Place | Name | Characteristics in the rating |
The best contact soldering stations |
1 | LUKEY 936A | Best quality and reliability |
2 | BISON 55336 | Widest temperature control range |
3 | MEGEON 00361 | Optimal combination of price and quality |
4 | STAYER Master 55371 | Low price, ease of use |
5 | REXANT 12-0152 | Not a bad model for home use |
The best soldering stations with a hair dryer function |
1 | ELEMENT 853AAA | Best power |
2 | LUKEY 852D+ | The most successful option in terms of cost and functionality |
3 | MEGEON 00207 | Good quality, economical energy consumption |
4 | REXANT 12-0727 | Digital microcontroller temperature |
5 | MASTERS 998D | Affordable price |
Main technical characteristics
Soldering station power
Soldering station - operating principle and types
Depending on the purpose, the power of this equipment ranges from 24-40 to 100 watts or more. The most common and widely used models have power from 60 to 90 watts.
Replaceable tips
Replaceable tips
The soldering station kit includes 5 types of tips (replaceable tips) of the following types:
- Needle-shaped - a thin tip used for soldering very small radio components;
- Cone-shaped flattened - a standard sting in the form of a cone, flattened at the tip;
- A sting with a tip cut at an angle is a fairly thick sting with a flat tip cut at a slight angle;
- Drop - differs from the previous type in its smaller thickness and small recess into which a drop of solder is placed;
- A sting with a knife-shaped tip located at a slight angle to the axis of the nozzle.
The most popular are the stings of these types, included in the 900 M-T series.
Anti-static electricity
As protection against electrostatic electricity, soldering stations use ESD SAFE , the essence of which is to additionally insulate the heating element with a layer of dielectric and connect the heater to the grounding contact of the power plug.
Tip temperature control (thermostat)
The temperature of the tip is controlled thanks to a thermistor built into it, which sends signals to the control board, which, in turn, based on the settings made by the user, determines the duration of heating of the tip.
Control type
A soldering station is one of the most important devices in electronics manufacturing. This indicates a high degree of need among people involved in this activity. The installation allows you to connect a pair of modules, which make it possible to solder with or without a contact, and you can also replace nozzles and tips.
To choose the right device, it is important to correctly determine the control method:
- digital (certain programs provide control over the heating of the tip, stability and accuracy in operation, rather than analog);
- analog (devices must be under constant monitoring, since high temperatures have a negative effect on the component parts of the device).
There are only two types of device control. The first is digital, with the ability to set certain programs that not only control the stability of the tip heating, but also ensure more accurate performance of the work.
There is also analog control of the soldering station. This is not to say that this option is much worse, but it requires more concentration. This means that you need to constantly monitor the temperature level in the soldering iron tip.
Now that we know how soldering stations differ, it's time to look at the best professional soldering stations and options for your home. Let's start with representatives of classic contact stations.
Equipment AOYUE 720
- AOYUE 720 main module
- Metal IR gun holder (1 pc.)
- IR gun (1 pc.)
- IR lamp (1 pc.)
- Cooling stand (1 piece)
- Foot switch (1 piece)
- PCB holder (1 piece)
- Soldering iron and soldering iron holder
- Welding safety glasses (1 piece)
- Soldering iron tips LF2B, LFK
- Hex key (1 piece)
- Mechanical vacuum tweezers 939 (1 pc.)
- Tweezers for microcircuits (1 pc.)
- Soldering flux (1 pc.)
- Power cable (1 piece)
- Instructions (1 piece)
ACHI Infrared Soldering Stations
Assembly and dismantling
It is also possible to divide all soldering stations into assembly and desoldering stations.
Assembly stations are any stations that perform soldering of parts. However, not all of them can unsolder any element from the overall structure.
For such purposes, special dismantling stations have been created. Their design includes a compressor that works to suck out solder. That is, the heated solder is removed from the working surface into a special container.
There are also assembly and disassembly installations for soldering that perform both functions at once. They are equipped with both mounting and dismantling soldering irons (by the way, they have different capacities).
Main selection criteria
When choosing a soldering station, take into account the following main characteristics and features:
- The set includes holders for a hair dryer, soldering iron, thermal tweezers, and for dismantling stations - a vacuum pump and a desoldering pump.
- Power - for most soldering jobs, the optimal choice would be a station with a power of 60 to 90 W.
- Control type – digital stations are the most convenient and reliable.
- Type of soldering iron heating element - of the two types of heating element stations used in soldering irons, ceramic is more durable and reliable.
Many people, before choosing a soldering station, consult with knowledgeable people: familiar experienced craftsmen or radio amateurs. Those who use such equipment, as a rule, know many subtleties and can give practical recommendations on which model is better to choose for certain purposes, and which one is better not to look at or ask the price at all.
When purchasing and working with this equipment, it is important to remember safety precautions and the need to have minimal soldering skills. All soldering work should be done in a well-ventilated area, out of the reach of small children and pets.
Bottom line
Soldering stations have long replaced conventional soldering irons in professional workshops. Infrared devices are especially often used in such tasks. The availability of hot air devices makes them attractive for beginning radio amateurs.
They are more functional and easier to use than classic soldering irons, and their higher cost is more than compensated by their numerous advantages. A good soldering station is the key to high-quality and reliable repairs.
FAQ
At the end of the review, I would like to answer problematic questions related to the features of the soldering station.
What is the difference and advantage of a soldering station compared to a soldering iron? The main advantage is versatility and the ability to regulate temperature.
Why do you need a soldering station? It is a convenient and safe tool that allows you to solder sensitive circuits for professional purposes and at home.
What are the advantages of induction soldering stations? The induction station is characterized by greater temperature stability, temperature range and heating speed compared to other types.