Modification of gas soldering iron

Some gas soldering irons of a small size are often made with an opaque body. It is very uncomfortable!
During operation, it is impossible to monitor the gas level in the tank. It remains unknown how much gas has been consumed, how much is left, and when it is worth refueling a soldering iron. You can, of course, before starting each work, refuel a soldering iron. But it’s better, when buying such a product, to choose a product with a transparent case to constantly monitor the gas level. Well, if, nevertheless, a soldering iron with an opaque body is already purchased, then it will not be difficult to modify it. It is only necessary to cut a small window in the case, in the place where the container with gas is located.
This is completely safe, because we will not touch the tank itself. In addition, this window will help to determine if the tank is poisoned by gas, or if it holds as it should. To do this, after refueling the tank, you just need to mark with a marker or pen the gas level in the tank, and before next use, check visually whether the fuel level in the tank matches the set mark. If the gas level has fallen down even by a millimeter, then it is better to refuse to use this tool. In principle, it is possible to check whether or not the gas solves the soldering iron immediately after purchase. You just need to disassemble the device, fill the tank, mark the level, and wait a day. Or at least until the morning. Well, or let go into the water ... In the event of a leak, the instrument can always be returned back to the store, if there is a sales receipt, of course. And even if you bought this tool in a real store, and not on the Internet. Then the return can turn into a solid headache. However, this is not about that now. In my opinion, it is much more convenient to use the tool, knowing its ability and resource, knowing when the consumables will end, and based on this, make calculations - save, or not limit yourself to the expense. Especially if we take this tool somewhere with us where we have to work on it. We will not, in the end, carry around with us a gas cylinder. This work is not long, practically dusty, and safe.

Will need

• Marker.
• Ruler.
• Cautery on wood.
• Screwdriver.
• Scissors
• File or file.
• A piece of transparent polyester (can be from the bottle)
• Seconds glue.

Making a window for monitoring gas levels:

To begin with, it is necessary to bleed off the remaining gas from the soldering iron, for safety. We go out into the street, or on the open balcony, and using the knitting needle, pressing the gas valve, we release gas from the tank. Now you can begin to disassemble the soldering iron itself. To do this, using a suitable screwdriver, you need to unscrew the screws that fasten the case of the soldering iron.
It is not necessary to completely disassemble, it is enough to remove only the back half of the case (although, it all depends on the model of the soldering iron). In general, we remove the part of the body near which the gas tank is located.
Now you need to make measurements. We look at which place of the body the gas container is adjacent to. Mark the place with a marker. Next, measure the capacity parameters with a ruler (length and width), and transfer them to the place where the capacity will be located.
The portable parameters should be reduced by five millimeters in width so that the window is narrow but long. Now you have to work as a burner, with a thin sting. You can, of course, use a bor machine, with a thin cutting disc, but it's noisy and dusty. We connect the burner to the outlet, wait until the sting is heated, and burn out a rectangular hole in the case, according to the parameters drawn.
After the desired hole is cut, the fused edges should be processed; remove the burrs from the inside and outside with a clerical knife and file or file.
Now you should put a piece of transparent polyester, instead of a cut out piece of the body. To do this, cut a piece of polyester slightly larger than the cut out window, apply a second glue to the inner edges of the window, and apply polyester to the window. Press and hold for ten seconds, until the glue grabs the polyester to the plastic housing
Now we collect the soldering iron together.
It turned out quite a nice window through which you can further monitor the gas level in the tank.
During the work, we did not affect the capacity itself, so the tool remains at the same level of security at which it was purchased.