I need a soldering station to get started

[bartekmalysz]

i need to buy a soldering station to learn, which brands do you recommend, what price point should I look for as a hobbyist and are Hot Air / Soldering Iron stations good to get started / useful? Thanks

[neilo40]

I got a reasonably cheap Chinese air/soldering station from amazon (~£80). It has served me well for a few years now. and uses hakko tips which is a plus. I’ve used the air a number of times but nowhere near as often as the iron but when I’ve needed it it has been invaluable

If you can afford it though I’d go for a proper hakko (it’s on my list)

[PaulJ_2.0]

Without a shadow of a doubt, the best bang for buck is the full size KSGER T12.
It uses the Hakko T12 tips and is pretty much the best sub £100 station I have ever used (and I've used a few).
If you can afford it, the FX-951 is superb.


Air stations are something you can spend next to nothing on or over £1k.
I'd go for the lower end, I've used a cheap chinese hot air station and found it to be perfectly fine for hobby use.

[bartekmalysz]

What about this one? Would that be any good to get me started / exchangeable tips? Sorry just getting started. Intended use retro tech obviously.

[neilo40]

That’s the one I have. I’ve been happy with it

[Icky]

There is a whole thread you may like to read in the ELECTRONICS section on the forum on soldering irons / stations :)

https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=35&t=338

[stephen_usher]

I'm very happy with my Katsu 312080 station, once I replaced the tips with some from RS.

https://youtu.be/_YOztIi74BY

[bartekmalysz]

Fantastic, thank you!

[Aeberbach]

Buy a good Hakko, keep it for life. Hard to say whether it or a multimeter* it is your number one tool. If you're going to have it for 20 years isn't it worth some small amount per year?

*buying a dodgy meter with "CAT-IV" printed on the front when the maker has no clue what that means is a bad idea even if you never measure more than 5 volts.

[Maximilian]

I agree with Aeberbach about the Hakko, very nice construction and quality, also the cheap tips are a definate plus.
(design and colors are …)

If you are very serious you could look at the pricey JBL soldering stations, they have very pricey soldering tips also but that is because the heating element is included with the tip, it will heat up in seconds.