecil V2 earned our "Best Portable" award.