worth buying a soldering station?

[electromateria]

what u guys think? I need something reliable for years to come....

some of the soldering stations I'm looking at are over $120. should I get one or only buy a $40 soldering iron? I'd prefer the cheap option but only if it works well and is reliable.

[bob91343]

Every soldering iron is different.  No one will satisfy all soldering needs, so you need to decide what capability is appropriate for your situation.

I currently have at least 10 soldering tools.  Propane torch down to ultra tiny USB powered unit, and even a hot air device and some soldering guns (ouch).  The one I use most is the Weller TCP I think it is.  Runs maybe 40 Watts and is temperature controlled and has its own little station.

[radiolistener]

You're needs soldering iron (with temperature control) and hot gun (the same with temperature control). Hot gun is needed for desoldering.

Probably it's better to buy inductive soldering iron, it better keeps temperature. But I still using old Goot RX-711.

Regarding the hot gun, it cost about 30 USD on aliexperss, for example:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32818260663.html

These hot guns are based on unknown Chinese controller, so if it fails you cannot repair it, but most of all if it fails it will be triac and you can replace it, it uses BTA12. And it is not so expensive.

[Capernicus]

inductive would be safer,  less shock risk.  same with heating water.

[ebastler]

inductive would be safer,  less shock risk.  same with heating water.

You are recommending an inductive soldering station to someone who is reluctant to spend $120 (Canadian dollars presumably)? Which model did you have in mind?

[radiolistener]

$120 (Canadian dollars presumably)? Which model did you have in mind?

For example $100: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33031331141.html

But I didin't tried it, so I cannot say anything

[ledtester]

You can do a lot with a cheap soldering iron. Just have a look at what some of the big electronics youtubers use:

bigclivedotcom:

Soldering basics and choosing a cheap soldering iron
-- https://youtu.be/aIab66EgfHM

GreatScott!:

Soldering iron shots:
- https://youtu.be/j1V2I-otdzk?t=83
- https://youtu.be/j1V2I-otdzk?t=603

Electroboom:

- https://youtu.be/jW3_txSfIAQ?t=9m24s

bitluni:

- https://youtu.be/wvBFtz7Ioio?t=76

w2aew:

- https://youtu.be/TrdlKlkLdVQ?t=90

Granted, there will be some tasks that will be more difficult without a temp controlled iron, but a lot of people -- including a lot of professionals -- have gotten by with a basic iron.

[xavier60]

For anyone who can afford a bit extra, the FX888D is well priced at the moment. I bough one a few years ago for my main work bench, now I'm replacing my old 936 clones with new FX888D's.
FYI, Preset mode isn't enabled by default, so be prepared for some frustration until you realize that the instruction leaflet makes no mention of it and a search needs to be done.
https://www.oritech.com.au/hakko-fx888d-soldering-station.html
https://www.mektronics.com.au/hakko-fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-genuine-incl-free-roll-of-solder-mc334.html

[daveho]

I bought a Yihua 937D+ a few years ago for about $30, and I've gotten a ton of use out of it. Personally, I prefer it over the Hakko FX888D. It's a pretty decent soldering station.

[tooki]

inductive would be safer,  less shock risk.  same with heating water.

Shock risk? Standard soldering stations use 24V to power the iron. That poses zero shock hazard.

[Canis Dirus Leidy]

For example $100: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33031331141.html

These “I wanna be Quick” have one pitfall (copied, IIRC from the original Quick stations): you can't change soldering tip temperature on the fly, only in special (and protected with "password") mode, which can be entered only immediately after turning on the power.

P.S. Plus, you will need external thermometer for calibration. My BK2000 has 50 degrees of difference between display reading and tip's temperature. And, according to the operations manual, such calibration is required after each change of soldering tip.

[electromateria]

You're needs soldering iron (with temperature control) and hot gun (the same with temperature control). Hot gun is needed for desoldering.

Probably it's better to buy inductive soldering iron, it better keeps temperature. But I still using old Goot RX-711.

Regarding the hot gun, it cost about 30 USD on aliexperss, for example:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32818260663.html

These hot guns are based on unknown Chinese controller, so if it fails you cannot repair it, but most of all if it fails it will be triac and you can replace it, it uses BTA12. And it is not so expensive.

I was thinking of getting a desoldering bath, is the heat gun a better option?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, much appreciated!

[radiolistener]

electromateria

hot gun is must have for SMD components. You can also use it for soldering, but it requires special flux with solder mixed in. I'm using hot gun for desoldering and sometime to fix soldering made with soldering iron.

With hot gun you're just put hot air for 5-10 sec on SMD component and then easily remove it with tweezers, very easy and simple But it needs to be careful to avoid overheating.

After that you can reuse that SMD component in a new device.


I don't have desoldering bath and never used it, so I can't say something about it. I just don't see the reason to buy it for my needs.

[BrokenYugo]

The "T12" type stations currently provide the best bang for buck, as low as $40-$50 USD all in direct from China. Any station is way better than an unregulated iron, nicer cable (typically silicone even on the cheap ones), tip selection, variable temperature, and more power for the size.

For example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32803295956.html

[Ground_Loop]

For me, a significant part of making really nice things is using really nice tools to make them. Wait, save up, and get a nice tool. I've used every imaginable kind of soldering tool including an iron used for stained glass controlled by a variac.  I later invested significantly in professional grade soldering equipment and never regretted it.

[joeqsmith]

It all depends what you you need to do.   I've demonstrated soldering with two home made electric irons and one where I used a 100 year old blow torch to heat a custom made iron to do some SMT work.     There's nothing wrong with using a pencil.  I still have a few of them. 

The best iron made will not turn you into a solder prodigy.   Likewise, develop some skills and you may find you can solder with most anything.

[all_repair]

Get a T12 first.  You may need an inductive one for higher wattage in future, buy that when the needs arise as you can a get a better and cheaper one then. There are more portable and battery powered T12  coming out.  You can standardise on T12 tips for both the table top and portable irons. For having widest varieties of tip and yet keeping minimum spare, and mostly to keep and to improve your soldering "fu" by sticking to the same type of tip.  Original tips are better, you can get best value for lightly used original tips from Japan.
I have an inductive soldering station, never use for my work yet.  It is Heavier, so my skill haven't built up, may not have chance to build up.  Don't think I can use that to do SMT soldering.  I still prefer using 936 tip to do SMT, now slowly able to use T12 to handle SMT.
There are ready made adapters to use your T12 or 936 iron to fit a blade that you can use to cut plastics, or remove adhesive,  or fit it with silicone heating pad and use it to reheat the LCD ribbon.   Many possibilities, you can do your adapters, it is easier to buy off the shelve.   

[james_s]

What do you want to do with it? That's going to have a big impact on what makes the most sense to buy. I bought my soldering station over 20 years ago and at the time I paid more than $120 for it used, the cheap Chinese stations weren't really a thing yet. I've used it very heavily for over 20 years so the cost amortized over that period is negligible. I've never regretted spending too much on tools. I have regretted trying to save money by getting cheap tools a number of times.