What is a Soldering Station?

This is the station of the soldering station. It’s the element that controls the amount of energy that’s sent to the soldering pencil and therefore the temperature of the soldering tip and material. There are two types of main control units available:

• Analogue: on these control units, the temperature is set by turning a knob. The pencil’s heating element is fed power until the tip reaches the set temperature. At this point, the power is cut off automatically. If the tip temperature falls below the set level, the power will be turned back on again
• Digital: within digital control units, a Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controller regulates the temperature of a soldering tip in real time. Often controlled via an LED display, the calibrated microprocessor within these units enables high levels of accuracy and responsiveness within the soldering tip’s temperature

The main control unit is the main purchase you’ll make for your soldering station, so it’s worth taking some time to look up reviews, consider options, and make sure you choose one with a good warranty and high levels of reliability. Looking for specific features such as performance wattage and energy-saving modes will also ensure the unit you choose makes the most of the electrical power it's using, helping to keep your power costs low.

What are Temperature-Controlled Soldering Stations?

Temperature-controlled soldering stations are another name for digital main control units. They have this name because they have adjustable temperature ranges that users can select depending on their needs. This allows for greater efficiency and accuracy within their soldering work, particularly on sensitive electronic components.

As the element that applies the soldering material onto the electronic component, it’s key that you choose the right type of soldering pencil for your needs. When choosing your pencil, you need to make sure it's compatible with the type of material you’re going to use (specifically whether it’s lead-free or not) as well as the shape of tips most suitable for your application.

To enhance your level of control and accuracy, you may want to choose specialist soldering pencils. Some pencils also include automatic solder feeders, which means users can use just one hand to complete their task.

Hand soldering involves working closely with very hot materials (sometimes up to more than 300°C) for extended periods of time. Although any user should be using gloves when soldering, having a foam grip on a soldering pencil will give greater protection and make detailed or extended work more comfortable.

Other essential accessories that will help to keep workers safe include a support rack on which the pencil can be rested in between soldering. This will ensure soldering material isn’t left everywhere or become a fire hazard on the workbench. Having a cleaning sponge nearby also means you can clean your iron quickly.

To prevent damage to components and users, choosing a soldering station with electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is recommended. Made from insulative plastic and conductive materials, these units prevent the build-up of static charges that could prove dangerous to a solderer or the components they’re working on. 

If you work regularly on SMDs, integrated circuits (ICs), or semiconductors, having this protection is recommended as these boards and components are particularly sensitive to static electricity.

Even if you’ve been soldering for a long time, accidents or mistakes can happen. Having desoldering tools close by means you can quickly correct a problem before it becomes fixed in place. These tools include SMD tweezers, which are designed to remove SMD chips, and hot air pencils which push hot air onto a component, making desoldering easier.