Butane Burn-In Knife Buying Guide
Every butane burn-in knife on the market is really two things: a cordless butane heat tool, and a tip or head that turns it into a repair tool. Buy the iron on its own and you have a soldering iron. It is the head that does the burn-in.
Two methods, two setups
Traditional burn-in uses a catalyst head - it converts the open flame into radiant heat - with a flat blade to hold and spread that heat. You melt a burn-in stick into the gouge and level it off. This is the method most shops were taught.
Wax melting uses a hot knife tip that heats directly, melting a wax fill stick into the damage. Faster, less kit, and how a lot of techs work now.
Neither is better. They are different techniques, and which iron you want depends on which one you use.
The irons, compared
| Iron | Power | Run time | Ignition | Made in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Lenk LSP-60-1 | 30-70 W | 30 min | Flint | - | $27.99 |
| Portasol P-1 Professional | 10-60 W | 60 min | From a flame | Ireland | $39.99 |
| Iroda SP-50 | 30-70 W | 40 min | Flint | China | $42.99 |
| Wall Lenk LSP-110-1 | 30-125 W | 30 min | Flint | - | $49.99 |
| Iroda SP-70 | 25-100 W | 120 min | Flint | China | $52.99 |
| Portasol PP-1 Pro Piezo 75 | 15-75 W | 60 min | Click-to-ignite | Ireland | $52.99 |
| Iroda SP-100 | 30-150 W | 100 min | Piezo | China | $80.99 |
| Iroda SP-120 | 30-125 W | 100 min | Piezo | China | $91.99 |
Then add the head
| For traditional burn-in | Fits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| S-31 catalyst head + flat blade | Iroda SP-50, SP-70 · Wall Lenk LSP-60-1 | $29.99 |
| CT-16 catalyst head + flat blade | Iroda SP-100, SP-120 · Wall Lenk LSP-110-1 · Mohawk M900-3330, M900-M120 | $29.99 |
| For wax melting | Fits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| T-7 hot knife tip | Portasol P-1 Professional | $9.99 |
| PPT-10 hot knife tip | Portasol Pro Piezo | $9.99 |
What a complete setup costs
| Setup | Iron | Head or tip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portasol P-1 + T-7 hot knife | $39.99 | $9.99 | $49.98 |
| Wall Lenk LSP-60-1 + S-31 | $27.99 | $29.99 | $57.98 |
| Portasol Pro Piezo + PPT-10 | $52.99 | $9.99 | $62.98 |
| Iroda SP-50 + S-31 | $42.99 | $29.99 | $72.98 |
| Iroda SP-100 + CT-16 | $80.99 | $29.99 | $110.98 |
Same tool, different names
Worth knowing before you buy, because several of these tools are the same iron under different labels:
- The Mohawk M900-3330 is the Iroda SP-100. The M900-M120 is the Iroda SP-120.
- The Mohawk M900-1200 replacement catalyst head is the Iroda CT-16.
- The König Gas Heating Iron (439001-420) is the Portasol P-1 - full comparison here.
This is normal in the trade. One factory supplies several distributors, each applies its own label and margin. It just means it is worth checking the part number before you assume you are comparing two different tools.
Our recommendations
Occasional repair work: Portasol P-1 with the T-7 hot knife tip. Under $50 all in, Irish built, and a full hour per fill.
All day, every day: Iroda SP-70 with the S-31 head. Two hours of run time per fill is the longest in the range, and it is the traditional burn-in setup.
Heaviest work or a cold shop: Iroda SP-100 with the CT-16 head. 150 watts and a rubberised metal body.
Picking it up and putting it down all day: Portasol Pro Piezo. Click-to-ignite means no lighter, no fumbling, working in under 30 seconds.
Shop the range
- Iroda SolderPro irons - SP-50, SP-70, SP-100, SP-120
- Portasol irons - P-1 Professional and Pro Piezo 75
- Wall Lenk irons - LSP-60-1 and LSP-110-1
- S-31 catalyst head and flat blade
- Mohawk butane burn-in knives
Prices current as of September 2026.