These Are The Best Soldering Irons
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Best gas soldering iron - Lexivon Butane Soldering Iron Kit[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best cordless soldering iron - Dremel Versatip 2000 Cordless Gas Powered Soldering Iron[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best soldering iron kit for beginners - Tabiger 60 Watt Soldering Iron Kit[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best 90 Watt soldering iron - RHAEGON 90-Watt LED Digital Soldering Iron[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best with desolder pump - Lytool 90-Watt Soldering Iron Kit[ SAVE 17% ]
Read Our Expert Soldering Iron Reviews
- Compared with a lot of gas soldering irons, this one easily stands up on its end. It means you can go “hands free” and use the flame as a stationary heat source.
- Compared with the Dremel Versatip 2000, you get an extra iron tip to play with. You get an extra chisel-style soldering tip that is ideal for working on printed circuit boards or electrical wires.
- You can easily adjust the flame length. It ranges from around 13 – 63 mm, which is a useful amount of reach if you need to get into really tight spots.
- Several users have complained that the piezo powered flame started is a bit hit and miss. It doesn’t reliably light every time, which would be rather frustrating.
- Even though it’s an effective security feature, the safety lock is quite annoying. You need to use both hands to start the torch up. It’s not ideal if you’re up a ladder!
- The case the torch comes in is tight. You need to disassemble the soldering iron every time you put it back. It’s not a huge problem, but it means the iron isn’t always ready to go.
- Power
- Butane Gas
- Max Temperature
- 590°C
- Tips
- 7
- Stand
- No
- Digital
- No
- Desolder Pump
- No
- With Multimeter
- No
- Case
- Yes
- Build Quality
- 4
- Ease of Use
- 5
- Value for Money
- 5
Producing a wide variety of good-looking kit, California-based Lexivon’s excellent butane soldering kit contains almost everything you need to get soldering on the go. The smart-looking plastic case is packed with tools and accessories for both crafting and soldering jobs.
The wireless butane-powered gas soldering iron is extremely well put together. It feels robust and comes with a protective cap like a big pen lid for when you’re travelling around. Rated to put out a massive 590°C, this is one powerful pocket-sized soldering iron.
I was impressed by the range of iron tips included in this soldering iron package. Here’s what soldering accessories you get included: A decent quality heat reflector, a fine precision tip, a general-purpose chisel tip, a wider chisel tip, a hot knife tip, and a hot air gun tip that has a wide hole in the end. That’s seven different types of soldering iron tips! Not bad for a moderately priced soldering kit.
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2. Dremel Versatip 2000 Cordless Gas Powered Soldering Iron
Best cordless soldering iron
- With an incredibly hot 550 °C maximum soldering iron temperature, this soldering iron isn’t just good for melting flux. It can also be used for pyrography, jewellery making, and hot cutting.
- The liquid butane gas fuel is readily available and inexpensive. Even though the run time is maximum 60 minutes, you can refill on the go and work all day long.
- The heat reflector iron tip is useful for all sorts of tasks. Commonly used for working with heat shrink tubing, you can also braze copper pipes or bend all sorts of metals.
- Thanks to this being a gas powered iron, it heats up much more quickly compared with the Srmtch mains powered soldering iron, for example. It’s ideal when you need instant heat.
- The construction of this soldering iron means it’s much fatter than an ordinary electric one. It’s not as easy to control compared with the Tabinger iron’s slimline grip.
- As with any gas powered soldering iron, you need to be careful not to scorch delicate circuit boards. Even though you can control the temperature, it’s still a powerful beast.
- Several users have commented that there’s no way to see how much fuel is left in this soldering iron. Unless you’ve got a good idea of your usage, it could run out on you.
- Power
- Butane Gas
- Max Temperature
- 550°C
- Tips
- 6
- Stand
- No
- Digital
- No
- Desolder Pump
- No
- With Multimeter
- No
- Case
- Yes
- Build Quality
- 4
- Ease of Use
- 5
- Value for Money
- 4
Probably better known for their amazing rotary tools, Dremel also know a thing or two about making the best butane gas-powered soldering irons. The Dremel Versatip 2000 is what it sounds like, a versatile soldering iron that uses the power of flame to heat up all the way to 550 °C.
Supplied in a handsome metal tin, you get a decent range of soldering accessories including six very useful iron tips. There’s a soldering tip, a shaping knife, a hot cutting knife, a hot air tip, a wide flame head, and a deflector. It elevates this tool from a simple soldering iron to a multi-use instrument for DIY and craft soldering projects.
One of the advantages that the Versatip 2000 has over traditional soldering irons is that it’s completely cordless. If you’re working up a ladder or in a confined space, there’s no lead to worry about. It’s also an ideal tool to throw in your tool bag when you’re off to soldering jobs without mains electricity. And with a bit of practice using the included iron tips, it’s a lot more than just a soldering iron.
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- The 200 – 450 °C adjustable temperature feature makes this soldering iron ideal for working with a range of solder types on different projects.
- I like the range of soldering iron tips that come with this soldering kit. You can practise using needle tips and chisel tips without needing to buy a whole set to start with.
- The included desoldering pump is decent quality for a moderately priced kit. It’s the perfect tool for removing molten solder from a printed circuit board.
- Some users have complained about the temperature control dial getting in the way. You’ll need to keep an eye on it, as you can knock it and change temperature too easily.
- The temperature control dial isn’t easy to read compared with the Sremtch digital display. Having a visual temperature reference is an excellent feature that this iron lacks.
- Although it’s nice to get a set of wire strippers included in the set, the quality isn’t very good. I’m not sure how long they’ll last. A decent set of wire strippers isn’t expensive on its own.
- Power
- Mains - 60W
- Max Temperature
- 450°C
- Tips
- 5
- Stand
- Yes
- Digital
- No
- Desolder Pump
- Yes
- With Multimeter
- No
- Case
- Yes
- Build Quality
- 4
- Ease of Use
- 4
- Value for Money
- 5
Specialising in all things soldering, Tabiger’s enormous soldering iron kit contains everything you’d need to get to work. And I’m happy to say it’s not going to break the bank either. This 60 Watt kit is ideal for beginners soldering projects. If this is your first soldering iron you’ll be fixing circuit boards in no time at all!
First off, you get a lot of equipment in this set. Alongside the soldering iron itself, there are five different shapes of soldering iron tips. There’s a de-soldering pump, a decent pair of needle-nosed tweezers, a wire cutter and stripper, a length of lead-free solder, 1.5 m of solder wick, and a soldering stand with a sponge to remove excess solder. And it all comes neatly packed in a Polyurethane leather-look case.
What makes this one of the best soldering irons I’ve tried out though is a simple little feature. There’s an inline ON/OFF switch half way up the power cord, which means you don’t have to switch the soldering iron off at the mains each time. A very handy little device.
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- The LED screen doesn’t just make this soldering iron look good, but it also makes it incredibly easy to see what temperature you’re on. Adjusting the temperature is just as simple.
- The green sleeve that stretches along the length of the iron means you’ve got tons of good grip, whatever your hand position. It also helps to keep the temperatures down on the outside.
- The 90-Watt ceramic core heating element is powerful. It will heat the tip up in just 15 seconds. That means less waiting around, and more soldering action!
- The soft touch control buttons are almost too easy to touch. Unless you keep an eye on the LED screen, you can change the temperature, or turn it off, without noticing.
- This soldering iron suffers from a too-rigid cable. Especially when dealing with a lightweight iron like this, a stiff cable can get in the way and even become dangerous.
- Some users have complained about how small the tips are on this soldering iron. They’re more suited to delicate soldering work than processing enormous amounts of tin.
- Power
- Mains - 90W
- Max Temperature
- 480°C
- Tips
- 3
- Stand
- No
- Digital
- Yes
- Desolder Pump
- No
- With Multimeter
- No
- Case
- No
- Build Quality
- 4
- Ease of Use
- 5
- Value for Money
- 4
Electronics manufacturers RHAEGON make a small but useful range of tools for anyone who wants to fiddle around with circuit boards. Their sleek-looking 90-Watt soldering iron is incredibly easy to use and heats up quickly too.
Changing the heat settings on this little iron is a piece of cake. There’s a soft touch on/off switch, and a temperature up and temperature down button. The current temperature, up to 480 °C, displays clearly on the bright LED screen, and thanks to the ceramic core it heats up in just a few seconds.
The kit that comes with the soldering iron is ideal for beginners. There’re two pairs of tweezers, three different shaped tips, a cleaning sponge, a tub of rosin flux, and a reel of lead-free soldering wire. Together they make this one of the best soldering kits for beginners.
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- Selecting and setting your desired temperature couldn’t be easier. There are just two buttons to press, and the large digital readout makes it clear what temperature you’re on.
- You can easily switch between showing the target temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Just hold down both adjustment buttons to change the scale.
- As a beginner’s kit, this is ideal. It might not have all the functions or build quality of an expensive iron, but you get a whole lot of soldering iron kit for the money.
- This kit comes with a stand, but the quality is quite poor. Compared with the sturdy holder you get with the Tabiger iron, this one’s just a flimsy piece of metal.
- Several users have complained that the power cord is stiff and not quite long enough. Not everyone has access to power sockets on their benchtop, so a longer cord would be preferred.
- A maximum temperature output of just 450 °C isn’t enough for some applications. It’s a surprise that an iron with a large 90 Watt element wouldn’t get hotter.
- Power
- Mains - 90W
- Max Temperature
- 450°C
- Tips
- 6
- Stand
- Yes
- Digital
- Yes
- Desolder Pump
- Yes
- With Multimeter
- No
- Case
- No
- Build Quality
- 5
- Ease of Use
- 4
- Value for Money
- 5
Precision tool makers Lytool know a thing or two about making the best soldering iron. Their range of products includes everything from clamps to angle finders. This 90-Watt soldering iron kit heats up quickly and features an easy-to-read digital screen.
Rather than fiddling around with dials and hoping the temperature is just about right, Lytool have gone the extra step to turn this soldering iron digital. To set the temperature, all you need to do is push the buttons on either side of the screen until it reads anything between 200 – 450 °C.
This clever iron comes with a decent kit as well. You get a roll of flux, solder sucker, tweezers, cleaning sponge, basic stand, and five different 900M series tips as well. The soft-grip handle is comfortable to hang on to during long soldering jobs too.
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Harry's Smart Buying Tips
How to Choose The Best Soldering Iron
Soldering irons can be used on a wide range of projects. Popular uses include repairing electronics, automotive wiring, and crafting jewellery. Some soldering irons can also be used for pyrography, as their tips allow them to burn designs into wood or leather.
Soldering Iron Power
Soldering irons either run off the mains, typically with a power output of 60 Watts, or they can come cordless, in which case their power is fuelled by butane gas.
Soldering irons are often called ‘hot irons’, and for good reason! The maximum temperature generated is over 400°C. In fact, gas-powered soldering iron temperatures can reach nearly 600°C.
Soldering Iron Safety
Most soldering irons should feature most if not all of the following:
- An on/off switch on the iron itself for quick operation in an emergency, rather than having to unplug the unit directly from the mains
- Antistatic protection to prevent the handle from becoming charged
- Ventilation holes allow heat to escape easily and prevent overheating
- Lead-free toxin-free wire
- An ergonomically shaped handle to make the soldering iron more comfortable and easy to use for longer periods
- A stand
Soldering Iron Accessories
Many soldering irons come as soldering stations or kits that already contain a range of accessories. Soldering stations include:
Desoldering Pump or Solder Sucker
A desoldering pump allows you to easily remove old solder in preparation for its re-application.
Stand or Base
This allows the electric soldering iron to be safely stored between tasks. A magnetic base supports and holds the hot soldering iron.
Cleaning Ball or Sponge
A cleaning ball or sponge lets you clean the tip as you solder. A brass wire cleaning ball is the best choice here. But you can choose a cleaning sponge too.
Digital Multimeter
Multimeters can work in conjunction with soldering irons to help you diagnose problems easily and decide what components require re-soldering.
Precision Screwdriver
Having a precision screwdriver included in the set for working on electronics is important for accessing hard-to-reach circuit board components.
Case
A soldering iron kit should come in a well-constructed case, both to prevent loss and protect the contents from damage.
Other Accessories
These could include tweezers, solder wire, screwdrivers, and wire strippers.
Soldering Iron FAQs
The first step when soldering is to ensure you are safe. Wear protective glasses and ensure your hair or items of personal jewellery can not fall onto the soldering iron.
Once safety is taken care of place the soldering iron on its stand and switch it on to heat up.
The next step is to ensure the iron’s tip is clean. The stand of your soldering station will normally have a piece of sponge attached or you can keep a sponge nearby. Cleaning the tip is as easy as keeping the sponge wet and dipping the tip of the soldering iron into it.
Then you need to “tin the tip”. To do this simply melt a small piece of solder wire onto the soldering iron tip and ensure it melts around it.
Now you are safe, and the soldering iron is clean, hot, and primed for use, the soldering can begin.
Firstly, hold the soldering iron in your strong hand and the solder in the other. Then warm the soldering joint you are going to be working on so it’s ready to take the solder.
Then place the solder wire over the join and use the soldering iron to melt it into place, bridging the connection with the molten solder and joining the two pieces together.
Finally remove the solder wire from the work area and 2-3 seconds later the soldering iron, to ensure your “blob” of solder is in position.
Soldering irons and multimeters can perform a wide range of tasks in conjunction with each other and troubleshoot many different problems. In particular, they are great tools to help diagnose problems with automotive wiring or when repairing electronics in general.
To diagnose problems with soldered connections on electrical components, just place the multimeter probes onto a suspect soldered connection and check for any voltage. If no voltage is displayed then clearly the joint is faulty and needs re-soldering. You should wear antistatic gloves to do this and ensure you don’t touch the device while it is powered on.
Compare Product Features
Use the dropdown to sort the table by the feature you want to see.
Lexivon Butane Soldering Iron Kit
- 4.7
- Butane Gas
- 590°C
- 7
- No
- No
- No
- No
- Yes
Dremel Versatip 2000 Cordless Gas Powered Soldering Iron
- 4.3
- Butane Gas
- 550°C
- 6
- No
- No
- No
- No
- Yes
Tabiger 60 Watt Soldering Iron Kit
- 4.3
- Mains - 60W
- 450°C
- 5
- Yes
- No
- Yes
- No
- Yes
RHAEGON 90-Watt LED Digital Soldering Iron
- 4.3
- Mains - 90W
- 480°C
- 3
- No
- Yes
- No
- No
- No
Lytool 90-Watt Soldering Iron Kit
- 4.7
- Mains - 90W
- 450°C
- 6
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- No
- No
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