🔎 Pinecil: Portable, Open Source Soldering Iron // Unboxing

Our new favorite travel soldering iron? Hackster's Alex Glow is heading to OSHWA's Open Hardware Summit this week, and her old portable iron (a Miniware TS-100) has given up the ghost. Fortunately, the Pinecil is much cheaper, runs off of USB-C, is an open source RISC-V development platform, and – most importantly – can be fitted with a transparent shell.

How do the specs stack up against other portable soldering irons? What other TSA-friendly hardware essentials are in Alex's travel kit? Let's dig in!

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Links:
// Pinecil official shop page – https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron
// Pinecil wiki – https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil
// 3D-printable case by PjotrStrog, on Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/345083-rugged-multipart-pinecilts100ts80-case-v2
// Our Omnifixo intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7vBWJmvxE8&list=PLsRBa4uXjihZP-CNH6LM9jQjzNAz4fQNP&index=11
// Our Miniware MHP30 Mini Hot Plate intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct4Xxdwc7L4&list=PLsRBa4uXjihZP-CNH6LM9jQjzNAz4fQNP&index=67
// Adafruit's silicone-coated hookup wire: https://www.adafruit.com/category/282
// Avnet guitar pick PCB: https://www.hackster.io/glowascii/guitar-pick-pcb-for-avnet100years-b67434