Having an arsenal of the right tools can make or break a project. Whether an expert or a beginner, we’ve collected some options for your next soldering iron.
If you have a keen interest in electronics or are a do-it-yourself enthusiast, you absolutely need to have a few tools and accessories at your disposal at all times. One of them is a soldering iron. Whether you want to fix a printed circuit board (PCB) that’s not working or you need to replace a burnt capacitor on your R.C. car’s circuit board, a soldering iron is the most important tool. Apart from fixing broken items, you may also need a soldering iron if you’re building any of the best Raspberry Pi projects or an easy Arduino project for beginner coders. In fact, it’s also one of the must-have tools in your 3D-printing arsenal.
Once you decide to purchase a soldering iron, either for work or a hobby, it’s vital to determine the exact kind of soldering iron you need. There are various types of irons available based on skill level, purpose, and scale of use. You will also find irons with different sizes of tips since they cater to varying sizes of circuit boards and solder joints. The whole process can be somewhat intimidating. To make the decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best soldering irons for beginners, ranging from some super affordable options to sophisticated ones that provide the utmost precision. We’ve also thrown in some advanced irons for those who want to expand their horizons down the line and need future-proof options.Q-Ming soldering iron kit
If you’re just starting to familiarize yourself with electronic components and the art of soldering, the Q-Ming soldering iron is highly recommended. For starters, it’s one of the most affordable options on this list, so it’s the perfect way to get your hands dirty without a big investment. Despite being affordable, the Q-Ming soldering iron is rated at 80W of power, which is respectable. It has a ceramic heating element that can achieve temperatures of 356 to 896°F (180 to 480°C). That’s a large range for something this affordable. The brand has also added an LCD display on the iron itself to view the current operating temperature. There are buttons on either side to set how hot you want the iron to be.
There’s an anti-scalding coating at the end of the handle for added grip and to make sure the heat doesn’t travel to your fingers. These nice touches are generally only found on more expensive products. In the box, Q-Ming includes five different tips of varying sizes depending on what you’re soldering. This excludes the ultra-slim, pointy one that already comes pre-installed. Then, there’s some solder wire to get you started, a box of flux paste to prepare your metal surface for soldering, and a small stand to rest the iron when it’s not in use. This is the perfect starter kit for beginners, with almost everything you need at a low price point. Plusivo 60W soldering iron kit
Plusivo has gone all out with this soldering kit for beginners. The brand has thrown the kitchen sink into the Plusivo soldering iron kit, which has made sure this is possibly the one-stop solution for all your soldering needs as a beginner. For starters, there’s a standard 60W soldering iron with an adjustable temperature knob, taking the hot end from 392 to 842°F (200 to 450°C). However, there’s no display onboard to signify the current temperature, which is a bit of a bummer since the Q-Ming soldering iron offers it. On the upside, Plusivo bundles a ton of accessories with the kit that most other brands don’t.
Along with the iron, there are a total of six tips of different sizes and shapes, two pairs of tweezers, soldering wire, a desoldering pump, some copper wire, multiple sizes of heat shrink tubes, a sample etched PCB, a stand with a sponge, a wire stripper, and mini-screwdrivers. Finally, there’s a carrying case that can accommodate all of these items, making it easy to travel with them. The brand also lets you download a free e-book that details how the kit can be used so that you don’t make mistakes when working with Arduino or Raspberry Pi boards. Irrespective of whether you’re planning to solder electronic items, jewelry, or other metallic objects, the Plusivo soldering kit has every vital tool required for the process. It’s also priced competitively and is more affordable than buying all of these components individually.YiHua 939D+ digital soldering station
The products mentioned so far are strictly for beginners since they offer basic features while being extremely easy on the pocket. However, if you’re looking for something slightly more serious and don’t mind spending a little more, the YIHUA 939D+ digital soldering iron is the perfect balance of performance and value. The output power is equivalent to 75W, with a temperature range of 392 to 896°F (200 to 480°C). Unlike the other irons so far that have controls on the soldering iron itself to vary the temperature, the YiHua soldering iron needs to be plugged into a power supply that contains the temperature control.
Once you plug the iron into it, there’s a knob that lets you vary the temperature, along with a button to switch between units. There are six tips of various sizes and shapes inside the box, along with a fully metallic stand for the iron. Extras like soldering wire, flux, and a pair of tweezers are also included. The biggest difference between the 939D+ iron and more affordable options is the fine temperature control and faster element heating speeds. There’s also a built-in transformer for stable performance, along with an electrostatic discharge (ESD) safe design that makes it appropriate for professional use.
