Pinecil V2
Pine64 · USB-PD iron
The open-source USB-C iron: IronOS firmware, RISC-V inside, heats in seconds from a laptop charger, and costs less than a set of genuine Hakko tips. The default recommendation for a first iron in 2026.
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At a glance
⚑ flag an error| Type | USB-PD iron |
|---|---|
| Tip / cartridge system | Pinecil short (ST) tips (~6.2-6.5 Ω) |
| Power | USB-PD powered — real wattage depends on your charger AND cable; high-power modes need an e-marked cable, and with an ordinary one it quietly falls back to 20 V. |
| Supply | USB-C PD (also DC barrel) |
| Typical price | $26-40 (street, varies) |
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Which one do I buy?
vs TS101: same open firmware (IronOS), different tip economics — the Pinecil V2's short tips heat faster but fit the TS101 poorly, while both take classic TS100 long tips. vs a bench station: the Pinecil wins on portability and price; a cartridge station wins on thermal grunt for big joints.
The tips you'll actually be buying
Pinecil short (ST) tips (~6.2-6.5 Ω) — Shorter, lower-resistance tips — faster heat-up, less tip wobble. Fits: Pinecil V2 (auto-detects tip resistance). Fit the TS101 poorly (seating/length) and older TS100/V1 irons need firmware awareness of the lower resistance — treat them as V2-only unless you enjoy edge cases. Full compatibility matrix →
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Good for
Gotchas to know
- The charger+cable decide everything: a weak PD source means a weak iron. 65 W+ charger and a decent e-marked cable make it a different tool.
- V2's short (ST) tips have lower resistance (~6.2 Ω vs ~8 Ω) — the V2 auto-detects tip type; older irons don't.
- Tiny grip gets warm on long sessions; it's a precision iron, not a plumbing iron.