Soldering Station Reviews

by Tested_to_Destruction

A soldering station is great for both hobby and professional use. The five best soldering stations, compared and reviewed.

A soldering station is a step up from a stand alone soldering iron, in that you can attach it to a workbench, or place it in an area that is close to hand when you need it. Soldering tools work with heat, and using a solder station will bypass the need to look for a space to set down the iron when it's not in use.

Generally, they will contain everything you need to get started, whether you need a solder iron for a professional capacity or you simply need one to help with your chosen hobby. Largely inexpensive, they're good value for money and tend to last for years.

The five best solder stations are featured below. Each one is for sale at a discount price, they're all hugely popular products in their category and all are highly rated models.

Weller WLC100 Soldering Station for Hobbyist and Do-It-Yourselfer

This is the best selling soldering station and is a great all-round soldering kit. It's designed around hobbies and home electronics and do-it-yourself projects and will enable home-users to tackle a myriad of tasks and crafts. The kit includes the soldering iron, an iron plated stand for the iron and a single 1/8" screwdriver tip.

The temperature controls are found on the station itself and the soldering tool is the pencil-type design, copper tipped with a nicely cushioned grip around the stay-cool handle. The temperature ranges up to 900F and is variable control, and there's a sponge tip-cleaner sited on the station to aid clean, precision working. A good quality set-up, great discount and one to buy for those new or relatively new to the art of soldering.

Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station

The Weller WLC100 Soldering Station includes everything you need to start using solder to join metals and create efficient, electrical connections. Designed with the hobbyist an...

$64.78  $60.8

Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station, Power Unit, Soldering Pencil, Stand and Sponge

This is the second soldering station from the Weller brand and almost three times the price of the first one featured. The difference between the two is so much the quality - both are manufactured to a high spec. This soldering tool is more for the professional or serious crafter. It's designed to stand up to more heavy weight duties and can be used in an industrial setting.

You get almost the same set up - a pencil soldering iron, the work-station which includes the temperature control, a wipe-clean sponge and the cord is silicon insulated to prevent risk of injuries from burns. You can alter the heat between 3f0 and 850F simply enough and the soldering iron has an industrial standard core - the heating element is nichrome wound to aide even conduction and the rapidity with which it responds to heat adjustments. A top quality pro kit, well worth every cent - one for heavier duty use.

Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station

This analog soldering station from Weller is an innovative heater and sensor combination that gives you a quick heat-up and rapid temperature recovery. It has a wireless tempera...

$290.0  $315.0

Aoyue 937+ Digital Soldering Station

This is a soldering station for light to moderate use. Manufactured to perform at mid-range temperatures - from 392 to 897F, it's well designed and extremely user friendly. The soldering iron feels good to work with, good comfortable grip, once you've adjusted the temperature accordingly it remains stable, and the digital read-out is a good feature.

You control the temperature via the station, which also includes a wipe-clean sponge and a slot that will hold the solder. It's great for using with scientific tasks and electronics, such as radio kits and circuit boards. Heats up rapidly, reliable and durable, a superior kit in relation to the price tag and recommended for anyone that wants a solder tool that will deliver top results time and again.

Aoyue 937+ Digital Soldering Station - ESD Safe includes Spare Element UPDATED VERSION!!

This is a 45 watt digital soldering station that has a 1 degree C control. Features: ESD Safe Long Life Ceramic heat Element Digital thermostat control ± 1 C 24 volt output to p...

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Stahl Tools SSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Station

This is a cheap soldering station - and a steal of a deal. As it's another entry level model, it's best for crafters and those that need one for use around the home. The price is pretty awesome - less than 15 bucks all in, and for that you get the stand and sponge, variable controls for the temperature and a decent quality soldering iron with a copper tip.

The solder tool feels comfortable and lightweight, not as bulky to hold as the picture suggests, and the time from switch-on to set heat is pretty rapid. The tip's a medium size, so fine for working on hobby related tasks - if you want a finer tip on your iron, the first product is the better choice. All in surprisingly well made, good overall quality and for the price - and awesome deal.

Stahl Tools SSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Station

The Stahl Tools variable temperature soldering station is designed to exceed the expectations of veteran technicians—at a price that's appealing to the electronics hobbyist. Man...

Only $19.98

Hakko Soldering Station FX-888

This is the comparable soldering station to the Weller WES51 - and a five star rated products by previous purchasers. The kit includes the work station and soldering iron and of course the obligatory wipe.clean sponge. As with the other featured models, the temperature is control by way of the station and the heat is variable between 398 - 896F. The output is steady and reliable, the heat-up speedy and efficient.

The soldering iron tip is neat, small and great for precision work and when in-hand, the tool is compact and feels nicely designed. The heating element is ceramic and the heat control performs with precision. It's compatible with all of the 900 range of tips and in short - it's an awesome, impressive soldering tool and highly recommended. Great price - top buy.

Hakko Soldering Station, FX-888

Affordable, durable temperature-adjustable soldering station. Smaller footprint saves valuable workbench space. More productivity due to increased thermal performance and faster...

Only $94.97
Updated: 06/22/2012, Tested_to_Destruction
 
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