Often, not only beginners are faced with the choice of which soldering station to buy. Scientific progress does not stand still, so every year on the market more and more different variations of this tool. The technique is becoming more and more advanced, its versatility is increasing, its dimensions are decreasing. Choosing something really worthwhile is difficult, especially in light of the fact that the level of skill is often directly dependent on the instrument. No matter how golden the master’s hands are, if he doesn’t have a normal instrument, he will not be able to carry out his work efficiently.
In modern realities, almost no one takes a separate soldering iron. Still, the soldering station opens up a greater horizon for different possibilities. That is why it is worth finding out which soldering station is better: compressor or turbine? Which is better to buy? What nuances will help you choose a good tool?
Equipment
The best soldering station should have a high-quality and complete set. It is not enough just to take a soldering station: it is necessary that it contains complete parts that will ensure not only the necessary temperature for work, but also become protection against various kinds of overloads. It is believed that according to the specifics of operating this type of tool, the kit may include from 2 to 5 additional parts:
- Tweezers for carrying out small types of work.
- Vacuum tweezers.
- Hair dryer for heating.
- Additional fittings.
- Heat emitter for heating the board when working with a group.
Equipment classification
The components that are contained in the box with the soldering iron may vary depending on the specialization of the latter. Components of the device directly determine the profile of its operation. On average, 4 types of equipment are distinguished.
- Hot air. A hairdryer is included in its package, thanks to which it is possible to solder with hot air. This option pays off during the repair of car bumpers and other plastic parts in general.
- Infrared. It allows you to work with the smallest details. Repairing equipment like laptops, tablets, phones, and so on, is easier and easier.
- Induction. The name speaks for itself. These devices are small in size, but do not fool yourself, because they hide tremendous power.
- Impulsive. This type of equipment is designed for mounting, as well as the removal of modern circuits. It can not be said that it is very popular, but among the abundance of soldering stations, you need to pay attention to several options of this type.
But this is not all you need to know in order to determine which soldering station is better.
Technical features
Every master knows in which area he is good and why he needs a soldering station. There are those who cannot imagine their life without lead soldering. However, some technique requires a different approach and the use of lead-free work. That is why the device that is chosen to perform this or that work must correspond to the tasks that they will be set.
In simple terms, lead devices are always equipped with a specific module, which allows you to adjust the temperature level of the soldering iron tip. This approach makes the work point and, accordingly, high-quality. Devices of this type give high heat output. If you need the best soldering station to carry out such work, pay attention to devices based on electrics or induction.
When working with inaccessible components, you need to focus on contactless soldering devices. We are talking about hot air and infrared soldering stations. The latter are used to work with motherboards and computers, while thermal-air versions guarantee spot heat transfer and allow heating inaccessible parts without affecting other elements of the media.
Station Operation
Choosing the best soldering station is also not easy because at the moment a huge variety of different types of equipment has been created for the technical part of the soldering device. Therefore, before you buy this or that soldering station, you need to carefully study the technical features of this device and the area of its use.
The fact is that those who like to tinker on their own usually buy a classic soldering iron that can “kill” the item being repaired, because it simply overheats or, on the contrary, does not get the right amount of heat. Perhaps that is why those who consider themselves more than just amateurs prefer to take devices with a control unit, which greatly simplifies and facilitates the work due to the possibility of changing the temperature and voltage.
What threatens the wrong selection of equipment? If the temperature is very high, do not avoid overheating the chips. The problem is solved very simply - by buying a new chip, which is not always cheap.
When working with refractory solder, the soldering iron tip easily collapses due to high temperature, and the part that is responsible for heating simply fails. As a result, the disgusting quality of soldering and overheating of the board tracks. And this is just the little that can happen due to the incorrect selection of the soldering station.
Type of control
There are only two types of machine control. The first is digital, with the ability to set certain programs that not only control the stability of the tip heating, but also provide more accurate work.
There is also an analog control of the soldering station. This is not to say that this option is much worse, but it requires more focus. This means that you need to constantly monitor the temperature level in the tip of the soldering iron.
Now that we know how soldering stations differ, it is time to consider the best professional soldering stations and options for the home. Let's start with representatives of the classic contact stations.
Soldering Station Lukey 936+
This is an analogue low-cost soldering station, which is suitable both for home use and as a start for those who want to learn how to solder. Installation is quite small and easy.
One soldering iron with a ceramic sting is included. There is no hot air gun at the station. Some use it as a little assistant on trips to the client’s house.
It has an antistatic design and has a 24V soldering iron voltage. This is enough to protect electronic components and boards. The soldering iron has the best tip for a soldering station of this level. It will last a long time and will not fail in the matter of quality. To work with ordinary elements, it is recommended to purchase it.
GOOT PX-201– lead-free soldering station
At first glance, it might seem that it cannot be on a par with classical stations. But in fact, the manufacturer hid everything necessary for adjustment in the handle of the device. It turned out an amusing and compact unit at a very reasonable price.
Reviews often emphasize that the station is light and easy to use. Moreover, many note that a wide selection of removable tips opens up great horizons in lead-free soldering.
Lukey 852D +
This model is considered one of the best soldering stations among hams and workshops. Just a few years ago, in a conversation about professional soldering stations, most would certainly call this model.
In addition to the robust metal casing, the Lukey 852D + has an excellent compressor hairdryer, which comes with several interchangeable nozzles. Expanding them will not be difficult, because it is easy to find a suitable nozzle on the manufacturer’s website and on most radio markets. This device often falls into the tops of the best soldering stations with a hairdryer. Along with it is often put AOYUE 968, which has a built-in smoke absorber.
Lukey 852D + is an economy class soldering station with digital temperature display. You can find a huge number of ways on the network to improve or expand the capabilities of this soldering station, although this is not particularly necessary.
If we talk about a soldering iron, then this model uses natural ceramics, which heats up quite quickly and rarely fails. Moreover, many praise this soldering iron for the fact that it can last so long, and it’s not difficult to find a soldering iron tip.
Usually, a soldering iron and a stand for it, a hot air gun and nozzles in the amount of 4 pieces are supplied with the station. Overall, this is a pretty good option.
Infrared ACHI IR-6500
This is a universal semi-automatic station, which is usually called a repair complex. It is easily synchronized with a PC, equipped with a ceramic emitter.
It can be used both for lead-free soldering and for lead. With it, any dismantling takes only a few minutes, and its maximum temperature is +400 .
The station has the opportunity not only to establish 8 different positions for increasing temperature, but also the same number of positions for its retention. Moreover, the repair complex is capable of storing 10 groups of different temperature profiles.
ACHI IR-6500 is considered the best infrared soldering station for the home, which can be used at the entry level to restore large circuit boards. Let's talk about more professional devices.
ACHI IR-12000
This unit is suitable only for advanced users. The station immediately comes with a built-in industrial PC. She has the ability to both infrared and combined heating.
The apparatus 3 has independent heating zones. The top and preheater are infrared, and the bottom is hot air. If we continue to talk about temperature, the accuracy of its adjustment is displayed up to 2 degrees, and control is carried out using a pull-out panel with a color touch screen. Many are delighted with its high resolution.
The unit has an emergency switch. Nearby is the auto-off sensor in order to protect the owner from accidents.
It is also believed that this is the best soldering station of its kind - an external temperature sensor allows you to accurately analyze the temperature profile and control it in real time without delay, which is important when working with complex soldering.
Induction QUICK 203H
This is the best soldering station for the home at a low price with induction heating. Its digital control unit has a wide range of features:
- The password includes the station.
- Allows you to create up to 10 temperature profiles.
- Allows you to set the time for automatic shutdown or hibernation.
Those who buy the Chinese counterpart in order to save money quickly realize the price of their mistake. The tip in the soldering iron must be changed almost immediately.
The device, although large in size, has a very fast heating rate and low heat capacity of the heating device. There is no air gap between the heater and the sting, which is often noted in reviews as a huge advantage of the unit.
MX-5241 - a powerful induction apparatus
It should be noted right away that this is the best soldering station for professionals. In the hands of an amateur, she will turn into just an expensive toy. On all resources, this machine is called only “Repair station”.
It is ideal in everything except for a rather high cost. It has a perfectly debugged built-in power indicator, ergonomic soldering irons and controls using the SmartHeat processor. It recovers very quickly and has excellent ESD protection.
Impulse soldering station
In the question, which soldering station is better with a pulsed type of heating, the answer is everywhere the same - PACE 1053. This is a kind of "tweezers" that solder pointwise, accurately, exclusively at the point of contact with the board.
This soldering station is used to dismantle ceramic capacitors. It can be said that it is simply perfect for working with components sensitive to the heating rate.
conclusions
If you make a rating of the best soldering stations, then all the options listed above will be arranged in places for each in their own way.
Someone will look at the cost: cheaper options will become indispensable in housework, and expensive ones on an industrial scale. Above were the most popular models in both the upper and lower price segments.
But it’s better to look at the points described at the very beginning of the article in order to know which tool is needed.