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We tested three new soldering iron brackets and found that the Hakko FH-300 bracket is the strongest model and does not take up much space.
Hack a Game Boy, assemble a mechanical keyboard, build a Raspberry Pi-powered drone-these are just a few projects implemented by cheap soldering irons. We believe that the X-Tronic 3020-XTS LED soldering station is the most suitable for beginners and hobbyists, because its performance and cost are twice that of the soldering iron we tested and similar to the soldering iron with the fastest warm-up time.
The reliable X-Tronic heats up quickly and provides a safe and sturdy stand, ergonomic handle and digital temperature display-you usually need to pay twice the cost to get these features.
The reliability of the X-Tronic 3020-XTS LED soldering station surprised us. Some of its features are usually only found in models that cost twice as much. Its handle is very comfortable to hold and does not feel hot to the touch. The iron is equipped with a heavy, sturdy stand and useful accessories. It is also one of the few irons with a digital display that we have tested-this feature makes it particularly easy to track and change the temperature. When assembling our electronic project kit, we sometimes have to wait for the X-Tronic soldering station to return to the set temperature; you can buy an iron with a faster temperature rebound for about $40 more, but we hardly noticed the difference. The iron is equipped with a sturdy stand for fixing the hot iron during use, a spool for solder, and sponge and brass sponge for cleaning the tip of the iron.
Its fast heating time and temperature recovery, sturdy construction and polished aesthetics make it the first choice for hobbyists who plan to solder frequently.
*At the time of publication, the price was $100.
If you plan to solder frequently, Hakko FX-888D may be worth upgrading because it heats up slightly faster than X-Tronic, so you can solder with fewer pauses. It is equipped with a digital display and a thin pen, which is easy to hold and cool to the touch. FX-888D feels particularly sturdy, with a heavy stand and platform, and it feels that they are more durable than competing models. In addition, the fact that the stand and the workstation are two separate parts allows you to set up the work area more flexibly.
This model can get the job done with extra tips and solder, but it lacks a stable soldering station.
*At the time of publication, the price was $13.
If $50 is more than your wishes, we recommend Vastar's full set of 60W 110V soldering iron kits. This adjustable model is the cheapest iron we have tested, but it performs well and has more accessories than any other model, including solder and a variety of tip sizes. But the bracket that comes with it is not sturdy-we don't think it is safe to radiate the iron on it-so you should consider adding our favorite bracket Hakko FH-300. The Vastar grip is the hottest among the irons we tested, and the temperature marked on the Vastar adjusting wheel proved to be completely inaccurate. Of all the irons we have tried, Vastar produces the highest temperature, but any iron we recommend can reach a temperature sufficient for general hobby use.
Hakko FH-300 is heavy enough to be stable on the workbench and has a small footprint.
If you already have a soldering iron and need a sturdy stand, we recommend Hakko FH-300, which is heavy enough so that when you put the soldering iron into the stand, it won’t slide around. It only takes a few seconds to set up and is equipped with a sponge and tip cleaner. It is also the smallest of all the brackets we have tested, allowing more space for your work space to place other solder joints and welding heads.
The reliable X-Tronic heats up quickly and provides a safe and sturdy stand, ergonomic handle and digital temperature display-you usually need to pay twice the cost to get these features.
Its fast heating time and temperature recovery, sturdy construction and polished aesthetics make it the first choice for hobbyists who plan to solder frequently.
*At the time of publication, the price was $100.
This model can get the job done with extra tips and solder, but it lacks a stable soldering station.
*At the time of publication, the price was $13.
Hakko FH-300 is heavy enough to be stable on the workbench and has a small footprint.
For the past eight years, I have been writing articles about manufacturers and engineers, as well as topics such as robotics and 3D printers. I am a maker and hobbyist technologist at Wirecutter. Although I spent a lot of time writing about the technique of creating with a soldering iron, I had never used it myself before writing this guide-I am a true beginner.
We also consulted many experts, who often work with students and amateurs who are learning welding for the first time. Donald Bell, the former project editor of Make Magazine, established our testing standards. We talked to Becky Stern, a content creator and teacher at Instructables, and a former wearable electronics director at Adafruit Industries; Caleb Kraft, senior editor of Make Magazine; and Adafruit Industries John Edgar Park. We also refer to the useful "Adafruit Excellent Soldering Guide". Learning from these guides and personal accounts, we have a good understanding of the most important soldering iron quality for beginners and experienced welders.
Soldering iron is an essential tool for manufacturing, modifying or repairing electronic products. Through heating and welding, you can fuse conductive metal elements (such as wires) together to create a durable, permanent connection. For example, amateur soldering iron users may be interested in making keyboards, repairing headsets, or assembling electronic kits designed to teach how to assemble devices.
Soldering is easy, and you can learn the basics in a few minutes. We recommend reading SparkFun's soldering guide and Adafruit's guide for diagnosing common soldering problems. You also need a pair of wire cutters-we recommend Hakko CHP-170-to cut solder or wires. And you need some solder: beginners should look for tin-lead solder with a rosin core in a spool or tube. (We found that the tube is easier to hold during the test.) You can choose to use lead-free solder for soldering, but it needs to be heated to a higher temperature and is a bit difficult to use.
Please note that safety precautions should be taken when working with solder at all times. 1 Work in a well-ventilated area and wash hands thoroughly with soap after welding. Do not eat near the work area, and wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth to remove any residue after completion. Keep children and pets away from the welding area.
Nothing to fix, just want to learn some skills? The Larson Scanner Kit by Evil Mad Scientist is the first good project for beginners. The included instructions are detailed and clear, and batteries, microcontrollers and LEDs provide a satisfactory range of soldered components. Also, at the time of writing, the list price of the kit is about $13, which is not a big deal if you screw it up.
People also use soldering irons for jewelry metal products, but this guide focuses on the use of electronic products. Our research shows that jewelry manufacturers generally prefer to use butane torches to obtain the heat required for the higher melting points of silver, gold, and other metals. This guide also does not discuss welding torches, which are usually more suitable for industrial applications, such as heavy-duty electrical connections or sheet metal work.
In this guide, we have focused on adjustable pencils and entry-level workstations because they are the most affordable and simple. The adjustable pencil soldering iron includes a temperature dial on the handle of the soldering iron, which strikes a balance between the simplicity of a basic pencil and the flexible temperature control of the soldering station. This control comes in handy when you need higher temperatures to heat thicker materials or lower temperatures to process precision parts.
The soldering station is divided into two parts: the base (usually with a leather case, temperature dial and sponge) and a soldering iron inserted into the base. Some include a separate stand, which takes up less space in your direct work area. These systems often have precise temperature control, fast heating irons, and sturdy designs.
Although you can buy a soldering iron for more than $100, the experts we interviewed told us that they still use basic entry-level soldering irons, and many of them said they never felt the need to upgrade. This means that most amateurs do not need fancy soldering irons. However, you should invest in a product that is well-made, durable, and functional for many years. We found that you may have to pay between US$25 and US$60 to get all the necessary soldering iron features, and you can pay more for a soldering iron that heats up faster and maintains a more reliable temperature. We evaluated 10 finalists based on the following characteristics:
We searched popular retailers such as Adafruit and Amazon for soldering irons that met our standards, and asked our experts to name their favorites. In 2017, we tested eight models: Aoyue 469, Atten SA-50, Hakko FX-600, Vastar full set of 60W 110V soldering iron kit, Velleman VTSS5U, Weller WLC100, X-Tronic Model 3020-XTS LED soldering station and Xytronic 258. We also tested two brackets, Delcast SL-WST soldering station Caddy and Elenco WeMake soldering iron bracket. In 2019, we tested Hakko FX-888D and Weller WE1010NA. In 2020, we tested the Weller SP40NKUS. In 2021, we tested three soldering iron stands: Delcast WST-2, Elenco WeMake soldering iron stand and Hakko FH-300.
In 2017, we tested eight soldering irons at the Nordeast Makers maker space in Minneapolis, which has a dedicated soldering station and is well ventilated. Our test in 2019 was conducted in an apartment with windows open and fans turned on for ventilation; the outside is 10 degrees, which may increase the heating time compared with the hot maker space, so we choose according to our choice The new model was tested and new data was collected for all models. In 2020, we tested the Weller SP40NKUS against Vastar's full set of 60W 110V soldering iron kits in a house with cracked windows and a fan running.
We measured the time required to set up each soldering iron. Although some require zero assembly and some require simple parts to assemble together, the components of other models are poorly cut, which makes the setup time much longer than we expected.
To test the temperature range of each iron, we used the Hakko FG-100 tester. Although it is not calibrated-its measurement always seems to be higher than the temperature specified on the soldering iron gauge-it allows us to make consistent comparisons of the soldering irons we tested. We also used a Hakko tester to measure the time it takes for each iron to reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough for electronic work. We also measured the temperature at each mark on their control knob.
For some practical tests, we used each soldering iron to complete the Larson scanner kit by Evil Mad Scientist. This through-hole kit includes a microcontroller, a battery holder, and nine LEDs that must be soldered to the circuit board.
When assembling the Larson scanner kit, we evaluated the temperature retention of each soldering iron, because the soldering iron sometimes drops in temperature after contacting the components for a long time, and then cannot melt the solder onto the board. You need to wait a few seconds (or more Long time) Let the iron reheat. We also considered the holding comfort of each iron, including the thinness of the handle and the degree of cushioning, and whether the handle feels hot. We also evaluated the robustness of all stands; we found that brackets that are too light and easy to slide on the work surface are not safe to use. Finally, we look for longer wires and useful accessories.
The reliable X-Tronic heats up quickly and provides a safe and sturdy stand, ergonomic handle and digital temperature display-you usually need to pay twice the cost to get these features.
X-Tronic 3020-XTS LED soldering station provides the best experience for beginners and enthusiasts who want to use the electronic kit directly. In our tests, the X-Tronic quickly reached 700 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has a tapered tip, which is useful for electronic projects like the Larson scanner kit. In addition, the iron is easy and comfortable to use for us. The attached base is sturdy and durable, and each accessory has a position.
The 75-watt X-Tronic iron heats up to 700 °F (a reasonable temperature for electronic devices) in 47 seconds. We don't mind waiting for one minute to let the irons heat up, but waiting another minute (for example, Weller WLC100 takes more than four minutes) tests our patience. Faster heating time means that you can start welding sooner, which also means that the tip will return to its operating temperature faster between each joint.
Although the maximum temperature of X-Tronic is average in our tests, the maximum temperature (863 °F) is hot enough for most basic items. Its minimum temperature is also average, although only more sophisticated electronic devices require lower temperatures. Like all soldering irons we tested except Vastar, the X-Tronic soldering iron has only a tapered tip, but it is thin enough to work well with the Larson scanner kit. (For some repairs and kits that do not involve through holes, it may be better to use a different tip-the tip you choose depends on the project and your preference.) X-Tronic sells additional tips, and our selection is compatible. There are Aoyue and Hakka tips.
The slim shape of the handle and the padding make the X-Tronic iron rank third among all models we tested. We prefer the thinner handles of Weller WE1010NA and Aoyue 469. When I hold the iron, the heat at the tip of the X-Tronic iron is almost imperceptible. The other models I tested-including Atten SA-50, Hakko FX-600, Vastar full 60W 110V soldering iron kit and Velleman VTSS5U-were warm enough at the bottom to force me to move my grip higher, and as a result, They are less comfortable, more difficult to use, and less safe.
X-Tronic is the cheapest radio station equipped with a digital temperature display that we have tested; Weller WE1010NA and Hakko FX-888D are the only other irons with a display that we have tested. X-Tronic allows control to a certain level and gives you peace of mind, because you will not fry your project with a hot iron. The display screen makes it particularly easy for us to track whether the iron is hot enough for use and adjust the temperature accordingly. For the Larson scanner kit, we kept the iron under test at around 700 °F.
The 3020-XTS comes with a thin blue sponge for wiping the soldering iron tip. It is the only soldering kit in our test group that also includes a brass sponge for cleaning the soldering iron tip. It’s a good thing to have a choice. Although these accessories cost less than $10 and they have their own advantages and disadvantages, you only need one of them: ordinary sponges are cheaper, but brass sponges do not need to be soaked in water before use. , Which means it will not cool the iron. The latest version of the iron that we haven't tested comes with a set of "helpers"-clips that hold the circuit board in place while you work.
The X-Tronic 3020-XTS LED soldering station is one of the more expensive soldering irons we have tested, but its performance surprised us when compared to a model that costs twice as much. Considering that the experts we interviewed said that they have been using their first soldering iron for many years, we think it is worth investing in the right soldering iron from the start, rather than starting with a less powerful model just because it is a little cheaper.
Like the other irons we tested, the temperature of the X-Tronic model dropped several times during use due to heat dissipation when we soldered, and we had to wait for it to heat up again to melt the solder. Each instance was annoying, but it passed within a few seconds, and X-Tronic recovered as fast as the other cheap models we tested. If you want an iron that rebounds faster, please consider paying more for Hakko FX-888D.
The X-Tronic 3020-XTS model took a little more than two minutes to set up, mainly because of the solder rack attached to the side of the workstation, which was stubborn to us. Only one of the models we tested took more than a few minutes to set up initially-and you only need to do it once.
Its fast heating time and temperature recovery, sturdy construction and polished aesthetics make it the first choice for hobbyists who plan to solder frequently.
*At the time of publication, the price was $100.
Hakko FX-888D heats up quickly and the temperature rebounds quickly during soldering, allowing you to continuously solder without waiting for the soldering iron to heat up again. It is equipped with a digital display and a thin pen that is easy to hold and cool to the touch. Its molded metal and plastic welding station and stand are heavier and more durable than the other options we tested. We also like that the platform and the stands are separated so that you can free up space in your direct work area. But it is usually around $50 more expensive than the reliable X-Tronic Model 3020-XTS, and it is only worth the extra money if you plan to solder frequently.
In our second round of testing, the 70-watt FX-888D reached 700 °F in 35 seconds, which is faster than X-Tronic, but not significant; any iron that takes less than a minute is sufficient for us quick. We also noticed that its tip recovers temperature slightly faster than the tip of X-Tronic, so we have less time to wait between soldering points. If you often solder, this may be an important feature.
The maximum temperature of the Hakko soldering iron reached 738 °F, which was enough to melt the solder, but was the lowest of any soldering iron we tested in 2019. We think this is not a problem for general electronic work, but you should consider finding out what temperature you need the iron to reach for other types of projects. The iron we bought has a small wedge-shaped tip and fits the Larson scanner kit. Hakko also sells many compatible and inexpensive pen tips for FX-888D; we recommend that you choose a thinner tapered tip for more precise control.
The handle of FX-888D is similar in appearance and feel to Model 3020-XTS; it is thin and soft, and it feels like holding a pen in our test. We prefer thinner handles, such as the handle on Weller WE1010NA, but still find the FX-888D comfortable enough. Like the Model 3020-XTS, it always stays cool to the touch.
The Hakko model soldering station has a small digital display and two buttons, which you can use to scroll through menus or preset temperatures. Changing the temperature requires pressing a button several times—as opposed to X-Tronic’s simple knob—but if you pre-program a few temperatures, you can scroll between them faster. If multiple people use the site, you can also choose to set a password.
It takes 22 seconds to set up FX-888D, which is one of the fastest times among the radio stations we tested. This is the only workstation design we tested that separates the soldering iron stand from the workstation. This way you can place only the brackets in your direct work area, freeing up more space for your projects and consumables. Both the stand and the workstation are heavy, with gripping feet to hold them firmly in place, they are made of molded plastic and metal, and have suitable locations for sponges and cleaning lines. We also appreciate the interesting blue and yellow combination.
If you decide to buy FX-888D, please pay attention to counterfeit products, which are rampant on Amazon and other websites. Hakko published a page of retail stores and authorized partners, which have their products. It may be worth it to go to the store in person to make sure you get the real deal.
This model can get the job done with extra tips and solder, but it lacks a stable soldering station.
*At the time of publication, the price was $13.
If your budget is limited, or you only need a soldering iron for a small project, we recommend Vastar a complete set of 60W 110V soldering iron. This is the cheapest iron we have tested. It performed well in our tests and is equipped with the most accessories (although not all accessories are useful or well-designed). But in our test, its handle became uncomfortable, and its stand was unstable. Even so, if you want a set of everything you need (except sponge and better brackets), Vastar products are still a good choice: it comes with five suction tips, a desoldering pump, and a basic bracket (although We recommend replacing it with if you plan to use the Hakko FH-300 stand on a regular basis, then it will be cheaper to buy the X-Tronic 3020-XTS type, tweezers and solder.
In our test, the 60-watt Vastar iron becomes hot enough in a reasonable time, we can work on the Larson scanner kit, the heating time is 1 minute 23 seconds, the maximum heat is the highest. There are some temperature settings on its control knob, but according to our Hakko tester, they are quite wrong; we kept the temperature knob between 350 °C and 450 °C, and finally reached around 700 °F. Like other irons, Vastar stays at the temperature most of the time-only once or twice the temperature drops significantly and we need to wait a few seconds for it to warm up again, just like the X-Tronic model.
Although the iron itself is thin and can be held comfortably, the bottom of its handle is one of the warmest bottoms we have tested. I found myself moving my hand farther on the iron, periodically pausing my welding attention to consider my hand placement.
The bracket included is just a piece of Y-shaped metal to keep the tip of the iron on the table. It is not very sturdy, so beginners who are concerned about safety should buy a more traditional soldering iron stand. We recommend Hakko FH-300. You also need to provide your own sponge.
The solder provided by the Vastar iron is very useful, and we ended up using it throughout the testing process. It uses a non-reloadable pen tube, so it is easy to grasp and suitable for circuit boards. Like the Alpha Fry solder we originally purchased, it is composed of 60% tin and 40% lead with a rosin core. However, the included solder is thinner than Alpha Fry solder, which makes more delicate work feel easier. You can buy similar replacement tubes at a reasonable price.
Hakko FH-300 is heavy enough to be stable on the workbench and has a small footprint.
If you have a soldering iron pencil and need a sturdy stand, please purchase Hakko FH-300 soldering iron stand. Unlike the 6.5 oz Elenco WeMake soldering iron stand, this 16.8 oz model stayed in place during our testing. In addition, it has a small footprint and is equipped with a sponge and tip cleaner. It can also be set up in a few seconds, and it seems to be the best stand we have tested.
The soldering iron stands don’t have to be too fancy—they just need to hold the soldering iron and sponge. But in our tests, we found that the bracket needs a certain amount of weight to prevent it from sliding when we put down the hot soldering iron. Delcast WST-2 is the heaviest bracket we have tested, weighing 21.2 ounces, but we found that the 16.8 ounce FH-300 is also heavy enough to withstand our rough handling. We once recommended the older Delcast model SL-WST, but its setup process is longer and more awkward than the FH-300, and it has the largest footprint of any stand we tested. In contrast, FH-300 strikes an appropriate balance between weight, design and ease of use.
We skipped the basic pencil that plugs directly into the wall socket and does not provide adjustable temperature, because adjustable pencils provide more versatility and are still affordable. We also skipped cordless irons, which are useful for their portability, but there is a trade-off, which is not worth it for beginners: they heat up more slowly, consume batteries quickly, and can damage sophisticated electronics. Butane-driven welding guns are highly regarded for their portability and high heat, especially for jewelry metal products, but they are too difficult to use for beginners.
Now that we are confident in the long-term performance and usability of X-Tronic Model 3020-XTS, we no longer recommend Weller WLC100 as the runner-up. In our test, it takes more than four minutes to heat up, and it has no digital display. This model also has a bulky handle, but it is designed in a way to prevent your hand from slipping off and touching the hot part of the iron.
Weller WE1010NA is a newer soldering station with two popular predecessors. We encountered some difficulties when connecting the soldering iron wire to the workstation and doubted the build quality of the connector. The station is not as sturdy as the Hakko FX-888D. Nevertheless, we still plan to pay close attention to the WE1010NA to see if the reviews show that it performs as well as Weller's previous models in the $100 range in the long term. In our tests, we liked it very much-it is the most comfortable model, and it heats up the fastest at 28 seconds.
The popular Hakko FX-600 heats up a little during the soldering process. It is not comfortable to hold due to the lack of padding and has no brackets or accessories. FX-600 is also difficult to obtain from reliable retailers. We did find that it heats up very quickly, maintains the temperature very well, and produces one of the highest and highest temperatures.
The look and feel of the Vastar 16-in-1 60W 110V soldering iron is exactly the same as our budget choice Vastar 60W 110V soldering iron kit, but during the test we found that the 16-in-1 soldering iron heats up about 15 seconds faster. The kit comes with many accessories, but we still recommend that you purchase the Hakko FH-300 stand. If you are looking for the cheapest soldering iron, our budget option is the best choice. However, if you want a carrying case, consider spending a few dollars more for the 16-in-1 kit.
The Atten SA-50 is larger and warmer than the most comfortable iron we tested. It performed well on the Larson scanner suite, but it did not stand out compared to other models.
In our tests, Aoyue 469 and Weller WE1010NA are tied for the most comfortable irons. It is equipped with a series of good accessories, but it has the longest set-up time, close to 10 minutes, and is one of the lowest and highest temperatures.
The Weller SP40NKUS is well made, has extra travel, and has a built-in light that we found useful for illuminating small electronic components. However, it lacks temperature control; we measured its tip at 531 °C, which is much higher than the 371 °C (700 °F) we like for electronic soldering. It also has one of the slowest heating times.
In our test, Xytronic 258 has a longer heating time and a lower maximum temperature. In addition, it has a simple handle, no padding or ergonomic features, and the attached tip—a small chisel shape—is a bit too big for the Larson scanner kit.
Velleman VTSS5U has the longest heating time (7 minutes 25 seconds) and a lower maximum temperature. The bracket feels unstable and the handle of the iron is wide and hot. However, it has a tapered tip of the right size and maintains its temperature during the test.
The 6.5 oz Elenco WeMake soldering iron stand is very cheap, but it is very light. If you accidentally replace the soldering iron, it has a tendency to slide on the work surface.
The Delcast WST-2 is the heaviest bracket we have tested, and it is perfect for increasing stability. But we found it difficult and confusing to assemble, and its clumsy design lacked the simplicity and practicality of our preferred stand Hakko FH-300.
Solder-traditional and lead-free-will release formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid and other things you don't want to breathe for long (PDF).
Becky Stern, Instructables content creator and teacher, email interview
Caleb Kraft, senior editor of Make Magazine, email interview
John Edgar Park, Adafruit Industries manufacturer and content creator, email interview
Choose a soldering iron, CuriousInventor
Sini Saja, how to choose the best soldering iron, Instructables
Best Soldering Iron, BestReviews, January 25, 2016
Nate Seidle, started embedded electronics, SparkFun, June 19, 2008
Bill Earl, Adafruit Excellent Soldering Guide, Adafruit, May 4, 2015
Joel_E_B, How to solder: Through-hole soldering, SparkFun, September 19, 2013
Signe Brewster is a senior writer for Wirecutter, covering drones, virtual reality, 3D printers, STEM toys, smart home gadgets and hobby tools. She has previously reported on emerging technologies and sciences for several scientific and technological publications (short-term positions at CERN and The Onion). She spends her free time sewing and studying MFA for creative writing.
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