Best Soldering Stations Reviews

Published by Jennie Doyle at Latest Update July 24, 2018

Although there is a wide range of applications for which soldering stations can be used, their most prevalent use is in printed circuit board assembly. What adds to the convenience in use of stations as opposed to the classic style soldering irons is the fact that you can more easily control the temperature and even the power supply. Learn more about these useful soldering tools and get a clear ranking of the best selections on this market in the following.

Top 5 Soldering Stations Comparison

	1. Weller WES51	2. Hakko FX888D-23BY	3. X-Tronic 3020-XTS	4. Sealody SSA51	5. Weller WLC100

	BEST MODEL		OUR CHOICE
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
General Info
Manufacturer	Weller	Hakko	X-Tronic	Sealody	Weller
Dimensions	5.9″ x 4.5″ x 3.6″	3.9″ x 4.7″ x 4.7″	6″ x 5.5″ x 8″	4.3″ x 8.8″ x 9.6″	8.8″ x 6.3″ x 3.8″
Weight	4 Lbs	2.6 Lbs	1.5 Lbs	5 Lbs	2 Lbs
Material	Plastic	N/A	304 Grade Stainless Steel	Plastic	Metal
Technical Specifications
Temperature
Range	350°F – 850°F	122°F – 896°F	392°F – 896°F	356°F – 842°F	0°F – 900°F
Accuracy	+/-10°F	>+/-1°C	+/-3.6°F	+/-3.6°F	N/A
Storage Environment	-68°F – 176°F	-68°F – 176°F	-68°F – 176°F	-68°F – 176°F	-68°F – 176°F
Power
Output	50W	70W	75W	55W	40W
Source	Corded	Corded	Corded	Corded	Corded
Cord Length	4 Feet	3.9 Feet	4.6 Feet	4.9 Feet	4 Feet
Supply	120V	120V	110V	110V	120V
Features&Accessories
Adjustable Temperature Controls
Indicator Light
Ergonomic / Cushioned Grip
Digital Display
Other Features
	Temperature Lock-Out	Password Function	Automatic Sleep Mode	Variable Power Control	Variable Power Control
	Automatic Sleep Mode	Preset Mode	Automatic Cool Down	Dual Safety Design	Built-In Iron Stand
	Quick Heat-Up and Recovery Times	Protective Cap	Celsius to Fahrenheit Toggle Switch	Quick Cool Down	Replaceable Heating Element
	Non-Burning Silicone Rubber Cord	Separable Tip/Heater Design	Proportional Integral Derivative Technology
	Foam Sleeve		Silicone Cord
	Variable Power Control
Included Accessories
	Soldering Pencil	Cleaning Sponge	Stainless Steel Holder	Aluminum Soldering Stand	Iron-Plated Copper Tip
	Stand	Stand	Solder Roll Holder	Tip Cleaning Wire	Safety Guard Iron Holder
	Sponge		Brass Sponge Tip Cleaner	Cleaning Sponge	Natural Sponge Tip Cleaning Pad
Warranty&Support
Product Warranty	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year
User Manual
Customer Support
Telephone Support	(800) 621-8814	1-661-294-0090	(402) 742-2586	(0086) 13480167334	(800) 621-8814
E-Mail Support	[email protected] weller-tools.com	support @hakkoUSA.com	[email protected] XTronicUSA.com	[email protected] sealody.net	[email protected] weller-tools.com
Online Chat Support

The Soldering Stations Evaluation

Weller WES51

1. Weller WES51

At the top of our list stands the WES51 which you can confidently use for years on end without worrying about its resistance to intense work. The light station weighs only 4 pounds, and it measures 5.9 inches by 4.5 inches by 3.6 inches. Thus, finding a spot for it where you work won’t be trouble at all, and moving it around won’t be difficult or tiring.

You can set its temperature as needed for the application you are working on, the temperature range it offers being from 350 to 850 degrees Fahrenheit, with a remarkable accuracy of approximately +/-10 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a corded model which features a 4-foot long cord that allows mobility in the working environment.

The automatic sleep mode it features ensures useless energy usage is not an issue to worry about. Furthermore, it boasts quick heat-up and recovery times, these two aspects further enhancing its efficiency. The foam sleeve and ergonomic design ensure you won’t feel tired even after hours of continuous use. In addition, it features adjustable temperature controls which endorse an intuitive use.

PROS	CONS
Convenient temperature range which allows you to make proper adjustments in concordance to the application at hand – from 350 to 850 degrees Fahrenheit
Cord measures 4 feet, allowing you to place the station wherever you like in the workplace
Automatic sleep mode prevents useless energy consumption
Variable power control ranging from 5 to 50 watts
Quick heat-up time ensures no time will be lost when using it
VERDICT
As it comes with a wide range of accessories, it is a feature-rich product, and it is compact enough to ensure it will be a perfect fit even in the most crowded of workspaces, the WES51 is our top recommendation to anyone looking for a soldering-type station.

Hakko FX888D-23BY

2. Hakko FX888D-23BY

A corded station which you will grow fond of fast as it is intuitive to use, the Hakko is one of our top recommendations to you. It comes at quite a reasonable price, and considering its numerous features, it is one acquisition you should not skip on. One of its biggest highlights is the Password function which does not allow anyone else besides you to use it – you and those who you tell the password to, obviously.

It offers 5 preset modes you can select between for a more convenient operation. Depending on the application at hand, just make a certain selection from the list of 5 and start – this helps save a lot of time. It features a protective cap which plays an important role, more precisely to reduce shock and noise when you are using it.

You can adjust the temperature as you need or see fit, the settings offered by it ranging from 122 to 896 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, we cannot overlook its impressive +/- 1 degree Celsius accuracy which greatly surpasses the industry standard. Additionally, the manufacturing company backs the product with a 1-year warranty, so in this span of time, it will be replaced or repaired free of charge in case of an unfortunate event.

PROS	CONS
Generous temperature range – from 122 to 896 degrees Fahrenheit	Does not feature an indicator light
Great price to quality ratio – one of the cheaper products in this niche
Features a 3.9-foot long cord
Password function ensures no one else except for you can use it
Protective cap helps reduce noise and shock when you are soldering
VERDICT
An affordable and feature-filled station which will make your life a whole lot easier as it offers numerous convenient features, its biggest highlight being the Password function which enhances safety by not allowing others to use it, the Hakko station is one of our top recommendations.

X-Tronic 3020-XTS

3. X-Tronic 3020-XTS

The solid stainless steel construction alongside its design make this station one of the best picks you could make in terms of longevity. It weighs 1.5 pounds, and it measures 6 inches by 5.5 inches by 8 inches, so finding a storage space for it, as well as moving it around, won’t be difficult tasks for you. But enough with the product’s design, let us move on to the important aspects – its features and specs.

The temperature it utilizes is fully adjustable, and it ranges from 392 to 896 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, it boasts an impressive +/- 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit accuracy. It boasts a power consumption of 75 watts, and the needed supply is 110 volts. It is a corded model which features a 4.6 feet long cable that allows freedom in terms of where you can position it in your workplace.

To ensure safety, as well as to save energy, it features the useful automatic sleep mode which causes it to automatically turn off after 10 minutes of inactivity. Another handy safety feature is the automatic cool down which ensures you will be in the clear of any injuries when using it. Furthermore, for convenience in use, it allows you to toggle between the Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature settings.

PROS	CONS
Lightweight design – only weighs 1.5 pounds, easy to move around
Affordable price – one of the more reasonable acquisitions you could make
Backed by a lengthy 1-year warranty
Temperature setting ranges from 392 to 896 degrees Fahrenheit
Automatic sleep mode ensures it will shut off on its own after 10 minutes of inactivity to save energy
VERDICT
Designed not only to ensure complete safety in use, but to be as energy efficient as possible, the X-Tronic is one of the best acquisitions in terms of stations for soldering you could make. Furthermore, it boasts a compact design and light weight, meaning that storing it, as well as using it, will be highly convenient.

Sealody SSA51

4. Sealody SSA51

Considering that the only downside to this product is the fact that it weighs a bit more than what these stations usually do, it is safe to say that this would indeed be a smart acquisition to make, hands down. We start off the list of pros by mentioning the fact that it comes at an affordable price. Not only this, but it puts at your disposal impressive specs and sufficient features to get the job done right.

It allows you to adjust the temperature to what you need for the specific application at hand, the selection put at your disposal ranging from 356 to 842 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, it boasts an impressive +/- 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit accuracy which ensures you can use it with confidence. When it comes to the storage conditions for this station, we recommend for the environmental temperature to range from -68 degrees Fahrenheit to 176 degrees Fahrenheit.

In terms of power consumption, it is one of the best out there, consuming only 55 watts. Another aspect worth mentioning is the fact that it features a convenient 4.9-foot long cord which allows you to place it basically wherever you like in the room. Additionally, the manufacturing company covers it with a 1-year warranty. Overall, it is a product hard to say no to, one we recommend you look into carefully if you want to enjoy a real bargain.

PROS	CONS
Low power consumption – rated for 55 watts	On the heavier side – it weighs 5 pounds
Power cord measures an impressive 4.9 feet
Quick cool down ensures enhanced safety in use
Ergonomic grip makes it one of the more comfortable tools in its niche to use
Generous temperature adjustability ranging from 356 to 842 degrees Fahrenheit
VERDICT
It might not rank the highest, but this is still one of the best stations you could opt for as it offers a generous adjustable temperature range, a highly impressive accuracy, and a long 4.9-foot cord which allows freedom in movement around the workplace.

Weller WLC100

5. Weller WLC100

Weller makes a second apparition in our top, this time with a station which exceeds expectations from all points of view as it comes at an incredibly cheap price. Not only this, but it is one of the more versatile options to go for. What makes us say this is the fact that it allows you to adjust the temperature as you like, the viable selection you could make ranging from 0 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has one of the lowest power consumption out there, more precisely 40 watts. When it comes to its design, we must put emphasis on the convenient 4-foot long cord which allows freedom of placement. It measures 8.8 inches by 6.3 inches by 3.8 inches, and it weighs 2 pounds, which makes it one of the most compact and light entries in this niche.

The cushioned grip ensures you won’t feel tired and your hand won’t hurt even after hours of use. It features a replaceable heating element. The accessories it comes with include an iron-plated copper tip, a safety guard iron holder, and a sponge tip cleaning pad. Furthermore, it is accompanied by a 1-year warranty.

PROS	CONS
Best pick price-wise – it is the cheapest product in our top five	Does not feature a digital display which would have made it more intuitive to use
Variable power control from 5 to 40 watts
Ergonomic grip ensures your hands won’t get tired after prolonged use
Adjustable temperature ranges from 0 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit
Power cord measures an impressive 4 feet in length
VERDICT
If you are looking for a bargain, your best selection is definitely the WLC100. Not only is it cheap, but it actually puts at your disposal numerous features which enhance its usefulness and safety use, as well as an adjustable temperature ranging from 0 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.

Man using soldering tool on a circuit board

Soldering 101 – Tips for Beginners

Regardless of the skill you are taking up, one thing is for sure – you must learn the basics and have knowledge of some elementary aspects which will help keep you safe as well as guide you on the right path towards mastering that skill. The same goes for soldering, a skill you will not master without appropriate guidance. To receive some useful tips as a beginner in the art of soldering, read this section of our article.

Tip#1: Practice makes perfect! As a beginner, you do not have the best hang over soldering as a whole, so you cannot expect to have an easy time when handling tasks like soldering PCB-mounted components. However, if you take our advice and practice regularly as much as you can on scrap, you will slowly become a natural and be able to finish the projects at hand quick.
Tip #2: When you solder IC chips or PCB-mounted components, be extra cautious with heat as excessive temperature can lead to damaging these parts or even breaking them. What you should do is first solder a socket to the circuit board in front of you, after which proceed to insert the component inside that socket, this way avoiding the high heat produced if you were to solder the legs of the components directly to the circuit board.
Tip #3: Make sure that your workspace is well ventilated as, otherwise, you will end up inhaling smoke which is quite toxic. Additionally, to be extra cautious as your health and well-being are at stake, you should wear appropriate protective equipment, more precisely safety glasses or goggles.
Tip #4: As opposed to what you might be expecting, the iron does not actually transfer the heat that nice, existing the danger for the transfer to be uneven or inefficient. To prevent this, you should tin the tip of the iron when it is warm enough to melt solder. The smooth and shiny finish created by the tinning procedures ensures even and efficient results when soldering, something we explained is not completely possible without this action.
Tip #5: If you notice that a joint does not seem to melt away fast enough, it might mean that fresh solder should be added. Thus, you should add fresh solder as you apply the heat for its flux to help make the process of breaking down the old joint go faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

?What type of tool should I opt for if I am new at soldering?

If the recommendations given in our article do not seem to be fit for you, we recommend the tool you end up buying and using to feature controls as simplistic as possible. If you do want a recommendation from the ones presented in this article, soldering tools which are perfect for use by beginners, we advise you to go with the two Weller entries.

?What is the purpose of the auto sleep mode?

This feature actually fulfills two purposes through the action of automatically shutting the tool off at a certain time. First off, it prevents useless power consumption as you are likely to sometimes forget to turn the station off yourself, the sleep mode function tending to turning it off after a certain time of inactivity passes. Secondly, it enhances safety in use as it ensures you won’t forget the station turned on overnight.

?What is the best indicator of the station’s quality?

While there are other factors which weigh in determining whether the tool is a high-quality one or not, by far, the most important trait is the temperature range provided. The wider the range is the better as you can use the tool for as many soldering applications as you want without facing any difficulties.

Depending on who you ask, whether a person who is looking for a more simplistic soldering tool or one who is looking for a complex option which is feature-rich, there will be different selections from our top more appropriate than others for their use. For those who are looking to have it all quality-wise yet who do not want to be faced with handling overly complicated controls, the Weller WES51, our top pick, is their best option. It does cost more than other entries, yet it is worth every cent as it allows you to set the perfect temperature for the soldering application you are working on, the 350 to 850 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range selection endorsing this possibility.

In terms of simplicity in use, another great companion would be the Weller WLC100 which comes at a much cheaper price without sacrificing features, the variable power control and generous temperature range provided making the experience of using it surprisingly great. However, if you are not shy when it comes to controls which are a bit more complex and you put an accent on features the most, we recommend you go for the X-Tronic 3020-XTS. Some of its highlights include the convenient Celsius to Fahrenheit toggle switch which allows you to use the tool with the settings you are most accustomed to and the automatic sleep mode which prevents energy waste by automatically shutting off the tool after 10 minutes of inactivity.