An electric soldering iron is a hand-held tool that holds metal components together using solder. Solder is a metal or its alloy that has a melting point lower than the materials to be joined. In brazing, alloys based on tin, lead, copper, nickel, etc. are used. The solder heated to a liquid state fills all the gaps of the parts to be brazed.
A set of additional tips in a ceramic soldering iron increases its functionality.
For the safe work of a person and depending on the voltage in the power supply network, soldering irons with different amperage and power are used.
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The device and principle of operation of the EPSN type soldering iron
Soldering iron element diagram.
The main elements of an electric soldering iron are:
- kernel;
- heater;
- the sting;
- holder;
- electric cord with plug.
A red copper rod is heated by a nichrome coil to the melting point of the solder. Due to the high thermal conductivity of copper, it is the rod that is made of copper material. The heating element transfers heat to the tip of the appliance.
The rod end of the soldering iron is the working part of the tool with a wedge-shaped end. This is called the soldering tip.
The rod, inserted into the metal tube, is pre-wrapped in an insulating material. It can be fiberglass or mica. A nichrome thread is wound on the insulator, which serves as a heating element.
Back to the table of contentsThe main varieties of a soldering device
Soldering iron design diagram.
In addition to the electric soldering iron with a spiral heater (EPSN), which is widely used in everyday life, there are a number of other types of soldering tools.
Soldering irons differ in the method of heat transfer and soldering, the type of energy consumed and other indicators.
Here is some of them:
- Induction soldering iron. The heating of such a tool is based on an inductor coil. A ferromagnetic tip has a magnetic field generated by a coil. Thanks to this, the core heats up. Solders such a device to a certain temperature value. When the coating loses its magnetic properties, heating stops.
- The use of ceramic rods has a number of significant advantages: fast heating, increased tool life and optimal adjustment of the selected soldering modes (temperature and power).
- Soldering irons with impulse voltage supply to the rod are widely used among radio amateurs. The shape of such a soldering iron resembles a gun. The essence is that when the trigger is pressed and held, the tip heats up. After finishing work, the trigger is released and the soldering device is cooled down.
- An exclusively autonomous soldering device is a device that uses gas as a heater. Such gas soldering irons can be used in any conditions. It is enough to have access to a gas source.
- Another type of standalone device is rechargeable soldering irons. Operation is based on low power consumption (up to 15 W). Such soldering devices are used for simple and small-sized soldering work.
In almost every home, a soldering iron is included in the tool kit - a special device for soldering parts. The principle of operation of this device is to melt the tin (solder) and then apply the solder to the edges of the alloy parts. In addition, using a soldering iron, you can cover the desired item with a thin layer of molten tin - irradiate it.
Soldering irons differ in tip heating technology into several types, these are:
- Electric soldering iron. The most widespread and popular type. Its sting is heated by electricity.
- Hot air. A thin jet of hot air heats the surface to be treated.
- Arc. The surface is heated by an electric arc between the tip and an electrode placed inside the device.
- Hammer and end. Soldering iron tips of this type are fixed on elongated handles, heating occurs under the influence of an external heat source.
- Gas. In other words, a gas burner.
- Infrared Soldering Station. The soldering process is carried out using infrared radiation.
Electric soldering irons also have their own varieties, differing in the type of power and type of heater: nichrome and ceramic. Pulse also refers to electric soldering irons, their tip heats up at the moment when it is needed. Each type of device has its own functional features, distinctive characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
Nichrome soldering iron
It is also called an electric soldering iron with a spiral heater, or ESPN. The heating element of this instrument is a spiral made of thin nichrome wire through which an electric current passes. In more modern models, there is a nichrome element built into the insulators.
Advantages:
- average price, availability;
- shock resistance, the soldering iron is not sensitive to mechanical damage.
Disadvantages:
- sensitivity to stress, with intensive daily use, its spiral burns out;
- the tip takes a long time to warm up.
Ceramic Soldering Iron
The heater is made in the form of a ceramic rod that is heated by electricity. Soldering irons of this type are more convenient, but most often there are fakes - nichrome, in which only the insulator is ceramic. However, real ceramic is produced by a limited number of manufacturers, and there are many cheap, low-quality imitations.
Advantages:
- heating occurs quite quickly;
- the temperature is maintained by the control system;
- high power;
- small size;
Disadvantages:
- difficulties in identifying a fake;
- fragility of the heating element;
- inability to use replaceable stings;
- high price of the device.
Hammer soldering iron
Modern models are electric or heated from external heat sources (from open flames). The name "hammer" comes from the design - a handle with a thick tip. The device allows you to solder large parts.
Advantages:
- low price;
- the ability to make such a soldering iron by hand;
- good power (100 to 150 watts).
Disadvantages:
- small functionality;
- inability to regulate the heating temperature.
Pulse soldering iron
Soldering irons of this type do not have constant heating, and the tip heats up when a button is pressed. For convenience, such a device has a curved shape. Long-term soldering is not provided in this case, but it is convenient to operate with a pulse soldering iron for short-term work.
The tip is made of copper wire, it is heated by means of an electric current. Modern firms produce impulse instruments with removable tips and a ceramic heater.
The devices of the new type have additional functions, such as regulation of power and temperature, which makes it possible to solder both small and large parts.
Advantages:
- rapid heating of the tip;
- soldering parts of different sizes;
- high efficiency (heating the tip directly during soldering).
Disadvantages:
- can be used exclusively for short-term work.
Cordless soldering irons
The power of this type of device is relatively small, the soldering iron does not work from the mains, but on batteries and is used in cases of lack of electricity or the need to work in special conditions.
Advantages:
- fast heating;
- mobility and no need for a power supply network;
- small size.
Disadvantages:
- low power.
Portable USB Soldering Irons
These are small USB powered soldering irons. Such a device can be powered by a car cigarette lighter and is designed for soldering small parts.
Advantages:
- mobility;
- small size;
- heats up quickly.
Disadvantages:
- low power.
Soldering iron with tin suction
This is a rather original and convenient device that is easy to use. It is best to choose a soldering iron with an insulated handle, it will ensure safety when working and will last longer. Low-quality soldering irons with built-in solder suction are characterized by quick failure.
Soldering iron for children
This is a device with a low power - from 30 to 60 watts. They are electric, impulse and battery operated. We recommend purchasing a tool with a wooden handle.
Tip types
Soldering iron tips have several varieties and are made of ceramics, copper, and can also have a silver, aluminum, nickel coating.
Copper sting
Such tips are installed in electric soldering irons.
Advantages:
- good thermal conductivity;
- heat capacity.
Disadvantages:
- oxidation of the rod and, as a consequence, a decrease in its functionality;
- such a sting has to be cleaned, it becomes thinner and soon needs to be replaced.
Nickel plated tip
Such a sting is also included in the design of electric soldering irons, and devices with a ceramic heater.
Advantages:
- does not burn during operation;
- there is no need to regularly clean it.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- fragility of the material.
Ceramic tip
Its body is made of ceramic, and the tip is usually copper plated with nickel.
Advantages:
- thermal conductivity;
- corrosion resistance;
- no need for constant cleaning.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- fragility of the ceramic case.
Sting shape
The shape of the tip depends on the type of work being done. At the same time, some designs of soldering irons do not imply the use of replaceable tips, and in this case, replacing the tip becomes difficult and time-consuming. In addition, there are soldering irons with adjustable tip length.
The tips are in the form of a wedge (screwdriver), a rod with a beveled edge, cone-shaped, in the form of a needle. The most convenient, versatile shape is the shape of the screwdriver, as it is suitable for various jobs. This shape allows you to quickly heat the necessary part, and the solder on such a tip holds better than on other tip shapes.
Soldering iron handle material
The soldering iron handle must be made of materials with low thermal conductivity. It can be a wooden handle, ebonite, as well as a handle made of carbolite and PCB. Plastic handles are found on the cheapest models, they heat up quickly and can melt. The best choice would be a wooden handle, as it has the lowest thermal conductivity.
How to choose the right soldering iron
When choosing a soldering iron, you should be guided by the main criteria, such as its power, thermal stabilization and, of course, at the price of the device.
Power
This indicator depends on the type of work. Power up to 25 watts is suitable for soldering small electronic parts, 40 watts is suitable for working with thick wires. Higher power, from 100 watts and above, is suitable for soldering large parts. The advantages of high-power soldering irons are their reliability and a wide range of functions, but their disadvantage is that such devices are not used in everyday life.
The power of a home soldering iron should be between 25 and 40 watts. A lower power rating will lead to the fact that the soldering will take a long time, and the quality of the result will be questionable. Excessive power will make it impossible to solder parts that could simply burn out.
Thermal stabilization
Soldering irons with thermal stabilization significantly speed up the soldering process, improve its quality, and it becomes much more convenient to work, since they provide an opportunity not only to accurately set the temperature required for work, but also to maintain it. It is convenient for both beginners and professionals. The temperature regulator can be either in a separate housing or built into the design of the soldering iron.
Advantages:
- automatic maintenance of the desired temperature;
- the risk of overheating is excluded;
- one soldering iron can be used to perform work requiring different degrees of heating;
- there is no need to remove scale from the soldering iron tip.
Disadvantages:
- the original tip is not universal;
- fakes are often found;
- heats up for a long time.
Soldering iron cost
Prices directly depend on the characteristics and functionality, the type of heater, the presence or absence of a temperature controller and the brand that produces the device. You can buy an inexpensive soldering iron that has good characteristics and is suitable for homework, you can also choose a more expensive model with additional functions.
Inexpensive and budget soldering irons include devices that cost from 80 to 600 rubles. Most often these are electric soldering irons with a copper tip, with a capacity of 40 watts. This also includes ceramic soldering irons with a nichrome heater, a nickel tip and a power of 30 to 40 watts - their cost ranges from 300 to 600 rubles.
Soldering irons of the average price - pulse, with a power of 70 watts (from 300 to 700 rubles), wireless and USB soldering irons, with a low power of up to 10 watts (from 300 to 1300 rubles).
A soldering iron with a durable tip and a ceramic film heater, with a power of 50 watts, has a cost of 2500 to 5200 rubles.
Top ten
KVT XZ-1 - 10th place
Non-contact multifunctional gas soldering iron. Well suited for soldering in hard-to-reach places. It has three modes of operation - as a soldering iron, as a heat shrink hair dryer and as a gas torch. Its maximum temperature is 1300 degrees, and the temperature is 580 degrees, a system of smooth adjustment of the operating temperature is built into the design, and the kit includes a case and 4 nozzles. Its cost is from 1900 to 2912 rubles.
Soldering iron KVT XZ-1
Dremel VersaFlame - 9th Place
Gas soldering iron. It is a universal soldering station suitable for home soldering. Heats up quickly, and its continuous operation time is 75 minutes. Its maximum heating temperature is 1200 degrees, the device comes with 4 replaceable nozzles, and its cost is from 2680 to 4609 rubles.
Dremel VersaFlame Soldering Iron
Sigma 200W - 8th place
Impulse gun-shaped soldering iron with impact-resistant body. It has a built-in transformer, and the tip of this soldering iron is made of high quality steel. The kit includes 3 replaceable nozzles. The maximum heating temperature is 400 degrees. Its cost is about 800 rubles.
Soldering iron video review:
Soldering iron Sigma 200W
Lukey 852D Plus - 7th place
Hot air soldering station with a power of 350 watts and a maximum temperature of 480 degrees. It has an impressive weight, but at the same time it is simple and convenient to use. The kit includes a stand and a holder for a hair dryer, which is equipped with an automatic shutdown function. Suitable for soldering microcircuits, as well as for repairing household appliances and electrical appliances. The device is equipped with a thermostat, and its cost ranges from 5250 to 6590 rubles.
Soldering iron Lukey 852D Plus
REXANT ZD-708 - 6th place
This is an electric soldering iron with a ceramic heater, equipped with a power regulator in the range from 30 to 50 watts. The cone tip heats up quickly, and the device itself is reliable. Its heat-resistant handle is made of transparent plastic. The maximum heating temperature is 200-450 degrees. Its cost is from 590 to 1099 rubles.
Read more about the soldering iron in the video:
Soldering iron REXANT ZD-708
Lukey 852D Plus FAN - 5th place
Hot air soldering station, with a powerful air flow, adjustable power of 350 watts and a temperature of 480 degrees. The temperature is also adjustable, and the price of the device is from 449 to 5890 rubles.
Soldering iron Lukey 852D Plus FAN
CT-96 (CT-Tools) - 4th place
Ceramic soldering iron with a temperature controller - a special sensor sets the operating temperature (from 100 to 400 degrees), heating takes place within two minutes and the set heating level is stable during soldering. Its power is 50 watts, and the cost is about 530 rubles.
Soldering iron CT-96 (CT-Tools)
PROXXON EL 12 (28140) - 3rd place
An electric soldering iron with a temperature controller, which provides constant stabilized heating of the tip. Heats up quickly, within 10 seconds. The body of the soldering iron is protected from heating, in addition, the device is equipped with a backlight, has a low weight, its operating temperature is 250 degrees. The cost of such a soldering iron is from 1300 to 1550 rubles.
Soldering iron PROXXON EL 12 (28140)
REXANT HT-019 (ZD-210) - 2nd place
Electric soldering iron with molten tin vacuum suction, good for household work. Much more convenient than soldering irons with conventional solder suction. The handle of the device is made of impact-resistant plastic. The power of the soldering iron is 40 watts, the operating temperature is 450 degrees, and the cost is from 280 to 520 rubles.
Soldering iron REXANT HT-019 (ZD-210)
Dremel VersaTip - 1st place
Dremel VersaTip Non-Contact Gas Soldering Iron. Convenient, lightweight, versatile and can function as a soldering iron, gas torch, hot knife and hair dryer. The operating time at minimum power is 90 minutes, and at maximum power - 30 minutes. Warming up occurs quickly, its maximum temperature is infinitely adjustable, and at its maximum is 1200 degrees. The kit includes 6 nozzles, and the price of the device is from 2545 to 3199 rubles.
Dremel VersaTip Soldering Iron
When choosing a soldering iron, you should rely on the planned scope of work, the frequency of its use and the technical characteristics of a particular device.
Varieties
Soldering irons with intermittent heating
- Hammerheads and end soldering irons are a massive working tip mounted on a relatively long metal handle, the length of which ensures safe handling of the tool. To perform non-standard work, soldering irons of this type are supplied with shaped tips. These soldering irons are heated by external heat sources. This is the oldest type of soldering iron (existed in ancient times).
- Arc Soldering Iron- the soldering iron is heated by an electric arc periodically excited between a carbon electrode placed inside the soldering iron and the tip. An arc soldering iron weighing 1 kg is heated to a temperature of 500 ° C at a voltage of 24 V for 3 minutes, the power consumption is 1.5-2.0 kW.
Soldering irons with constant heating
- Electric soldering irons Soldering irons with a built-in electric heating element, powered by a lighting network, from a step-down transformer or from batteries.
- Gas- soldering irons with a built-in gas torch (combustible gas is supplied from a built-in canister or, less often, from an external source).
- Soldering irons, liquid fuel -
- Hot air- in them, the part is heated by blowing hot air over it. In this it resembles an industrial hair dryer, but unlike it, a thin stream of air is used.
- Infrared- the part is heated using infrared radiation
Areas of use
Low power (5-40 W) electric soldering irons are usually used for soldering electronic components using low-melting tin-lead-antimony solders; it is the main tool of electronics and electromechanics. Powerful electric soldering irons (100 W or more) are used for soldering and tinning of massive parts.
Soldering stations
When assembling electrical appliances and electronic devices in the industry, soldering stations are used, which provide additional opportunities for soldering, for example, adjusting (including thermostating) the temperature of the tip, soldering with hot air or infrared radiation, etc.
Soldering iron device
Household electric soldering irons are a thin metal tube, on one side of which there is a heat-resistant plastic or wooden handle, on the other - a replaceable copper rod ("sting"), sharpened at the end under a cone or dihedral angle. The end of the sting is tinned. Inside the tube there is an electrically insulated (using ceramics or mica) heating element - a wire made of nichrome or another alloy with high resistivity, connected to a current-carrying cord passing through the handle and connected to a mains or step-down transformer or dimmer.
Working with a soldering iron rod
To bring the soldering iron into working condition, you must turn it on and wait for the tip of the tip to heat up to the melting temperature of the solder (about 5-6 minutes). Before the process of soldering, a flux should be applied to the jointed place for better wetting of the metal surface with solder. Rosin is often used as a flux for soldering small copper parts. For other metals, other fluxes can be used, such as phosphoric acid. It is strictly forbidden to use active fluxes for soldering printed circuit boards or radio components: only rosin or alcohol-cannin flux can be used for electronics.
Interestingly, when you turn it on for the first time, such a soldering iron gives off smoke and a characteristic smell, which pass after a couple of minutes. This is not a malfunction and is due to the burnout of the adhesive tape or adhesive that adhered the mica sheets when winding the heater.
The operating current and the operating temperature of the soldering iron tip drop over time, as the heating wire evaporates and transforms into an oxide, which causes its diameter to decrease. To compensate for this, the diameter of the wire is initially slightly increased, and to maintain the temperature in the norm, for critical rations, an external rheostat (power regulator) is used.
Pulse soldering iron
Soldering iron gun
Soldering gun device
Or a soldering iron with an open heater - one of the varieties of a household soldering iron, which appeared in the USSR back in the 1970s, is a device in the shape of a pistol, at the end of which there are 2 electrical contacts and a backlight. A heating element is attached to the contacts. Inside there is a transformer that lowers the mains voltage to several volts, which is supplied to the contacts. Such a soldering iron heats up in 10 seconds. Modern soldering irons have LED backlighting instead of incandescent bulbs.
These soldering irons are very convenient for heating screws if they cannot be removed.
- in the USSR there was on sale a special nozzle on the soldering iron tip, which could be used for cutting and welding, for example
A soldering iron is a device that melts the solder (tin) and applies it to the contact point of the parts that are being soldered.
Also, using a soldering iron, you can irradiate an object, that is, cover it with a thin layer of solder.
Heating types
Soldering irons are distinguished by the method of heating the working part (tip) on:
Useful information:
- Electric soldering irons- the tip is heated using electricity.
- Hot Air Soldering Irons- heating of the treated surface occurs under the influence of a thin stream of hot air.
- Arc soldering irons- heating the working element is heated under the influence of an electric arc between the tip (tip) and the electrode located inside the soldering iron.
- End and hammer- these are soldering irons, the tips of which are fixed on sufficiently long metal handles and are heated using external heat sources.
- Gas soldering irons- are a gas burner.
- Infrared Soldering Stations- soldering is carried out using infrared radiation
The most common are electric soldering irons. Basically, they differ in power and type of heater.
Electric soldering irons also include pulse soldering irons. A feature of impulse soldering irons is the heating of the tip at the right moment for work. When working with such a soldering iron, the start button is pressed and the tip heats up rapidly, if you release the button, the working part cools down quickly.
Heater types
By the type of heater, electric soldering irons are divided into soldering irons:
- With a ceramic heater - such a soldering iron uses ceramic rods that are heated by electricity.
- With a nichrome heater - these use a nichrome wire spiral.
Power types
By power, electric soldering irons are conventionally divided into:
- Low-power - from 15W to 40W. Mainly used in electronics for "thin" soldering
- Average power - from 40W to 100W. Used for soldering and tinning wires and large enough parts
- Soldering irons with power over 100W. Used for heating and soldering massive objects with high heat transfer
Soldering iron tip
A very important element of the soldering iron is the tip (the part with which the soldering is done). Stings come in various shapes - in the form of a beveled edge, a cone, a flat screwdriver, a needle, an ax. The most common blade is a flat-blade screwdriver. On such a tip, the solder is well retained, and a sufficiently large area of the tip allows the part to warm up in a short period of time.
If the tip of the soldering iron is made of copper, without any coating, then its shape can be changed - by sharpening with a file or forging with a hammer. Before starting work, a new soldering iron must be irradiated. To do this, you need to warm up the soldering iron and remove the oxides from the tip while hot using a fine file. Then dip the red-hot tip in rosin and solder. If this is not done, melting the solder with such a soldering iron will not work, since the tip will turn black.
If the sting is nickel-plated, the so-called "non-combustible" sting, then it cannot be processed.
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For many people, soldering irons are considered to be a coil heater device. Although there are many types of soldering irons, which differ in the type of energy consumption, methods of conversion into heat and methods of transferring heat to the soldering point.
The most common known devices that run on electricity are electric soldering irons.
Types of soldering irons
Electric soldering irons with nichrome heater
Made with nichrome spiral. An electric current passes through it. Innovative models of soldering irons have a tip heating control using a temperature sensor, which gives a signal to turn off the spiral in time when the temperature has reached the operating mode. The temperature sensor is made according to the thermocouple principle.
Electric soldering irons with a nichrome heater have several different designs. Simple soldering irons have a nichrome spiral in the design. It is wrapped around a casing made of insulating material. A heating rod is inserted inside. In more advanced designs, nichrome is built into insulators, which reduce heat loss, increase heat transfer.
There are options with heaters made of nichrome, placed inside a white insulating material. This element is sometimes mistaken for a ceramic heater. Manufacturers use this to influence the buyer's choice of soldering iron.
Ceramic
There are also designs of soldering irons in which the heater is ceramic, in the form of a rod. It heats up from the applied voltage to its contacts. Such heaters are recognized as more advanced. They have their own advantages: fast heating, increased service life (if you treat it with care), a wide range of power and temperature.
Induction soldering iron
In this device, the rod is heated by an induction coil. The tip is coated with a ferromagnetic material. In this material, the coil forms a magnetic field, from which a current is induced, heating the soldering iron core.
When the temperature has reached the required value, the ferromagnetic coating no longer has magnetic properties, as a result of which the core no longer heats up. When the temperature drops to a certain value, the ferromagnetic properties of the coating are restored again, and heating of the core begins again. This is how the temperature of the soldering iron core is automatically maintained within the operating range, without using a sensor or electronic control.
Pulse soldering irons
This type of soldering iron belongs to a special category. The order of their activation is as follows: press the start button and keep it pressed. The soldering iron tip heats up quickly, in a few seconds, reaches the operating temperature. Soldering of the required space is carried out. After soldering, the button turns off, the soldering iron cools.
In impulse soldering irons of Russian production, the following scheme works. A copper wire is included in the electrical circuit (it is also a tip). The circuit consists of a high-frequency transformer, a frequency converter that increases the frequency of the mains voltage to 40 kHz. The transformer reduces the mains voltage to the operating value. The soldering iron core is fixed to the current collector of the secondary coil of the transformer. This makes it possible to form a significant current in it, rapid heating. Innovative soldering irons are equipped with temperature and power level regulators, which allow soldering both large parts and elements of small electronics.
Gas soldering irons
They belong to autonomous instruments. They are used in any place. This is their main advantage. The soldering iron tip is heated by a gas flame. The soldering iron has a built-in gas cylinder, which you can independently refuel from a lighter can. If you disconnect the nozzle from such a soldering iron, then it can act as a gas burner.
Battery-powered soldering iron
This device is also a stand-alone instrument. It has a low power, up to 15 watts, and is used for soldering electronic small parts.
There are two types of soldering stations. These are infrared type and hot air stations. They are not as common, but they have their advantages.
Hot air execution soldering stations are equipped with heating of the soldering zone from the pressure of hot air that comes out of the soldering nozzle. They resemble hair dryers, the exhaust air of which comes from a nozzle. Compressor and turbine soldering stations differ in the way they generate air pressure. In the case of hot air, an electric motor with an impeller is located in the soldering iron body, which supplies an air flow. In compressor stations, the pressure is generated by a compressor with a diaphragm. The compressor is also located in the station housing.
Infrared execution of stations produces heating by radiation of infrared waves. The heating zone can be 10-60 mm in size. Its dimensions are determined by the adjusting system of the infrared emitter window. Different window shapes are obtained using reflective tape made from foil. It covers areas of the electronic board that do not need to be heated.
How to choose soldering irons
The soldering iron must be selected based on its parameters in terms of temperature and power, as well as the conditions of use, and the personal requirements of the user. If it is necessary to use a soldering iron where there is no electricity, then they purchase autonomous types of soldering irons, these are battery or gas. Infrared and hot air soldering stations are used more often for special jobs for soldering electronic parts. Electric soldering irons with impulse heating have a high speed of operation, are widespread among people who do not like to wait for a long heating.
There are some criteria for choosing a soldering iron:
- Power... The required power of the soldering iron is selected depending on the type of work performed. If you need to solder electronic parts, then a power of up to 25 watts is better. You can use a device with a power of 40 watts, but then you will have to wind copper wire or make a nozzle on the tip. For tinning and soldering thick wires, as well as removing solder, it is also the best choice.
For more voluminous work on soldering massive and tin parts with significant heat removal, it is better to purchase a soldering iron with a capacity of 100 to several hundred watts. For such purposes, a hammer-type soldering iron is well suited.
- Thermal stabilization ... For professional solders, the most convenient type of soldering iron has become a sample with heat stabilization, which increases the convenience of work, the speed and quality of soldering. For ordinary amateurs who occasionally engage in soldering, such a model is also convenient, since it is possible to set the required temperature on it with its automatic maintenance. It is better that the soldering iron has the ability to accurately set the temperature, and not just the upper and lower limits. Instead of adjusting the temperature, it may be suggested to change the power, which has no relation to temperature. Without load and heat dissipation, the soldering irons will overheat, and with good heat dissipation during soldering, the temperature may not be enough for work. The power regulator for the soldering iron is based on a dimmer.
- The sting... An important thing when choosing a soldering iron is the ability to change different tip configurations. If the core of the soldering iron is made of copper, then the configuration of the tip can be easily made in any shape if it is sharpened. You can also flatten it with a hammer instead of sharpening. And if the core is covered with a non-combustible material (nickel or other metal), then it is not recommended to sharpen it. Therefore, when deciding on the choice of a soldering iron, you need to ask the seller about completing it with spare tips.
Nickel-plated tips prevent access to copper. Electric soldering irons with such tips require careful handling to prevent overheating. The coating may not be of sufficient quality.
There are various shapes of tips: tapered, needle-shaped, beveled, screwdriver-shaped, etc. Each form is suitable for its own type of work. Universal shapes are blades sharpened for a screwdriver. They are suitable for many types of work. The solder holds well on them. Due to the large beveled area, you can quickly heat the part for brazing.
Soldering iron manufacturers advise using native tips that are included in the set of ceramic heaters, since when the tips are replaced with parts from other manufacturers, the operating temperature of the heater is disrupted, which causes its breakdown.
- Nichrome or ceramic ... Some amateurs, who are often involved in soldering radio components, can give specific recommendations and advice on their experience of using such devices, with different types of heaters.
Advantages of nichrome wire as a heater: low cost, less than that of a ceramic model, falls and impacts are not dangerous. Disadvantages: slow heating, limited service life, as the wire gradually burns out during operation. But this only happens with long daily use. If you solder occasionally, then the nichrome wire will not burn.
The advantage of the ceramic heating element is its durability. With careful careful work, the soldering iron will serve for many years. Its heating rate is higher than nichrome. Among the disadvantages is the risk of breakage by impact or fall. The soldering iron works only with its own tips.