Selecting a Proper Soldering Station

So, you want to solder something , eh?  The first thing you need to decide is what type of soldering device to use.  Do you use a handheld that just plugs into the wall? - Or, do you spend a little dough on a proper soldering station with all the bells and whistles?

Shown just below is an example of a hand held soldering iron. This is one of the simplest irons to use for soldering.  These types of irons are fine for soldering items that don't require much heat or small form factor is not an issue.  They generally only provide  around 15 to 30 watts.  I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how to heat the tip by plugging in the cord.  Oops, sorry.

Corded soldering iron

I personally do not care for these low wattage irons.  I have found that they tend to be inadequate for soldering small components and wiring.  Generally, the tips are large and bulky and not small enough to get between components on a circuit board or in between wire runs.  You can get smaller tips if the iron has an interchangeable aspect to it. 

When attempting to solder with these low wattage irons the materials tend to require more heat than the small unit is capable of providing.  They do make a fine wood burning utensil though!  So, if you want to burn wood or melt plastic this would be the ideal tool for that purpose.

The next step in soldering utensils is a Soldering Gun.  These units provide a little bit more power than a standard hand held iron.  They usually have different tips that can be interchanged.  Although they provide more power the gun itself is heavy and unwieldy.  I don't recommend these units for long term soldering.  You'll find that your hand will become tired very quickly from prolonged use of this heavy tool.

 Soldering gun

 

I have found that the tips tend to become warped over time from the extreme heat they generate.  If you have no problem with a heavy tool then this would be the next step up from the low wattage corded iron.

But, if you want to graduate to a better soldering system keep reading as I show you the next step in soldering station evolution.

The next best soldering system, albeit a little more expensive, would be a soldering station.  Like the one shown below.

Soldering station

These types of stations can provide a much wider range of temperature settings and provide interchangeable tips at a small cost.  This station provides up to 50 watts of power that compute to around 350 to 850 degrees Fahrenheit .  You can dial in the temperature manually.  You also have the option of purchasing  a unit with digital readout.

I have personally used these units and they work well for a while.  The digital units that I used did not last for more than six months before they needed servicing. (However, that was me.)  I solder a lot in my line of work so I tend to be a bit picky about the tools I use.

When working with these stations you must know how high to dial up the temperature in order to ensure you don't overheat the items to be soldered.  Without doing proper research or acquiring the proper training it would be quite easy to destroy a circuit board, component, or melt through a wire.

So, the next step up would be a bit more expensive.  However, if you're like me and want the outcome to reflect the time and effort you put into it then the next soldering system would be the one to use.

This system is a little higher on the purchase scale.  Models can range from a couple hundred bucks to well over a thousand dollars.  But, I think they are worth the money spent if you are serious about the soldering that you want to do. 

The unit shown below actually employs smart technology.  When selecting the temperature range of a tip the unit automatically senses the load placed on it when you touch it to the item to be soldered.  This ensures that you don't apply too much energy to the items to be soldered. 

I use this type of soldering station on a daily basis and have had no problems generating quality work.  If you're serious about soldering I recommend this type of unit for anyone.  You won't be disappointed with the outcome.

But hey, don't just take the word of an IPC Specialist - buy one for yourself and make up your own minds.  

Higher end soldering station

Of course, this is not the only way to solder.  There are many applications.  These are just a few ways that I have presented to you today.  There are also gas powered units, stations that use hot air, wave soldering systems, and many more that I will present in future articles.