Soldering iron is a hand tool which can be used for soldering. The electrical tool is used for supplying heat to the solder or filler metal. The solder melts within the joints of the two different electrical components or workpieces and creates an electrical connection between them. For most of the electrical works, soldering irons having a voltage capacity lying between 15 watts to 35 watts are used. Some items may have the large thermal capacity (for instance the metal chassis), and for these, the higher varieties of soldering irons are used. In these cases, The soldering iron may not run at a higher temperature but may have more heat available to make the solder connections.
The Different Types Of Soldering Irons
Soldering irons are available in different forms and with different specifications and features. While choosing a soldering iron, the important aspects that need to be considered include wattage, temperature control capacity/features, and the shape/size of the tip.
On the basis of the kinds of soldering irons popularly used today, there are four prominent varieties of the equipment available in the market.
- Soldering Pencil
A soldering pencil is a basic kind of soldering iron that may not cost beyond $ 30. While it can be used for basic kinds of task and for learning to solder, its use is not recommended for the soldering projects involving electrical boards and circuitry. The temperature of the tip cannot be controlled in a soldering pencil. Therefore any amount of heat can be applied to the components of a board, which may also damage or peel them.
- Soldering Station
A soldering station can be used in the industrial and professional works and projects and may cost in between $40 to $150. The soldering pencil is attached with the main power station, which may also have a knob for controlling the power that is provided to the soldering iron’s tip. The new smart soldering stations have the temperature control features through which the specific temperature of the tip can be maintained. These stations are used by professional operators for soldering and can be used for surface mount soldering as well as through-hole component soldering.
- Soldering Systems
Also called as the repair or rework stations, a soldering system may be used in the highest-volume industrial/manufacturing facilities and production lines. The whole soldering system may comprise of the soldering iron, de-soldering gun, hot air gun, stand, third hand, tweezers, and other components. The price of a soldering system may range from $ 250 to $ 2500. A soldering system is recommended for the highest quality works.
- Soldering Gun
Soldering guns can be used to accomplish soldering in the least time, as they have a very fast heat-up time. The gun often uses a tin-based solder, which can provide for a stronger mechanical bond. The gun has the shape of a pistol and is powered electrically. The transformer of the gun also has a secondary winding. When the transformer is electrically energized, a large current (of the magnitude of several hundred amperes) flows through the secondary winding. This heats up the copper tip rapidly. The tip has the largest of resistance and hence heats up a lot.
Because the guns may heat tremendously at the tip region, their use is not recommended for the circuit boards. They are mostly used in cases where intermittent soldering is needed. A soldering gun is used in the sheet metal work (of lighter nature) and the stained-glass assemblies, among other areas
When you buy a soldering gun/iron/station from a leading brand including Hakko and others, it ensures that it the iron uses least of electricity, has efficient temperature control capability, and is also long-lasting.
