Whether you want to boost up your production or to improve the quality of production, these factors are largely depended on the performance and efficiency of soldering products. By using the Best Soldering Station, you will get all the soldering tools in one place that will increase the speed of soldering as well as the quality of works.
A soldering station has all the necessary tool you need so that it will save your time, efforts and money. But before getting one, you need to know about them more to use them properly. This article is all about them.
What is Soldering Station?
The soldering station is a complete and compact package to solder anything on circuit board or metal. It consists of a soldering iron and a stand to keep the soldering iron safely. In some cases, it has a control system to regulate the temperature of the soldering iron that will ensure you to have perfect soldering.
Soldering station has also hot air gun and smoke absorber for some other purposes. To solder for a long time like continuous production or for the heavy-duty, soldering station will be a must needed tool that will save your space, time and efforts.
Our Recommended best soldering station
Here some of the Best Soldering Station from our recommendation that may be the perfect tool for your work.
1. Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station
The soldering pencil is lightweight and has a soft grip on the handle that will give you comfort to use it for a long time. There is a safety guard solder holder, natural solder tip cleaning sponge that ensures that you will need nothing else to complete your soldering work.
The solder tip is compact and durable. It heats up evenly so that you can use it from any angle. This portion is also replaceable that ensure that you can use the tool for a long time.
The problem is after using this for a time, the solder cannot produce enough heat properly to melt metal that will waste your time and may also damage your components.
2. Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station
You can control the power supply by a controlling option in the power supply station. By this, you can change the solder temperature to have more control over the soldering. It ensures the proper soldering as well as keep the quality of the components. It has tip temperature offset capability.
You can also reset the temperature of the station to match the tip size and style for ensuring a perfect environment to solder according to your need. This soldering station includes a power unit, soldering pencil, sponge to clean the solder iron tip and a stand to keep the iron safely while using.
The problem with the soldering station is the stability of the temperature. The temperature of the iron fluctuates that will hamper your working with this tool.
3. Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station
This soldering station has a digital system to control the supply power so that you can vary the temperature of the iron more precisely. You can change it with just pressing two buttons and on the digital display, you will be able to see the value. So that you can set in the perfect value to ensure more perfect soldering.
There is a soft natural sponge to clean the soldering iron’s tip to have proper soldering. There is also a cleaning wire that will make your works easier and also will save time. The stand keeps the soldering iron safely and prevents heat to be transferred to other stuff.
The problem is the cable is not enough long that might be a problem if you have to solder something away from the station.
4. X-Tronic Model #3020-XTS Digital Display Soldering Iron Station
The soldering station includes a stainless soldering iron holder to protect yourself and your stuff. There is also a solder roll holder in the perfect size. It has also brass sponge tip cleaner to clean the tip of the soldering iron and cleaning flux that you will need while soldering.
There is a sleep timer to save power. The blue and clear LED display can show the temperature in both scales in digits. The tip temperature is stable to ensure proper soldering and the voltage is also in standard level.
The problem with the soldering station is the tip is attached with the body by some plastic screw that may tear down or broken any time even at the middle of your work.
5. Digital Soldering Station
The station is heavy duty and you can use it for a straight long time without having any trouble. The safety stand is in proper shape so that there is no chance that the hot solder iron may fall from it. It also protects other stuff from being in direct touch thus from being hot.
The cons of the soldering station are sometimes the soldering iron got stuck and stop heating and repeat these processes. So, you may not get the proper temperature at all while working.
6. Aoyue 9378 Pro Series 60 Watts Programmable Digital Soldering Station
It has a programmable temperature preset that prevents the heater from being too hot. It has also plug in heater element. There is a switch to turn On and off the soldering station and two buttons to control the temperature.
The soldering iron is powerful and well in size. You can use 50 different sizes of the tip with it according to your criteria. You will also get a total of 11 different needed tips in the pack. It has also programmable sleep function that will ensure to have a long lifetime of the tip as well as to save the power.
The problem with the soldering station is the quality of the handle or the iron is not up to the mark. In case of heavy duty working the handle may break down.
7. Weller WD1002 95w/120v Digital Soldering Station
It has three temperature preset button for easy operation as well as to control the temperature of the iron by changing the supply voltage. It has built-in programmable functions as like temperature stand-by, set back, lockout and offset etc.
You will get a soldering iron and a stand in the package. The solder stand has a hole to hold the soldering iron properly in safe. You can also change the position of the stand to get a proper comfort to put the iron at the right angle. It has also a brass wire cleaner to clean the tip of the soldering iron.
The problem you may face is that the display some time malfunction and the temperature is high to work with small and simple components. If you are a light user, this one is not for you.
8. Aoyue 968A+ SMD Digital Hot Air Rework Station
The soldering iron stand is in perfect dimension to hold the iron safely and properly. It has a natural sponge and brass soldering wire cleaner to clean the tip of the iron. The flow of the hot air can be controlled by adding different sizes tip.
It has auto sleep function for turning off the station while not using it for a moment. It has also auto calibration facility to ensure the proper functioning of the station and other parts of it. It’s a rework station, so first be aware about the diffrences between the rework station and soldering station.
The problem you may face with the solder station is the soldering iron is not that much comfortable to hold on. It has a vacuum sucker attached to it so you may face trouble to work with it holding for a long time.
Best Soldering Station Buying Guide
Here some important factors that you should consider before getting a new soldering station.
Soldering Iron
The main part of the soldering station, the soldering iron must be well made and designed. It should have the ability to transfer the temperature evenly and it should have a good grip on the handle so that you can hold it comfortably while using. The wire also should be long enough that is connected to the station.
Stand
The soldering iron stand must have a proper dimension to hold the iron properly and safely. It should enough space to cover the full hot area and should not transfer any heat from it.
It may have some other facility like a natural sponge and brass cleaning wire to clean the tip of the iron, solder flux to clean and make the solder more perfect.
Temperature Control
Solder station must have a temperature control facility if digital then it is better. The station may have displayed to show the temperature to control it more precisely. The station should keep a constant temperature and the tip of the iron should be able to this kind of high temperature.
Different Functions: To get a proper solder, the soldering station may have a hot air gun to melt glue and detach components, smoke absorber to remove the smoke from the soldering area, etc. These tools are needed to have complete soldering as well to save space and money as they all are in one package.
How to use Soldering Station
Using a soldering station is not a big dill unless you don’t know how to soldering with a soldering iron. The difference is it has some extra facilities all in one package. Let’s see how to solder different things with the help of a soldering station.
How to use the Soldering Power Station and Iron
Soldering Station has mainly two portions. One is the power station and the other is soldering iron. To use the soldering station, at first you will need to power on the station. There must be a dedicated switch to turn on the station.
Then set the temperature of the soldering iron at your desired level. By changing the nob or by pressing the buttons, you can precisely change the level of the temperature of the iron. If you are using a digital soldering station, then you will be able to see the value of it on the display.
Keep the soldering iron until it reaches the desired level of heat. When it is properly heated, then do the soldering with it. You will know how to use a Soldering Iron in another article. You can also change the temperature in the middle of working if you think you are not getting the appropriate temperature.
How to use a soldering stand and sponge
When you are not using the soldering iron, don’t forget to keep it in the stand safely. When solder is stuck on the tip of the soldering iron, clean it with the help of the sponge and brass wire that is on the soldering stand.
How to use a Smoke absorber
If the soldering is producing smoke, then use the smoke absorber of the soldering station to remove the smoke from the working place. But don’t use it all the time as it may absorb the full air and you may face trouble to breathe.
How to use a Soldering Iron using a hot air soldering station
Hot air guns are normally used for SMD soldering. By using a hot air gun, you can melt the solder and place the small components perfectly on the spot. You can also use them to heat the area before placing them on the board.
After finishing soldering, turn off the soldering station and wait until all of the tools are cooled down.
Safety Tips Before and After Using a Soldering Station
The safety concern is a big factor while using the soldering station to solder any component or metal. The temperature of the tip of the soldering iron is very high so that in case anyone accidentally touches it, his/ her skin will be burnt. So, you need to strictly follow all the safety tips while using these tools.
You need to be always attentive when you are using these. Before turning on the solder station, clean the place and be sure that there is nothing that can transfer heat to any other thing. Plugin the cable properly then set the temperature at a low level then turn on the station.
Increase the temperature of the station gradually according to your needs. Don’t heat the soldering iron excessively. Always keep it in the stand properly when not using these. While using the soldering iron, pay full attention and be patient.
After finishing the soldering, put the soldering iron on the stand properly and turn off the station. Don’t touch the solder iron tip until it is cooled totally. Again, don’t touch the solder or circuit board where components are soldered before they are cooled down properly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Best Soldering Station and their answers that may help you to remove all the confusion.
Q. Can I control the temperature within a fraction of digit with the Soldering Station?
Ans: Yes, with most of the digital soldering station has precise control facility and digital display by which you can change the temperature within a fraction of number.
Q. Can I change the tip of the soldering iron in case it is damaged?
Ans: yes, you can change the tip of the soldering iron. In some soldering stations, you can also use different sizes of tips for different purposes with the soldering iron.
Q.What is the purpose of a hot air gun with the soldering station?
Ans: A Hot air gun is a necessary tool mainly for SMD soldering. It produces hot air that is needed to melt the solder and remove any small component from the circuit board as they can’t be done with a soldering iron and a de-solder.
Summing UP
Using the best Soldering Station will save half of your effort and time. You can easily finish the works without having trouble and error. So, to boost up your efficiency and to have a good performance, use them and make the best soldering.
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