I'm on the hunt for a soldering iron that can operate at low temperatures, specifically in the 80-100°C range. I don't do a lot of soldering, so I'm hoping to find something affordable and reliable. Any recommendations for a kit that fits these requirements?
7 Answers
You might want to check out the TS80P soldering iron. It's versatile and can get down to around 100°C, perfect for your needs. Just make sure to get extra tips if you plan to use it for more than just soldering.
Apparently, you can tweak some USB soldering irons with IronOS firmware, which might allow you to get below 100°C! Sounds like a fun project to dive into.
If you're going cheap, just be cautious. I had a soldering iron for about $20 that had basic temp controls. It would heat up and then turn off to save energy, but the temps were way off sometimes. Spending a bit more for precision is usually worth it!
Another option is to DIY with a rheostat and thermometer to get the exact temp you want. It could work well for fine-tuning your soldering experience!
What will you be using it for? 80°C might only be useful for softening some plastics. If you need precision soldering, you could check out the Atten ST-2080D Digital Soldering Iron. It goes down to 80°C and might fit what you're looking for.
If precision is key, have you thought about using a hot air rework setup? It gives you greater control over the heat application without risking damage to delicate materials. You might just want to hold the heat a bit further away while working.
That sounds interesting! I'll definitely consider it.
Just a heads up, solder usually doesn't melt at those lower temperatures! Most options won't be functional for soldering unless the temp is higher. You might want to consider why you need such low settings.
I'm actually using a low temp solder that melts around 70°C, specifically designed for pewter work!
That's good to know! I'm primarily working with low temp solder.