Recommended soldering irons

[Greg Ercolano]

I get this question a lot from customers; what soldering tools do you use and like?

After numerous irons I've had in the past, all of which I either hated or barely endured, a few years ago I came across this KSGER soldering iron which I love; I bought two and lent one to a friend to keep around as a "backup":

https://www.amazon.com/KSGER-Temperature-Controller-Electronic-Equipments/dp/B07PYFSCJ9

These newer irons are thin and light, have one-piece tips that include the temp sensor, so there's no decoupling between the tip and temp sensor, which avoids tips going cold during use, and thus avoids cold solders.. a problem I have with the older kind of heavy + cheap irons. Also the tips on these don't seem to "go bad" -- I keep a moist (not wet!) sponge and a brass wool solder cleaner around to keep the tip clean during use. You can usually find a solder workstand for the iron that has a built in sponge + brass wool holder.

I set the iron to 350°C for small stuff like boards and small connectors, 400°C for larger stuff, like for soldering stepper motor cables and XLR connectors.

Here's a review video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0nZCK7B-0U

• The iron requires an IEC power cable (not included), but you probably have some lying around. If not you can get them cheap enough: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Power-Cord-10-Foot-Black/dp/B072LNKHBB/
  
  
• It's best to get a soldering iron holder for it. I'd purchased this some years ago:
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WDVKGQ2/
  ..but you could probably make one. Here's another source.
  
  
• If you don't like the tips that come with, here's a set of options; I happen to prefer the T12-BC2 tip out of all of them: https://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Station-Solder-Replacement-FX-951/dp/B07FYY64MX/
  Be sure to set the tip type in the menu when you switch tips; I think the video above covers that.
  
  
• And for solder I use: 0.8mm 60/40 (60%tin/40%lead) water soluable flux core solder:
  https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/chip-quik-inc/SMD2SW-031-1OZ/9558144

    The solder I linked is hollow with water soluable flux inside,
    so you don't need to add flux unless you're working on something
    large (like AC wiring) which sometimes works better with extra flux.

    You can add more flux if you want with a toothpick or such (it doesn't
    take much). I don't have a link for the washable flux offhand, but that's
    what I use when doing connectors and whatnot.

    I've not used this particular flux, but it's the same brand as the
    solder/flux combo, so this is probably fine:
    https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/chip-quik-inc/CQ4300-2OZ/14636567

> Question: Do you use rosin core? If not, why would one use rosin core solder, and not for electronic board repairs

    I've not needed rosin core solder these days, washable flux works fine
    for everything I do.

    Rosin core is messier and harder to wash away; you need solvents
    to get rid of rosin drips. The washable flux stuff is simply easier to
    deal with.

    If you already have rosin or flux in a can (similar to a shoe shining can)
    you can use either one with the solder for the link I included above.

    Here's a random video on rosin vs flux: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGckVJeG6b8