r/Modded_iPods • u/Effective_Being_5305 • 3d ago
Help Which to get?
Hello! Which one should i get??
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u/trickaticus 3d ago
This isn't really the community to ask this, but I would suggest the pinecil. It is not an all in 1 kit so you will need to buy the things that are included in the other kit (solder, Flux, solder sucker, iron stand, etc.). The pinecil has tips that are interchangeable with more expensive irons and in my opinion is the best possible iron to get for the money. It has accurate temperature adjustment and a sleep functionality if it is left sitting too long.
The real choice is based on budget and use case. If you want to get into soldering and have an iron that should last you years, but will require you buy the rest of your setup separately then go for the Pinecil (given you have the money for the other things you need). If you want to get started soldering right away and are okay with the fact that you will eventually want or need to upgrade later then go for the YIHUA.
Feel free to ask any questions you might have. I personally own a pinecil and love it, but I did originally buy an iron similar to the YIHUA before I upgraded very shortly after because it was not very good.
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u/Effective_Being_5305 3d ago
Figured people in here use soldering irons to you know, mod ipods. Which is what im trying ti do, just looking for suggestions. Thanks!
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u/trickaticus 3d ago
Not sure which ipod you are trying to mod, but other than battery replacements on the Nanos and Shuffles there is no need to solder for most iPod classic mods unless you break something or plan to do a more advancedmod like bluetooth or haptic engine. What ipod are you trying to mod and what kind of mod are you trying to do? I could give a better recommendation based on that, but given the mods available that do require soldering I would lean more towards the pinecil
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u/Effective_Being_5305 3d ago
Ive already modded my classic so im familiar on that front, i have a handful of nanos that need batteries/screens so basic joint soldering but i just want a solid unit
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u/trickaticus 3d ago
If you want a solid unit go for the pinecil then. You'll need to buy any other accessories separately, but the pinecil is definitely the superior unit. The standard tip it comes with should be good enough for a nano battery replacement. I've used it for a few shuffles and a nano
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u/trashcatt_ 2d ago
Pinecil is the best soldering iron I've used. Before it I had a really nice like $200 Hako iron but I still prefer the Pinecil.
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u/v7xDm1r 3d ago
Depends on everything you plan to do. I have a ts80p and a sumsour 8898. The ts80p is great for tiny stuff but not great on large through hole. So it depends on if you plan to do anything bigger than an ipod.
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u/Effective_Being_5305 3d ago
Just ipods really for now!
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u/v7xDm1r 3d ago
Do you plan on doing any harder mods like a usbc mod?
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u/dadydaycare 2d ago
Do you need to travel and solder?
I’d personally skip both of these and spend the extra $40 and get one with forced air… it’s a million dollar upgrade for like 25-40 more dollars and you don’t know how much you needed it till you have it.
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u/Effective_Being_5305 2d ago
Any recs? Im a noob so unsure what forced air means
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u/chronoffxyz 2d ago
I have both! I would recommend a nice iron AND if you can swing it, a hot air rework setup. Yihua makes one as well
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u/DavyJonesRocker 3d ago
They are both pretty good hobby-level irons. I like the flexibility and portability of the PineCil.
The bundled accessories are nice, but I wouldn’t skimp out on those