Contents
- Top 10 rating according to KP
- Editor’s Choice
- What other soldering irons are worth paying attention to
- How to choose a soldering iron
The soldering iron has been known to mankind since ancient times. The method of connecting different materials by soldering is about 5000 years old. Archaeologists find various primitive soldering irons that were used by our distant ancestors. If you need to solder microcircuits, wires, plastic and metal parts, then the soldering iron is indispensable.
Modern soldering irons work according to the following principle: the tools use electrical energy supplied either from the mains or from a battery. Then, he converts it into heat, which, through the heating element, glows the sting. A hot tip melts the solder, which connects the necessary parts. When the solder has cooled, the final fixation occurs. Soldering irons differ in the principle of heating and design. The top 10 best soldering irons for 2022 and tool selection tips will help you buy the right soldering iron for your specific needs.
Top 10 rating according to KP
Editor’s Choice
1. Minidso TS100 (from 5790 rubles)
Modern digital soldering iron with a stylish design. Another “trick” of the soldering iron is that it can be connected to a computer in order to adjust the temperature parameters, which will allow finer soldering. Supply voltage 12-24V. For charging, the soldering iron can be connected to a laptop or, more traditionally, from the mains. The possibilities for powering the soldering iron are not limited to this: both power bank and car charging are suitable. The last point is convenient in case of a small repair in the car. In the event of inactivity, the built-in accelerator puts the tool into an energy-saving mode. If the sting breaks, it is quite simply replaced with a new one. The soldering iron reaches a temperature of 300 °C within 11 seconds. Power 65 W.
Advantages and disadvantages
2. ZUBR 55301-200 (from 1278 rubles)
The soldering iron has a high power – 200W. First of all, it is suitable for professional activities, for example, soldering and tinning of metal parts in industry (pipes, radiators). The ceramic heating element has excellent quality and high heating rate of the soldering iron tip. The body is made of stainless steel. The handle is made of heat-resistant plastic, ergonomic. The tool comes with a practical steel stand. The sting is easy to replace, has a special coating that increases the service life. A well-thought-out element is a ground wire. It guarantees protection against electric shock if there is insulation damage. And reduces static charge.
Advantages and disadvantages
3. PROconnect 12-0122-4 (from 205 rubles)
The electric soldering iron has a power of 30W. The maximum heating temperature is reached during soldering and is up to 360°C. The heating element is ceramic. The sting has a straight shape with a conical end and a copper core. In this soldering iron, the tip is replaceable. The soldering iron handle feels good in the hand thanks to its ergonomic design and rubber grip. Power is supplied from the mains, power 220 V. The soldering iron is suitable for working with tin and lead solders. It is suitable for home and professional workshop. The model has proven itself well among radio amateurs.
Advantages and disadvantages
What other soldering irons are worth paying attention to
4. Solider EPCR-60K (from 2350 rubles)
The second digital soldering iron in our top. The temperature is displayed on the built-in LED display. The heating range of the soldering iron is from 80 to 500 °C. Adjustment error does not exceed ±5°C. The temperature is set by pressing the “+” and “-” keys. Fast heating, to the required temperature, is provided by a ceramic heating element. The 1,5 m cable is flexible and has a strong insulation. The handle is made of heat-resistant, antistatic material. The kit includes all the components necessary for soldering: a stand for a soldering iron, a pencil case, rosin, tin, a desoldering pump, straight tweezers, curved tweezers, a slotted screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, a thin screwdriver, interchangeable tips, a sponge.
Advantages and disadvantages
5. STAYER 55314-60-H8 (from 879 rubles)
Like the electric soldering iron in the position above, STAYER 55314-60-H8 has a rich package, which includes solder, a soldering iron stand, a replaceable tip and much more. Complete set and low price are the two main advantages of this tool. As for the electric soldering iron itself, its power is 60 watts. The sting is cone-shaped, has a diameter of 1,5 mm. The sting material is copper. There is also a ground wire, which is definitely a positive point – it protects against electric shock and relieves static voltage. Power comes from the mains. The handle is standardly made of heat-resistant plastic, quite comfortable. This electric soldering iron is well suited for soldering wires, microcircuits, metal and plastic parts.
Advantages and disadvantages
6. REXANT 12-0611 (from 600 rubles)
Soldering iron REXANT 12-0611, also called Japan type, is compact. Undoubtedly, a positive feature is the thin tip of the tip, which is convenient when soldering small parts, and in other cases when manipulations with “jewelry” precision are required. The sting, which has the shape of a cone, is made of copper with a protective coating. The ceramic heating element gives the tool good reliability. The handle is made of heat-resistant plastic, on top of which a rubber pad is fixed. The power of the soldering iron is 60W, the maximum heating temperature during operation is 450°C. Voltage 220 V. The tool works from the mains, which, in turn, provides a wire 1,5 m long. Approximate warm-up time is 8 seconds. A nice bonus is the spare blade included.
Advantages and disadvantages
7. Sparta 913095 (from 817 rubles)
The Sparta 913095 electric soldering iron is called a pulsed soldering iron, since its operation is based on other principles than standard soldering irons. In pulse devices, voltage is supplied to the heating element only at the very moment of soldering. This saves a lot of energy and the tool does not idle. Pulse soldering irons have a high efficiency. As for the Sparta palnik itself, it is characterized by high power – 100 W, a sting in the form of a loop. The material of the sting is copper, coated with a special durable composition. The maximum warm-up time is 3 minutes. The highest heating temperature is 250 °C. Power comes from a 220 V network by wire. The handle is made in the form of a pistol made of impact-resistant plastic.
Advantages and disadvantages
8. Belsis BSI0340 (from 345 rubles)
This soldering iron has a nichrome spiral as a heating element. The advantages of such a heating element are low price and resistance to mechanical shocks. However, there are disadvantages – due to the design features, a large part of the heat is not used, less reliability compared to a ceramic heater. Tool power 40 W. Copper sting, straight shape with a cone tip. Perfect for both small home jobs and more professional applications. Power is supplied from a 220 V network.
Advantages and disadvantages
9. TOPEX 44E005 (from 2089 rubles)
Again, a pulse soldering iron in our top. The TOPEX 44E005 electric soldering iron is suitable for soldering parts that require a high heating temperature. It has a high power of 150W. The sting has an arc shape. The voltage consumed by the soldering iron is 220 V. The tip is made of copper, the protective coating is available. The soldering iron itself is created in the shape of a pistol, the handle material is plastic. A useful element is a light bulb – it highlights the place of soldering.
Advantages and disadvantages
10. LICOTA AET-6006DD (from 600 rubles)
The main feature of the AET-6006DD LICOTA soldering iron is a wooden handle. A sort of retro, familiar to many from labor lessons in high school. The heating element is nichrome. Mains supply with a voltage of 220 V. Tool power 60 watts. Simple design and light weight. This soldering iron is more suitable for small repairs at home. In general, the soldering iron is quite convenient.
Advantages and disadvantages
How to choose a soldering iron
Our expert Alexander Levin will express his vision when choosing a soldering iron for your purposes.
Basic views
There is a large list of types of soldering irons: classic electric, gas, infrared, hot air, induction, impulse, etc. But, as a rule, both professionals and amateurs work with classic electric soldering irons. This choice is due to a simple set of qualities of the latter – ease of use, low weight and reasonable price.
Heating principle
Nichrome soldering irons equipped with a wire spiral through which an electric current passes. Such palniks are cheap, unpretentious and convenient for repair. But they heat up for a long time and do not have high reliability, and they also have a high heat loss.
Ceramic soldering iron – ceramic rods are used as a heating element, which heat up when in contact with voltage contacts. The advantages are fast heating, low heat transfer, long service life, reliability. Cons – this is a considerable price, careful handling is required.
Pulse soldering iron – the most interesting tool from electric soldering irons. The specifics of its work is that heating occurs only when the start button is pressed. It makes sense to use such a tool only for a short soldering time. Strengths – fast heating, minimal energy loss. Weaknesses – not suitable for a large amount of work in time.
induction soldering iron – heating in such a soldering iron is carried out using a magnetic field created by an induction coil. Pros – automatic maintenance of the heating temperature, uniform heating, energy savings. The downside is the high price.
Gas soldering iron – Autonomous, heating of the working surface occurs from the flame of gas combustion. In fact, this is a gas burner, if you remove the special nozzle.
Hot air soldering station – in fact, this is a heavy-duty hair dryer that heats the soldering points with a stream of hot air. Infrared Soldering Station – heating of the working area occurs with the help of infrared radiation, the wavelength of which is 2-10 microns.
Power
Soldering irons with high power are also highly reliable and functional. However, for homework, their use is not always justified. The best option for a home soldering iron will be power ranging from 25 to 60 watts. If a soldering iron is needed for soldering thick wires, massive parts, then a suitable power will be from 100 W to 150 W. And soldering irons with a power of over 150 W will quite cope with the melting of glass, steel, and cast iron.
Temperature regulator
Undoubtedly, soldering irons with the ability to adjust the temperature have an advantage over soldering irons without it. The advantages of adjustment are as follows: the tip does not overheat, no need to change the soldering iron if a different melting temperature is required, the ability to fine-tune the tool.
Sting material
Copper – good thermal conductivity and heat capacity, with low heat resistance and softness. Coated copper – do not burn, no scale. But the price is higher and they are afraid of overheating. Ceramic – corrosion resistance, excellent thermal conductivity and heat capacity. The downside is the high price and fragility under mechanical stress.