Compared to soldering iron, soldering station comes with better temperature control. In addition to that, soldering station can be adjusted to various temperature unlike soldering iron which is one-temperature fits all. When it comes to choosing the right one for your requirement, you may come across different brands and models available in the market. To choose the best soldering stations, we recommend considering below factors…
Digital or Analog: Analog soldering stations come with knobs to adjust the temperature control but they are not accurate enough. They are suitable for simple tasks like soldering slightly larger electronic components on PCBs. Digital soldering stations come with a digital screen and settings to adjust the temperature. Compared to analog, they are more accurate. You can use it for mobile phone repairing or other similar complex jobs.
Wattage: Soldering stations come with power ratings from 40 to 80 watts. When considering wattage, remember basic thumb rule – higher the wattage, easier to complete the tasks.
For further information, we recommend to read our detailed “Buying Guide”. It helps you take an informed decision. Apart from that, we have spent several on researching the soldering stations, reviewing products online and interacting with the customers. Check out the Top 10 Best Soldering Stations that are in great demand now!
Best Soldering Stations
Best Soldering Stations Reviews
1. Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station
Best solder for electronics Best soldering helping hands Irons: butane irons, cordless soldering irons Best desoldering stations Soldering: mats, guns, kits, pencil, lugs, tape, connectors
The Hakko FX888D-23BY soldering station is in the 1st position in this article as it is quite easy to use. It comes with a digital screen that shows you the temperature. And you also get a stand with a metal shaving pad and a sponge for cleaning. This soldering station offers a temperature range of 120 °F – 900 °F and consumes upto 70 watts of power. Features:
Work Voltage: 110V Power Rating: 70 Watts Temperature Range: 120 °F – 900 °F
Components:
T18-D16 soldering tip Chisel 1.6 Wire tip cleaner Stand Base Unit A Sponge Metal shavings pad
2. X-Tronic Model #3020 Digital LED 75 Watt Soldering Iron Station
X-Tronic offers multiple soldering tips with its soldering station. And all accessories offer great quality for the given price. X-Tronic’s 3020 soldering station comes with 5 extra soldering tips. And you also get a brass tip cleaner with cleaning flux which makes the solder reliable. You also get a 10-minute sleep function, auto cool down, C/F switch and various other smart features. The whole station is ESD safe including the iron stand which makes it quite safe. You can easily adjust the temperature using the screen and temperature dial. Features:
Work Voltage: 110V Power Rating: 75 Watts Temperature Range: 392 °F – 896 °F 3-year Warranty
Components:
Soldering station Soldering iron 5 tips Iron holder Brass sponge tip cleaner Cleaning flux
3. Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station
Weller offers a value for money product with its soldering station. You get all the required items without paying extra. Weller WLC100 is in the 3rd position due to its affordable price tag. And yet it offers a high-performance solder which goes up to 900 °F. Despite its compact size, you get an iron holder, temperature control, and a cleaning sponge. It is a highly durable soldering station as it also offers a 7-year warranty. You can use the pencil iron even on small circuits without any issues. Features:
Work Voltage: 110V Power Rating: 40 Watts Temperature Range: Up to 900 °F
Components:
Pencil soldering iron Cleaning sponge Iron holder Soldering station
4. YIHUA 862BD+ SMD ESD Safe 2 in 1 Soldering Iron Station
Yihua offers a highly advanced soldering station with a large number of accessories. It even includes a 500W hot air gun for heating up circuits. You get a total of 3 LED displays in this soldering station for temperature control. This soldering station offers 5 soldering tips for working on any circuit. And you can also set a sleep timer for the iron. The wire of the soldering iron is made out of silicone which is quite flexible for easily soldering circuits. And you can clean it every time you put it on the stand. Features:
Work Voltage: 110V Power Consumption: 75 Watts Temperature Range: 392 °F – 896 °F
Components:
Soldering iron Hot air gun Stand 5 soldering tips Tweezers Solder wire Iron tips cleaner IC popper
5. TXINLEI 8586 110V Soldering Iron Station
TXINLEI is a combination of Soldering Iron and Hot Air gun. Apart from soldering tips, you also get tweezers, soldering wire, desoldering pump, and sevral other accessories. It has a 2-in-1 display which can be used to adjust the temperature of the soldering iron as well as the hot air gun. The power rating of the hot air gun is 700w while it is 60w for the soldering iron. Speaking of the iron, it uses Nichrome for its heating material. This soldering station is quite compact and easy to use. You can find the stand, temperature control, tip cleaner, etc. all in one place. Features:
Work Voltage: 110V Power Rating: 60 Watts (for Iron) and 700 Watts (for Hot Air Gun) Temperature Range: 392 °F – 896 °F
Components:
Soldering iron SMD Rework Station (Hot Air Gun) Stand 3 air nozzles 12 iron tips Soldering wire 2 Tweezers
6. Vastar Soldering Iron Station
Vastar is another great option if you are on a budget. It offers a high quality soldering iron that can go upto 896 °F. And it has a power rating in the range of 5 to 60 watts according to your temperature setting. You also get a soldering iron tip cleaner and a sponge in this station. It even features a removable stand for the iron. The soldering iron features a reusable ceramic core. It makes this product quite durable for long term use. Features:
Work Voltage: 110V Power Consumption: 60 Watts Temperature Range: Up to 896 °F
Components:
Soldering Iron Soldering Wire Wire Holder Tweezers 5 tips Iron holder Cleaning sponge
7. Aoyue 469 Variable Power 60 Watt Soldering Station
The Aoyue 469 is a simple yet effective soldering station that is completely ESD safe. And despite its simple design, you get a temperature control knob. It’s 60 watt soldering iron is available in more than 50 tip sizes for using with various circuits. You get a temperature range of 392 °F – 896 °F with this soldering station. And you can check the temperature using the two-color LED light. It also comes with a cleaning sponge tray with solder spool right under the iron holder. This makes the soldering station quite simple and easy to use. Features:
Work Voltage: 110V Power Consumption: 60 Watts Temperature Range: 392 °F – 896 °F
Components:
Solder wire Tip cleaner Soldering iron Desoldering pump Solder wick Flux Chip removal alloy
8. IHUA 939D+ Digital Soldering Station
The next product on our list is from a reliable brand called YIHUA. Their soldering station is made for professionals who deal with soldering on a daily basis. Because of its reliability, even industrial-level factories use it daily for 10 hours. It is suitable for school labs, hobby uses, electronic DIYs, repairs, precision electronics, professional and industrial soldering purposes. This professional-grade built-in transformer provides contact-safe voltage output without sacrificing its high power. It comes with different set of amazing features that include smart temperature control and temperature calibration. Features:
Work Voltage: 110-127V Power Rating: 32W Temperature Range: 392°F to 896°F
Components:
Digital soldering station Detachable soldering iron Metallic iron holder Premium brass tip cleaner Cleaning sponge Quality iron tips ESD-Safe tweezers Premium solder (lead-free)
9. TOAUTO Soldering Station
TOAUTO soldering station utilizes high electric iron heating core which ensures proper soldering every single time. This electric iron reaches 392 °F within 6 seconds. So, you don’t have to wait for the soldering iron to get hot. It comes with temperature locking mode which ensures constant temperature and lock in the perfect temperature suitable for soldering purposes. The soldering iron is heat-resistant and comes with soft-rubbery handle which isolates the heat and maintains highest temperature. Features
PID temperature compensation Bright LED display Safety soldering iron Auto standby and auto sleep Wide range of applications
Components
Soldering station Soldering tip Bracket for solder on the side Roll of lead-free solder wire Solder sucker Anti-static tweezers Brass tip cleaner Instructional manual
10. MYPOUOS Digital Soldering Station
MYPOUOS is equipped with a soldering iron and heat gun. It is suitable for a wide range of applications that include school lab, and others. The electric soldering iron and hot air handle have independent plug which is easy to replace. It has a large double screen blue highlight display for clear insights. This whole machine adopts anti-static design which can effectively eliminate the damage of SMD components. It also comes with fault self-detection and fault warning. Features
Induction system Independent switches Flame retardant material Accurate constant temperature PID temperature control Adjustable temperature
Components
2 in 1 Soldering station Soldering iron handle Hot air gun handle 4 nozzles Connecting line Bracket Instruction manual
What is Soldering Station and How Does It Work?
It is a soldering tool that comes with separate station which helps you control the temperature of the soldering iron. It can be either digital or analog. If you want to try hand soldering electronic components onto a PCB, then a good soldering station is your best companion. A soldering station contains a unit that controls the temperature of the soldering iron that comes attached to it. They are mostly used in assembling electronic PCB and manufacturing units but even DIY and hobbyists can also benefit from it. Soldering stations with hot air guns are used for mass repairing circuit boards with tiny SMD components. For repair and rework jobs, most of the genuine service centers use soldering stations with temperature control. These stations are specially designed for professionals. Amateur radio operators and remote control enthusiasts often have soldering stations.
How to Choose the Best Soldering Station?
An ideal soldering station comes with accurate temperature control feature. It should also be ESD- safe as well. Apart from that, it has to be ergonomically designed so that it doesn’t lead to fatigue while soldering. There are several soldering stations and tools provided by different manufacturers. To choose the best one that suits your requirements, we recommend to consider certain factors. We have mentioned them below for your reference.
1. Digital or Analog
Soldering stations come in either analog or digital. Analog soldering stations come with knobs that help you control (either increase or decrease) the temperature. Being analog, they don’t come with any display screen to display current set temperature. They are perfect for tasks like semi-professional soldering or re-work jobs. Temperature settings provided by these units are not accurate enough. When it comes to digital soldering stations, they come with settings that help you control the temperature very precisely. They come with display screen that notifies current set temperature. Compared to analog counter parts, they provide better accuracy and less tolerance. However, they are a bit expensive. Complex soldering jobs such as mobile phone repairing may benefit from Digital Soldering Stations.
2. Tin-Lead vs Lead-Free
Since European Union introduced RoHS, most of the electronic brands around the world have started creating lead-free soldering units. Melting point of lead-free solder wire is 217 to 221 degree Celsius. And the melting point of Tin/Lead solder wire is 183 degrees Celsius. To solder leaded solder wire, we recommend to choose soldering station with 50 to 60 watts. Higher wattage soldering stations are perfect for lead-free soldering. For faster thermal recovery, 70 watt with composite soldering tip is suitable. If you are a beginner, then it is slightly difficult to master lead-free soldering. So, we recommend leaded solder, at least in the beginning days.
3. Variable Temperature
To handle different types of projects, you require a soldering station that comes with temperature variability. If you purchase a unit that has single temperature, then you have less flexibility. And you may not be able to complete, attempt or repair certain tasks. Wider temperature range means versatile capability of completing the tasks. So, check out the options before making the purchase. Most of the temperature controlled units come with a thermostat which automatically turn off the heater once it reaches the desired temperature set by you. Thermostat feature will help you adjust the temperature to right amount required for your project. If you purchase a non-temperature controlled units, then iron will continue to get heat until the PTC Switch kicks in. This is not accurate which means it might get too hot for your specific project. It is one of the main factors to look out, especially you start looking for your own soldering station. Apart from adjustable temperature, functional range coverage is also another feature to check out. An ideal soldering unit should maintain the temperature consistently once it has reached up to the desired temperature. Some units can vary widely and some are not accurate – in these cases, it is better to reject them and choose a unit that is accurate.
4. Wattage
It varies from one unit to another. It is better to choose a model with controls that are easy to operate and have wide temperature range. Coming to wattage, some units come with 40 watts while others can go up to 80. While analyzing the wattage of a soldering station, we recommend to consider basic thumb rule – high the wattage, easier to complete complex tasks.
5. High Thermal Recovery
Soldering units with high thermal recovery are suitable for people who solder daily. Cold solder joints are some of the problems often caused due to station units that have low thermal recovery. Heat recovery capability of a soldering station lets you know how long does it take the soldering tip to heat up to desired temperature.
6. ESD Safety
Soldering stations usually come in 2 different types – ESD-safe and Non-ESD safe. ESD represents electronic discharge which measures – rapid charge transfer that happen when objects with different potential come near. Soldering station with ESD-safe design represents no static charge is generated on the station or iron. These units are made using special materials and well-grounded so that unwanted electricity is discharged into the ground. These soldering stations are perfect for modern electronic gadgets and smartphones. Because they have SMD electronic components which are sensitive to static charge. And moreover, they can get easily damaged as well. Semi-conductors and ICs are also sensitive to static charge. Quick Note: Make sure the soldering station comes with ESD safe design – because they are less likely to leaks and device failure, especially during operation.
7. Soldering Iron
Most of the soldering stations are plugged with a soldering iron. It contains a soldering bit and heating element. They usually come with in-built temperature sensors which prevent damage often caused by overheating.
8. Soldering Iron Tips
Most of the soldering irons are equipped with interchangeable which vary in shapes like pyramid, conical, tapered and chisel. They are mostly made up of nickel solder, copper or chrome. Tips with different sizes are suitable for completing different types of jobs. How well you can solder different types of components mainly depends on shape and size of the soldering tip. Different tips are capable of handling different applications. Each of these tips have its own benefits and drawbacks. Before purchasing a soldering tip, you should consider one factor – its compatibility to your soldering station. You don’t exactly have to purchase the tips from same brand. You can use 3rd party tips as well. Most of them are similar in terms of design and interchangeable tips are common with soldering irons. However, we recommend to refer the size requirements in user manual and select according to iron and size of other components present on the circuit board. Next thing to consider is the shape of the tip. For beginners, we recommend to go for a chisel tip. It comes with nice flat surface so you it is easy to hold it in place. If you can position it in different ways, then you can use it in several different ways. You can also work with different wire and component sizes. For SMD’s, wire-to-wire joints, through-hold breadboard and de-soldering components, we recommend to go for chisel tips. For drag-soldering multiple surface mount pads, we recommend to go for hoof tips. They are perfect for people with advanced skills. If you have to work on SMD projects, hoof tip is perfect as it can easily work with it on advanced soldering projects, especially when they are coupled with right soldering stations. Among the all types of tips, conical ones are hard to use. However, they are very precise. We recommend them to only advanced users. Material used for soldering iron tips is also an important factor to consider. Iron tips are cheaper and durable. However, they cannot hold or transfer heat as effectively as copper tip. High end soldering tips come with iron coated copper tip which provides the best of both options.
9. Accessories
Cleaning Sponge: In order to clean the soldering tips, you need heavy-duty sponge cleaners. By using it regularly, you can remove corrosion effect on the tips. Magnifying Glass: It helps you hold the components together and get a closer and better while you are soldering. Best soldering techniques include two alligator clips and magnifying glass. Though they are a cheap add on, but it is difficult to solder without one. It is perfect assistant for anyone, especially electricians and DIY buffs. 60-40 Rosin Core Solder: Ideal solution for an electric solder is the Alpha Fry which contains 60% tin and 40% lead combination. It is useful for both beginners and people with good soldering experience. Though Alpha Fry makes several products, 60-40 is one of the best core solders.
Soldering Iron Stand: This is an important thing to consider because you need a place to put the hot iron while working.
Flux Core Solder: It is suitable for soldering transistors and PCB resistors. It ensures the corrected are secure and safe.
De-soldering Wick: It is the perfect alternative to solder sucking pumps. Though it takes a bit of practice, de-soldering wick is considered as the best way to remove unwanted parts on circuit board. This wick has the capability to soak up molten solder which makes it easy to clean the excess solder. Despite of experience, every professional can make mistakes once in a while. This can be helpful to resolve those mistakes. They are perfect for people who work on electronics and computers. They usually come with a squeeze ball, place and nozzle. When the pressure is released, the de-soldering pump sucks the air in to remove liquefied solders.
Tip Tinner: Over the time, soldering tips become black and oxidized. In order to re-tin the tip, tip tinner is the most helpful one.
Diagonal Cutting Pliers: They are useful to trim off the leads after completing the soldering process.
Flux Pen: It helps the flow of a lead-free soldering
Soldering Mat: It protects your workbench surface while soldering.
10. Brand
Like any other product, you should always purchase from a reputable brand with good customer service. It prevents any trouble of purchasing a low quality product, and wasting time or money.
11. Price
This is no longer an issue because price of soldering stations has gone considerably down. Previously, they were just for professionals only. But now you can also find professional-grade soldering station at budget prices as well. So, analyze carefully and choose a product that suits your requirements.
Advantages of Soldering Stations
Ideal soldering station comes with soldering tip temperature control. It enables you to set a wide temperature range according to your project. They are available in several wattage levels. They are compatible with different tip types. Suitable for replacing all kinds of through-hole and SMD components. Being versatile, they can be used for several applications. Available in different sizes. Even beginners can use it easily. You don’t have to work much on connections. Most of them just plug-and-play. Though previously soldering stations were expensive, now-a-days they come within reach of budget-minded people. Perfect for high volume production as well as DIY Projects. Good soldering station heats up in less than 20 seconds. Adjustable and regulated tip temperature. Due to regulation, you can even solder at lower temperatures. Solder will not oxidize on the tip.. Several different types of tips are available Have thinner and more flexible cable which makes them more easy and pleasurable to work with.
Safety Tips to Consider While Using Soldering Stations
As mentioned by almost all the manufacturers, you should never come in direct contact with soldering iron element. To hold wires or components, we recommend to use either tweezers or clamps. When not in use, we recommend to turn off the soldering station. And make sure to unplug it as well. Make sure the cleaning sponge is always wet while using. Never place your soldering iron on workbench. Place it on the stand. Make sure to wash your hands properly after soldering process. Avoid using a soldering station if the plug is damaged.
Maintenance Tips to Increase the Life of Soldering Station
Make sure to read the manual provided by the manufacturer. Most of the maintenance tips are provided in it. For safety and best results, we recommend to use damp sponge. But never let it be drenched in water while using the soldering station. Use 600 grit sandpaper whenever the tip shows signs of wear and tear. Never use sandpaper when the iron is still plugged. Let the soldering iron to cool down properly before trying the sandpaper. In order to clean the dirty tip, you have to unplug the unit first. Now scuff the dirt using a sandpaper. Keep on scuffing until the tip is suitable enough. Make sure to tin the tip once cleaning it completed. This will prevent oxidation which in turns increases the life span.
Conclusion
As you would know, soldering stations allow you to easily work on circuits as they come with all the tools that are required. Due to this, there are many options available out there if you are looking for a soldering station. We mentioned some of the best soldering stations in this article. You can also find all the major features and options of all these products. Since we have also offered a buying guide in this article, you can easily choose the best soldering station for you.
If you are on a budget and still want a highly reliable soldering station, then the Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station can be a great option. While you do not get any advanced features, it gets the job done.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!
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