Attention! The accuracy of the information and the results of the ranking is subjective and is not an advertisement.
8 best soldering stations
“Ludim, solder, repair”
Author: Stepan Kagner
Working with modern electronics without a soldering station is something else: there is no, of course, and the author had to re-solder the TQFP-128 cases with the help of EPSN-100, so it was a dispute. For a serious lesson, however, you need at least a good compact soldering iron with replaceable burning tips and temperature setting, ideally, you also need a heat gun for desoldering “multi-legged” cases and working with BGA elements, which ordinary soldering irons cannot do at all.
However, choosing a high-quality soldering station, especially fitting into a limited budget, is not so easy. You can shovel the profile forums, re-read the reviews - but, you see, you do not want to waste time on it, right?
This is where we come in, traditionally taking “the raking of the Augean stables” upon ourselves. In today's ranking, we cannot cover the whole variety of soldering equipment, and it is not worth it: leaving aside the highly specialized models, we consider the most typical applications and soldering stations that are common for sale, which are best for them.
| Category | A place | Name | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top budget soldering stations | 1 | MEGEON 00361 | 9.5 / 10 | 3 100 |
| 2 | MEGEON 00308 | 9.1 / 10 | 2 250 | |
| Top low cost soldering stations with hair dryer | 1 | ELEMENT 702 | 9.4 / 10 | 7 100 |
| 2 | LUKEY 702 | 8.9 / 10 | 4 800 | |
| Top Professional Soldering Stations | 1 | Hakko FM-203 | 9.8 / 10 | 43 800 |
| 2 | ERSA i-CON 1 | 9.6 / 10 | 35 800 | |
| Top Professional Hot Air Stations | 1 | Hakko FR-810B | 9.7 / 10 | 51 600 |
| 2 | Hakko 851 | 9.5 / 10 | 34 200 |
Top budget soldering stations
|
MEGEON 00361
3 100
A simple but reasonably high-quality soldering station with a “user interface”, reminiscent of the old Lukey 936A (in turn, “licked” with an even older Hakko 936), but only from afar. The soldering iron here is connected with a normal metal connector (as was done on the Rexant 936A, which, in fact, is the same Lukey with a minimum of differences), and not through a shaky plastic taken from the PS / 2 computer port, and the main advantage can be seen by weighing the soldering unit station in hand - it immediately felt the absence of an input transformer, the power is collected on a pulse circuit.
The soldering iron is a classic for such stations, which is a plus: the company itself does not supply soldering irons for replacement, alas, but it is not difficult to pick up an analog from the Chinese soldering stations. Its reliability is average, which is logical at such a price - whatever one may say, but “Megeon” costs much less than the standard Hakko, METCAL or ERSA. Stings are also a common type, found in stores or on the same Aliexpress suitable for easy. The station is designed for amateur use, so the manufacturer limited itself to setting the temperature in the usual scale at the regulator. But, nevertheless, I did not forget about the possibility of calibration and the fast warm-up mode when turned on, which is not the case with similar “Lukeev”. So let's summarize - the station costs its small price, it is quite suitable for amateur work. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.5 / 10
Rating
Reviews
I will not say that I use it very often, so I will definitely have enough of it for a long time. Much more convenient than ordinary soldering irons, that's for sure. |
|
MEGEON 00308
2 250
So, since we use a pulsed power supply, then why fence the station building in the same format as the old transformer models - with a minimum of functions, you can make it even smaller? Well, the unit of the soldering station of model 00308 is no larger than the power supply units of laptops, which will make it possible to save a lot of space on the desktop, and even during storage. True, the very first glance at him is capable of killing with the inscription: "The range of operating temperatures." Tell me who drew the design, we will spit into it and send the school to re-write checklists on the Russian language.
The power of the soldering iron is 60 W, it uses the most classic “nine hundred” non-scalding tips.Alas, the control unit, alas, has lost its fast warm-up for the sake of compactness, but one cannot say that the soldering iron has been “cracked” for so long. What has been done is clearly wrong - this is connecting the soldering iron to the unit, not on the connector, but “tightly”: to replace a failed soldering iron, you will need another soldering iron - such is the recursion in the reading of “Megeon”. And for that, the station is definitely worthy of antipremii, so this is for a complete stand for a soldering iron. Honestly, the author didn’t see a more disgusting one — it’s just a piece of stamped and bent piece of iron, devoid of even a hint of aesthetics and convenience, and, moreover, designed to put the soldering iron up with the tip. When buying a soldering station, immediately take a normal stand, and this one can be thrown out with great pleasure. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.1 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Better than a soldering iron with a built-in regulator, in reliability, and more convenient. At the same time, it does not take up much space, it solders normally. |
Top low cost soldering stations with hair dryer
|
ELEMENT 702
7 100
This soldering station can be called “Lukay at the maximum settings” - a decent metal case, Russified “interface” and instruction, a scheme without gross flaws. True, the use of monospaced font immediately hints at the Chinese origin of the station.
In general, the soldering station is pretty good for amateur. The 75-watt soldering iron, connected by the “right” connector, has enough power to work with more than just small details. The 650-watt hair dryer with built-in “impeller” produces up to 120 liters per minute, by the standards of this class - good performance. Thermostabilization of the dryer is rude (plus or minus 15 degrees), it is worth bearing in mind. Nozzles, unfortunately, are primitive - with a tightening clamp, it is not so convenient to change them as quick-detachable ones in modern Hakko, but what to do: compare the difference in prices. In contrast to the “Lukeev”, there is a higher-quality power transformer and - lo and behold! - immediately from the factory there is a power switch in the primary circuit, the station does not need to immediately disassemble and modify, thereby losing the guarantee. The controller board is already made with the abundant use of SMD-components, although it is soldered coarsely. Thermostats of a hair dryer and a soldering iron are accessible only from the inside. A curious feature of the soldering iron is the presence of a position sensor. That is, if you leave it turned on in the stand, after some time the station will “fall asleep” without warming the soldering iron in vain. True, it warms up a bit (at that time you will have to hold it in your hand), but overall not bad. "Falls asleep" and the hair dryer when installed on the side bracket. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.4 / 10
Rating
Reviews
It was collected well, I had no problems with this station for two years. |
|
LUKEY 702
4 800
A cheap entry-level soldering station will allow you to get acquainted with the operation of such devices with a minimum budget, and then you will see if you need a better one (and, what is there, a better model), or this one is enough. The “seven hundred and second” (yes, the Chinese do not shine with fantasy in terms of digital indices) two independent temperature control channels with digital indication - one for a soldering iron, the other for a hairdryer. Air flow regulator - analog. Unfortunately, Lukey and here uses a poor soldering iron connector: it is still worth a little hands and install a standard metal, this is one of the most popular improvements "Lukeyevskih" stations. So feel free to buy the GX16-5 Mum and Dad, the rework has been repeatedly and extensively described on the Internet. The “stuffing” at the soldering station is familiar - a board with an average quality of soldering and, naturally, His Majesty the Transformer, which is traditionally nedomot at Lukey stations.It is worth rewinding it in an amicable way: the author somehow recalculated the winding data from Soviet reference books, based on the core section, and found that the Chinese managed to reduce the number of turns from the calculated one and a half times! Well, or at least embed the power switch to quietly leave the soldering station in the outlet, and not pull the plug all the way back and forth - not the board, but the transformer's primary winding should de-energize. This alteration is no less popular and "chewed." Reliability at the station corresponds to the price - the main problem with power triacs that control the heating. They are usually in the repair change to more powerful. Well, what to do - budget "Chinese" as always, you need to "modify the file." Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 8.9 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Immediately after the purchase, I brought it to mind, now I am quite satisfied - yes, the hair dryer is too big (the impeller-supercharger is not in the station body, but in the hair dryer itself), and this is a normal station for this money. |
Top Professional Soldering Stations
|
Hakko FM-203
43 800
Japanese electronics repair company - like Fender for guitar players or Harley-Davidson for bikers. This is, in fact, the “brand by default”: if we are talking about a good professional soldering station, then it is Hakko that comes to mind first. Having begun to produce simple electric soldering irons in 1956, today the Japanese company produces the widest range of excellent soldering equipment, right up to four-axis CNC soldering irons.
This digital soldering station attracts functionality - in fact, we have a four-in-one device. In the basic configuration, it comes only with a soldering iron under T12 tips and a 70-watt ceramic heater (FM-2027), but it can also control tin extractor, thermal tweezers, FM-2026 nitrogen soldering iron, FM-2032 micro soldering iron. That is, having a common “head” for all occasions, you can simply purchase the necessary peripherals for the “classical” soldering. The complete stand for the soldering iron is not only convenient, but also has a “sleep mode” function - if you connect it to the soldering station, it will automatically “fall asleep” when the soldering iron is installed in the stand. There are two outputs on the front panel (channels S and D): if channel D is universal and can work with all the peripherals listed, channel S is designed to connect only a tin extractor, a soldering iron with nitrogen supply and a regular soldering iron. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.8 / 10
Rating
Reviews
I work more “in the old fashioned way”, with mounting through the holes and mounted, that is, I don’t really need a hairdryer, but this station came just right. |
|
ERSA i-CON 1
35 800
The German company ERSA, named after itself by the founder Ernst Sachs, almost came close to a century: in 1921, the first soldering iron was launched under this brand. Now she has become the leading European manufacturer of soldering equipment, so that Japan and Germany, this time in the face of Hakko and ERSA, continue their eternal competition here too.
A very compact but powerful i-CON 1 station, equipped with i-TOOL soldering iron (hmm, my eyes involuntarily begin to look for a gnawed apple on the case), is very convenient in operation and quickly goes into operation: to warm up to 350 degrees, to a cold soldering iron only need 10 seconds. It is easily configured using the i-OP multifunction encoder, and the i-Set media (yes, uh!) Allows you not only to save the settings, but also to transfer them between stations. There is also the ability to protect the settings with a personal password (well, at least without synchronization with iCloud, hehe). There is a serial interface connector on the back of the station - yes, in the industrial equipment this archaic “way of communication” is still used. After connecting to a computer, the station can control additional equipment - for example, infrared preheating tiles. i-CON 1 has an automatic sleep mode, which allows you to save electricity and i-Tip tip life (about Gd ...) during breaks in work. It is especially pleasant that the station menu is completely Russified, and in general it is configured more like an example than Hakko. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.6 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Excellent soldering station, and the power of the soldering iron with such a size allows you to work with massive parts. |
Top Professional Hot Air Stations
|
Hakko FR-810B
51 600
Working with modern electronics, almost all the time will have to deal with SMD-installation. And, therefore, the best choice for work will be a hot-air station, which allows to heat the decoupled elements and solder new ones in places where it is difficult or impossible at all to get a soldering iron.
Specifically, this model is very versatile - it has a thermo-air soldering iron equipped with a vacuum function, that is, it will make it possible to do with one tool both for soldering and for installing / removing chips. Nozzles change very quickly with “bare hands”, fixing themselves with a simple turn - naturally, do not forget about the high temperature during operation. In addition, the kit includes an adapter for attachments from previous generations of Hakko hot-air stations and similar ones. Built-in air blower can produce a flow of from 5 to 115 liters per minute - this is enough for any work. The station allows you to save up to five presets for temperature, airflow and heating timer, quickly switching between them during operation. For safety, the FR-810B automatically goes into sleep mode when the “fuze-iron” rests on the stand, no matter in which position the switch is on its case. Of the shortcomings, we note not the most convenient control - we will have to arm ourselves with instructions, it is not very clear intuitively. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.7 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Hakko is Hakko: a reliable, functional soldering station. In the work constantly, completely satisfied. |
|
Hakko 851
34 200
This soldering station looks deliberately rustic against the background of more modern models, but also does not buy it for appearance: it is a great tool when working with SMD installation. The 80-watt ceramic heater makes it possible to quickly reach the operating temperature, and the removal of the compressor into the station's body allowed the hair dryer to be no bigger than usual in size - from afar you can even think that we have a simple station with a soldering iron. But close at once will be noticeable and a decent thickness of the hose connecting the "soldering iron" with the station, and the air flow regulator on the front panel.
By the way, there are actually two regulators: an additional two-position toggle switch is installed on the rear panel, which allows to reduce air consumption if the range of the front regulator is not enough. There is also a calibration potentiometer window on the back panel. So simplicity, and in many repair shops, and at home, for those who like to tinker with electronics, this station can be seen not by chance - it is durable, practical and costs much cheaper than the more modern lines of Hakko hot-air stations. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.5 / 10
Rating
Reviews
My main "workhorse" is not the first year, it always helps out. |
What soldering station is better to buy?
To begin with, what works are assumed. A large amount of soldering SMD-components with a large number of conclusions, and especially their dismantling will definitely require the use of a hairdryer, and the soldering iron will need to be at a minimum - here it is worth looking in the direction of thermo-air stations. If it is often necessary to solder elements mounted through a hole, then, on the contrary, stations with a “classic” soldering iron require attention. Well, the combined version is the most universal. The possibility of connecting an optional “periphery” - a thermo-tweezers, a tin extractor, will not hurt either. Of course, this is already a feature of professional stations, very expensive - but with professional work it will pay off.
Pay attention to the quality of the soldering iron - and its reliability according to reviews, and how the stingers sit on the heater. In the same cheap Lukey, a bad contact with a heater has long become the talk of the town, which is why, without modification, they poorly solder elements with a good heat sink: the sting is overcooled, no matter how you twist the temperature. Fortunately, someone who, and the owners of the soldering stations used to work with their hands - all the necessary improvements that may require an inexpensive station, were repeatedly described with detailed photos.
Have a good shopping!
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Updated: 28.05.2019
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