Best Soldering Iron 2022 – Reviews & Buying Guide

They say that a stitch in time saves nine, and we agree because soldering that item in time could save you a couple of a thousand of dollars in re-purchase. While soldering is used to fix items that would be otherwise relegated to a landfill, some people also solder for fun, as hobbyists making creative pieces out of stained glass, jewellery, wood or metals. Here we have reviewed the top 10 best soldering iron.

If you in the market for the perfect soldering iron available at a great price, we have scoured the internet to bring you the ideal feature-packed soldering irons for your needs in the market today.

Best Soldering Iron 2020

Name of Soldering IronWattageAdjustable temperature rangeReviews
DAPRIL Soldering Iron Kit Electronics60 watts200℃ – 450 ℃Buy Now
Kusonkey Adjustable Temperature Welding Soldering Iron60 watts200-450℃Buy Now
Liumy 110V/60W Electric Soldering Iron Kit60 watts200-400℃Buy Now
X-Tronic Model #3020-XTS Digital Display Soldering Iron Station75 watts200-480℃Buy Now
Hakko FX601-02 Adjustable Temperature Controlled Soldering Iron67 watts240 – 540°CBuy Now
Weller P2C Butane Soldering Iron75 watts850 ° FBuy Now
Vastar Full Set 60W 110V Soldering Iron Kit60 watts200 °c – 450 °cBuy Now
Weller 8200PKS 120-volt 140/100-watt Universal Soldering Gun Kit140/100 Watts Buy Now
Portasol 010589330 Super Pro 125-Watt Heat Tool Kit with 7 Tips125 watts580℃Buy Now
Tabiger Soldering Iron Kit Electronics60 watts200-450℃Buy Now


1. DAPRIL Soldering Iron Kit Electronics

This soldering kit is not only affordably priced, but it comes with a multitude of great features, making it our favourite value for money soldering iron kit. On top of our favourite feature list is that this soldering iron can heat up to 60W, which is enough power for most general soldering tasks you will encounter.

Specs

  • Pure copper soldering tip
  • 60W power
  • Steel soldering stand
  • Desoldering pump included in the kit
  • PU leather carry bag
  • Steel soldering iron stand

This baby comes with six different tips that lend themselves perfectly to any of your soldering needs. To prevent the iron from heat damage, it is coated with a thin coat of silica gel, making it durable for the intensive heat environment it generates. We love the easy to adjust temperature feature on the Dapril Soldering Iron Kit. The kit has a soldering gun that allows you to adjust its temperatures at between 200-450 degrees Celsius. You will love the safety features of this soldering iron too. The on and off button ensures that there are no mishaps that happen when the iron is idle because you can quickly turn it off. This great feature also helps you save on energy.

Pros

  • Heats up quickly up to 60W
  • Comes with a basic soldering iron stand
  • On slip rubber handle for comfort during use
  • A practical feature-packed kit for most general soldering needs
  • Package has a leather PU carrier bag for easy storage and movement
  • Has six different tips for your soldering needs
  • Well priced

Cons

  • Power cable too short for
  • Finding accurate temperature when adjusting is a tad difficult

Verdict

The Dapril soldering iron kit will meet all your general soldering needs at very affordable costs. The soldering iron heats up to high soldering temperatures, and it is well packed to ensure the kits easy mobility and compactness.

2. Kusonkey Adjustable Temperature Welding Soldering Iron

The beauty of this soldering iron kit lies not only in its affordable value price but its complete set of tools, which are perfect for any novice starting out in the field and anyone with general soldering needs. Users love that the items in the kit including the iron itself feels well made and sturdy, considering its low price. The package has a wire stripper, solder sucker, and some handy hand tools. We love that it can hit 60W in minutes which makes it perfect for reliable soldering work.

Specs

  • Heats up quickly up to 60W
  • Has an essential soldering iron stand with sponge
  • Comes with five soldering tips
  • Has an off and on button for safety
  • The off and on switch helps saves energy
  • Has a convenient PU leather carry on case for organization and mobility

This Kusonkey soldering kit’s iron has a thermostat that allows you to adjust temperatures at between 200-450 degrees Celsius. Its pipe is made of steel to ensure that it outlasts longtime high-temperature use. The handle has a LED light that ensures that you know when the iron is on, as well as an off and on button for increased safety with use. The on and off switch also ensures that you maximize on energy saving when the soldering iron is idle.

Pros

  • Sturdy and well-built soldering kit
  • Free basic hand tools
  • Easy to adjust temperatures
  • Very affordable pricing
  • Efficient carry case for the equipment

Cons

  • Finding accurate temperature when adjusting is a tad difficult

Verdict

For its low price, this kit is well made and comes with essential tools that give the buyer that excellent value for money buy feeling. It is also guaranteed to cater for all your essential soldering needs with its 60W power capacity.

3. Liumy 110V/60W Electric Soldering Iron Kit

The  Liumy soldering iron not only looks space age but is compact with no extra unneeded frills or thrills. It is a simple to use plug and play soldering iron, that eliminates the need for a soldering station. This mean machine heats up to 60 watts and has a sweet adjustable temperature knob, which adjusts temperatures between 200-400 degree Celsius. It also heats up fats making a quick and efficient soldering machine. We love it for its sturdy, well-built design as well as its ergonomic anti-skid silicone insulated cover, that not only makes it look cool but is soft and will ensure your grip on it is neither fatiguing nor slippery when using it for long hours on end.

Specs

  • 110 V plug
  • 60W power
  • Adjustable temperatures of 200-450 degrees Celcius
  • Five replaceable tips included in kit
  • Plug and play soldering iron

Liumy 110V/60W electric soldering iron has a stainless steel casing that protects the heating element inside, to ensure that this beauty lasts you a long time. It also has a soft wire sleeve that prevents damage or breakage of the wires inside of the 150 centimeters long power cable with a plug and play plug. Another unique feature we love on the Liumy is it’s detachable easy to replace tip and heater function. Any novice can use this soldering iron with ease.

Pros

  • Great price makes it good value for money
  • Two-year warranty on product
  • good power cable length
  • easy to use temperature adjustment knob
  • heats up evenly and fast at 60W
  • sold with five extra tips in different designs

Cons

  • the temperature dial is located in area where it is prone to accidental dialing
  • the dial could be a bit tighter too

Verdict

An easy to use soldering iron that is lightweight and has an easy to use temperature adjustment dial. We love it for its price and compact design, and its 60W capacity, perfect for most general soldering tasks.

4. X-Tronic Model 3020-XTS Digital Display Soldering Iron Station

This bestselling soldering kit has not only impressive features but also has excellent design aesthetics. There so many features to die for here, that ensure that your soldering jobs run as smoothly as possible, but maybe one of our most favorite is the generous 75 watts of power this beast delivers. You will love its soldering station that has one other exemplary feature; an easy to read bright blue LED digital temperature display feature, that ensures that tracing and adjust the temperatures that range between 200-480 degrees Celcius is as easy as 1-2-3!

Specs

  • voltage 110
  • power 75 watts
  • kit has a soldering station and solder roll holder
  • 10-minute sleep timer function
  • 55-inch power cord
  • Fahrenheit to centigrade toggle switch
  • LED temperature display and adjustment

This X-Tronic digital display soldering iron station has a 60 inch no fold no memory silicone cord from iron to the main unit whose make ensures that it does not get breaks or get easily damaged. It also has another 55-inch power cord that plugs the unit into your wall plug, a very considerate feature from this beast’s designers. Its one of a kind function involves a sleep timer mechanism that kick starts once your soldering iron has been on and idle for 10 minutes. This safety feature also works best for your energy-saving goals. The kit, in general, is well built and sturdy with a stainless steel iron holder for durability and a brass sponge tip cleaner. We also love that it has self-test function, to ensure that it does not overload, or generate detrimental temperatures and that it is safe incase of damaging short circuit events. Its Magic Temperature Compensation Technology ensures that its tips heat evenly, and maintain an excellent working temperature stability.

Pros

  • Sleep function excellent for energy saving
  • Easy to digital LED temperature display
  • 1 Year 100% Fix/Repair Guarantee Including Parts & Labor
  • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
  • Easy to use
  • 75 watts power
  • Long power cables included

Cons

  • Soldering stand iron roll holder not very well made
  • Plastic handle disintegrates fast under heat

Verdict

This feature packed product is excellent for beginners as it is easy to use and will ensure that you get your temperatures just right for a stable soldering job. Its 75 watts power capacity will handle just about any general soldering job out there.

5. Hakko FX601-02 Adjustable Temperature Controlled Soldering Iron

The Hakko FX601-02 is a workhorse when it comes to soldering items that are a bit far out of reach, for example, your solar panel or a car chassis or other outdoor items. This soldering iron is lightweight to ensure that you do not endure unnecessary muscle fatigue in your hands while holding it up over long periods of time. Weighing a measly 68g with a 6ft power cord, with a ceramic heating element that can dial up juices to up to 67 watts this is the soldering element that can put in long hours of work, at incredible temperatures of between 240 – 540°C.

Specs

  • Temperature range: 464° – 1004°F
  • Extra long 6 ft. power cord
  • Power Consumption: 67W, 120V
  • Temperature control sensor
  • Quick thermal recovery
  • 3-wire power cord
  • UL/CSA Approved

The Hakko FX601-02 has a temperature adjustment tool that perhaps is one of our most favorite features on this tiny but mighty soldering iron. The small blue tool allows you or your supervisor to set the temperature required for example, delicate or heat sensitive soldering tasks and then lock it so that it cannot be changed accidentally or otherwise, till the job is completed. Besides this ability to control temperature, and its ability to dial up very high heat sufficient enough for soldering jobs, this baby is also equipped with high thermal capacity tips with superior heat conductivity to ensure the perfect job. It also has LED lighting that informs you when the heating element has reached the set temperatures.

Pros

  • Heats up fast and holds the temperature required stably for long periods of time
  • Perfect for stained glass projects
  • Great temperature control features
  • Light, compact and easy to work with
  • Quality heavy and long power cord
  • Fast thermal recovery

Cons

  • Lacks proper instructions on purchase
  • Heavy power cord is a bit uncomfortable to use for such a lightweight gadget
  • Expensive

Verdict

While this soldering is not cheap, it does work like a charm and can withstand long hours of use without breaking down or wearing out quickly due to high temperatures. Users love its lightweight feature, and ease of use, making it enjoyable for use by beginners and professionals alike.

6. Weller P2C Butane Soldering Iron

The king of mobility is here ladies and gentlemen, and it is butane powered too, dialing up heat to up to 75 watts for more than one hour of continuous use between refills. What is cool about this Weller P2C is that you need no plugs; it looks like a pen that you can move around with and works perfectly in cold weather so its perfect for outdoor use. This gadget has a travel cap that shuts the gas on or off to ensure that no accidental discharge of gas happens when in movement. It weighs a measly 5.8 ounces and is both intuitive and easy to use. Its temperatures can hit 850°F, and it melts the solder in less than 40 seconds, making it suitable both for hobbyists and professionals alike.

Specs

  • 75 watts power
  • Cordless soldering iron
  • Butane powered
  • Piezo ignition
  • Temperatures of up to 850 ° F
  • Has window to view gas level left

The piezo ignition on this baby ensures that with a simple press down of a button, there is instant ignition, and there is a flame view window to show when the iron is lit. It only takes about 20 minutes to refill it, and the automatic cut-off safety switch is a feature we are very particular about.

Pros

  • Lightweight enough for use over extended time spans
  • a very portable gadget with no power cord
  • ESD safe to protect sensitive components
  • Will work for an hour before needing a refill
  • Great temperature control feature
  • Piezo ignition feature
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty

Cons

  • Easily blocks after butane refills
  • Not sold together with its gas

Verdict

This highly rated soldering iron is the to-go-to tool for any outdoor soldering requirements, minimizing the hassle of inconvenient electric cords. It’s lightweight and provides enough heat for various soldering jobs. Its mid-price range is also attractive for such a portable product.

7. Vastar Full Set 60W 110V Soldering Iron Kit

Another high heat low price soldering iron, the Vastar soldering iron will dial up some hot juice to up to 60 watts with a thermostat range of 200 °c – 450 °c. Its build is also sturdy for its low price range, made of stainless steel and an iron plated tip. We love too that you can control its temperature range using a knob wheel located on the soldering iron. Being a plug and play product, it can be used without the necessity of soldering station very efficiently.

Specs

  • Power 60 watts
  • Heat range 200 °c – 450 °c
  • Plug and play product
  • Five different tips supplied
  • Kits have other soldering aids
  • Heats fast and has a chip fixed resistor
  • Has a 59-inch cable length

You will love the Vastar’s soft-grip handle that ensures that the soldering does not slip out of your hand when working but is comfortable to grip on. The accessories that come with the kit including five different soldering iron tips, a pocket pack solder, a desoldering pump, a pair of anti-static tweezers and a basic soldering stand make this buy one good value for your hard-earned cash.

Pros

  • Affordable feature-packed product
  • Iron and stainless steel build
  • Upgrade PCBA using chip fixed resistor
  • 60 watts power
  • Heats up very fast
  • 18-month warranty.

Cons

  • The stand is not of excellent quality
  • Cheap feeling accessories

Verdict

The Vastar soldering iron is affordable for starters and anyone else looking to buy a good soldering kit without spending too much on it. Its high heat and thermostat features can rival most high end soldering iron kits but at a fraction of the cost.

8. Weller 8200PKS 120-volt 140/100-watt Universal Soldering Gun Kit

If you are feeling a bit James Bond-ish, then this is the perfect soldering tool for you. This pistol grip design soldering gun is manufactured by the Weller Manufacturing Company and is backed by decades of manufacturing experience and heritage, since 1945. This dual heat gun will produce a whopping 140 watts power in high setting and 100 watts in a low setting making it our hottest product yet. We love that you can use this gun in the dark of your basement since it has its in-built light for such occasions. The pistol design makes it easy to grip and comfortable to work with for prolonged periods of time.

Specs

  • 140/100 Watts power
  • 120 volts
  • Ready to use in six seconds
  • Tin plated tips
  • Pistol grip design
  • Fingertip triggers

Users love the solid feel of this soldering gun as most Weller products are well constructed and will outlast all rough and tumble use associated with soldering. This universal all purpose gun has two fingertip trigger selections, with the 1st trigger position setting the gun to high heat, while the 2nd trigger position supplies low heat. The kit comes with some necessary soldering aids as well as manual of use. This gun is also UL and CUL certified for performance and safety.

Pros

  • Heats up in seconds
  • Durable and well built
  • Seven-year warranty for kit
  • Very high heat production, hot enough for any professional soldering needs

Cons

  • Most users feel that the Weller 8200PKS build is not as good as old Weller soldering guns
  • Not cheap

Verdict

If you are looking for soldering equipment that will dial up high power at an affordable price, then this is the product for you. Its backed by an excellent warranty, so take a leap of faith on it is easy knowing that it backed up good reviews online as well as made by a trustworthy manufacturer of excellent reputation.

9. Portasol 010589330 Super Pro 125-Watt Heat Tool Kit with 7 Tips

Another butane powered soldering iron kit, this Portasol kit in not only high powered but comes in a feature-packed package housed in a hard-sided box for mobility, storage, and organization. We love the cordless nature of these butane appliances because you can use them on demand in any location. This soldering iron will dial up to 125 watts of power making it perfect for marine, electronics, automotive and aircraft soldering jobs. This gun has adjustable power control, ranging from 25 watts to its high range 125 watts, and it can solder continually for two hours before requiring a refill. Refilling takes only 10 seconds, so it offers an almost continuous run time.

Specs

  • 125 watts power
  • Tip temperature of 580 degrees Celcius
  • Butane lit
  • Adjustable temperature control
  • Seven soldering tips in kit
  • Self-igniting soldering iron
  • Cordless
  • 40-second heat up time

The Portasol Super Pro soldering gun is self-igniting, so you do not need to ferry matches or flints around when using it. One feature that will make you go gaga about this product is that it is a real Transformer. It can transform from a soldering gun to a hot knife, then a flameless hot air blower to an extremely hot and powerful blowtorch. Its soldering gun is fitted with a hot air and deflector tip that ensures that it keeps clean. This soldering gun has a multitude of safety features including butane compatible plastics that prevent gas leaks when impacted by ensuring that they are ultrasonically welded. The product also has a safety cut off switch to avoid any accidents.

Pros

  • Great selection of tips
  • High powered soldering iron it
  • Cordless and very portable
  • Heats up in 40 seconds
  • Durable product
  • One year replacement warranty

Cons

  • Plastic carrier box a bit flimsy
  • Sometimes a buyer might purchase a lemon that does not light up

Verdict

This great product is very portable and comes with all the accessories you need to use it for various jobs. Its also very durable and well made and will you some extended years of use.

10. Tabiger Soldering Iron Kit Electronics

Well, if you are a beginner in soldering and you are not sure of what tools and aids you need to start out, purchase the 16 in 1 Tabiger soldering iron kit, and you are good to go. This soldering iron kit has a lot of soldering knick knacks including anti-static tweezers, a stand with a sponge, scissors, copper wire, insulation tape and electric pen screwdrivers. All these plus other items are placed in a convenient hard carry box for portability, storage, and organization.

Specs

  • 60 watts power
  • Adjustable temperature of 200~450℃
  • Five different and interchangeable soldering tips
  • Chip fixed resistor tips
  • An aluminum body frame

Despite all the goodies included in the kit, the price of this baby will completely knock your socks off. It can produce a good 60 watts of power and has thermostat temperature control for a temperature range of between 200-450 degrees Celcius.

Pros

  • Kit with all accessories needed for soldering
  • great price
  • good heating to up to 60 watts of power
  • very easy to use
  • soft grip ergonomic handle design
  • a case for storage of small tools

Cons

  • the build is not sturdy enough
  • accessories also not well made

Verdict
This is the perfect soldering iron kit for starters who do not wish to invest too much in a kit. It works pretty fine, and the soldering aids will go a long way in ensuring any novice has an easy time while soldering.

Best Soldering Iron Buying Guide

First things first, what is a soldering iron? This is a tool that has a metal tip which transfers heat to wires, transistor leads or pads, for the purpose of assembling or connecting an electrical joint.

The idea is to join electrical parts together so as to form an electrical connection using a mixture of tin (solder) and lead with a soldering iron.

There are various types of soldering irons available in the market, you choose the one most suitable based on your needs and budget.

Type of the soldering iron

There four basic soldering iron designs. These include

  • Basic soldering pencils: these have no temperature control
  • Soldering stations: these have a soldering pencil attached to a station, equipped with a host of features including electronic temperature control.
  • Repair systems: for heavy industrial use, with several other handpieces, included.
  • Soldering guns: connected to over 110 voltage transformers and generate very high pretty fast. They are not recommended for circuit board work due to this high heat factor.

How to Choose Soldering Iron

What should you consider when you go looking for a soldering iron? There is a wide range of soldering irons in the market, getting the right choice can be an uphill task. In this article, we are going to break it down for you and assist you to get exactly what you are looking for. After all, making the correct choice is essential in order for you to do a proper soldering job.

What are the requirements to look out for?

Getting a soldering iron that suits your specific needs may not always be easy. There are a few characteristics of soldering irons that you should assess before you settle on a choice. These will be discussed below in detail.

Size – there are various sizes for soldering irons. Clearly, the smaller ones are best suited for fine work, while the larger one will be suited for soldering items that are less delicate. Take note that the actual size corresponds with the wattage or power consumption of the iron.

Wattage or power consumption – The power the element can generate is one of the most important things to consider when purchasing your soldering iron. Soldering irons between the 40 -60 watts range will provide enough heat for most general soldering projects including circuit boards because they have more power available for sustained use. They do not supply more power than 20 – 30 watts power range soldering irons, but these low wattage soldering irons lose their heat much faster than their higher wattage counterparts, and this often results in unsatisfactory solder joints. Higher wattage soldering irons can also have enough power available to make the use of thermostats for regulation more sensible. There are also soldering irons with over 100 watts of power, and these are the heavy-duty kind meant for professional heavy-duty industrial needs or plumbing.

Voltage – Voltage is indicated depending on a particular country. For instance, in the UK and other Commonwealth countries, the voltage is indicated as 230V AC. Some soldering irons are made for specific purposes where they are required to run from low voltages. These ones usually come with a controller made by the same manufacturer. Such irons come frequently come with thermostatic temperature control.

Temperature control – Soldering irons use two main forms of temperature control. The cheaper versions usually have no form of electronic regulation, which means that when the temperature increases, the loss of heat is similar to the heat generated. The more expensive versions come with thermostatic control which naturally regulates the temperature.

The most basic of soldering irons have no temperature control, and all you do is plug in and use at their designated temperature while cooling them manually. Soldering irons with thermostat control cost a little bit more but allow you to choose an optimal soldering temperature, and sustain it for use over time. Soldering stations, on the other hand, come equipped with a benchtop control unit that has digital temperature screens, an adjustable soldering iron temperature, and a host of other features. These usually are the most expensive of these three units.

Anti-static protection – static protection has increasingly become an issue that needs to be addressed, due to the increasing vulnerability of many electronic parts. Especially the very advanced integrated circuit bits. It is this reason that it has become important to consider static protection in a soldering iron before getting one.

Stand – as a result of the high temperatures reached by soldering irons, the surface they stand on is also a consideration. The reason for this is to ensure they are well-protected.

Maintenance – as with any other electrical tool, it is essential to consider the maintenance of the soldering iron. The bits used to conduct the actual soldering usually have a limited lifespan and it requires to be changed in regular intervals. For the more expensive versions of soldering irons, make sure their spare parts are also available should they need repair or replacement.

How a Soldering Iron Works

An electrical soldering iron normally has a resistance heating unit, which is almost the same as what you would find in a hairdryer or a toaster. The electrical current passes through the heating unit, and the electrical resistance causes the unit to get hot.

A soldering iron works on a very basic principle; when we pass current through a high resistance material, heat will be generated. It is this heat that we use to meltdown a conductor metal known as the soldering wire which is put between two parts in order to connect them electronically. A typical soldering iron comprises a heating region and an insulated handle.

It takes a while before the heating unit is hot enough for use, mainly because of the nature of heat itself which is basically a change in energy within an object. The heating unit usually warms the bit by passing energy within it, and in the process, the bit’s molecules start to move faster. When the bit cools off, it transfers heat into the air around it and its molecules slow down again.

It is important to match or get the appropriate soldering iron for the appropriate electrical joints, for effective results. This means that for large electrical joints, get a soldering iron specifically meant for that task, and the same goes for small electrical joints. Also, include a small selection of soldering iron tips with different diameters and shapes which can be altered depending on the type of electrical work you are dealing with

Even as you consider the cost of obtaining a soldering iron, make sure you consider other important factors and make an informed choice. It will be worth spending more on a product that will serve you better for longer.

Conclusion

The best soldering gun is one that generates and sustains enough heat for your soldering needs and allows you the versatility of temperature control. Affordability is also vital especially for novices and many hobbyists but extra added features and soldering aids can make the product worth the buck.

About admin

Hi, I’m Steven P. I created The ToolNode to help as many understand and know how to use tool-related products and to encourage younger people to dive into DIY projects of their own. I've enjoyed building things in my workshop for over 10 years - having worked on everything from cars to coffee tables.

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