6 Best Soldering Iron for 3D Printing
Soldering irons are an interesting piece of kit that you can use for your 3D prints. They have many uses such as for welding 3D prints together, smoothing 3D print surfaces, or to make upgrades to certain parts like for soldering fan cables.
I put together a list of some great soldering irons you can use for your 3D prints, or for other purposes, so read along and pick one that you like the sound of.
1. Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station
Weller WLC100 is a beginner-friendly soldering iron that is good for 3D printer hobbyists.
It can heat up to 900°F, which means it can fight many soldering projects. The control dial is also adjustable from 5 to 40 watts for accuracy.
It is also lightweight and shaped like a pencil iron with a soft cotton grip that gives comfort when using it for a long time.
The product includes a Weller-certified ST3 iron-plated tip that provides a long-life period and consistent performance. There is also a soldering holder to safely rest the soldering iron as you take breaks from your project. It also includes a sponge to clean the excess from soldering for your next use.
One user said he purchased it since it has temperature control and used it to heat-set threaded inserts into 3D printed plastic parts. The temperature control means that he had a much cleaner installation process.
He also mentioned that many technicians at his workplace have been using the same model for years.
He used the soldering tool to upgrade a fan on his 3D printer and stated that it was much safer than he thought it would be.
Check out the Weller WLC100 Soldering Station from Amazon.
2. Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit, 60W Soldering Iron with Interchangeable Iron Tips
This soldering iron kit is a perfect pair for 3D printing. It includes multiple iron tips, so you’ll have better options to choose which fits your project.
It has a power saving button and an On/Off switch. The design is a pencil type with adjustable temperature and has a range from 392°F-842°F/200°C-450°C.
There are advanced ceramic heating cores that heat up the soldering iron to your desired temperature within just 15 seconds. It also includes four ventilation holes to reduce the temperature conducted from the tip to the handle.
A user said it works great for welding the 3D prints together.
Another user claims it is sturdy, easy to hold, and heats up quickly. The temperature is excellent for soldering and setting heat inset nuts into 3D prints.
While a user new to soldering claims it is perfect for him, he welded a wire on his 3D printer that he broke and could fix without any issue.
Plenty of users love this soldering iron kit for having multiple tips, which reflects in the review of this product.
Get yourself the Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit at Amazon.
3. YIHUA 939D+
The YIHUA 939D+ is a great choice for a soldering iron with your 3D prints.
It’s build with durability in mind, being made for people who solder regularly. Even industrial-level factories make use of this soldering iron for over 10 hours every day. This soldering iron comes with high performance power, a flexible temperature range from 200-480°C and quick heat up times.
There is also temperature stabilization and safety built into the system with the contract-safe voltages and professional grade built-in transformer. It has many uses in hobby crafts, DIY, electronics, and many other repair activities.
You can switch between °F and °C at the click of a button and easily adjust the knob to change temperatures. There is also a useful 12-month USA warranty. It does work on a 110-127V with the USA plug so make sure not to plug it directly into a 220V~240V electrical outlet.
One user mentioned that he already has high quality soldering pencils and soldering guns but needed a variable temperature one to install threaded inserts into 3D printed parts. This product worked well for him and ended up even leaving it on his bench for other soldering.
You just have to dial in your temperature and begin soldering. He also said that he was amazed at how quickly the soldering iron heated up, and likes how the indicator light informs him when it’s ready.
Check out the YIHUA 939D+ on Amazon for your 3D printing.
4. Liouhoum 80W Soldering Iron Kit, Fast Heat up
Another great option for a soldering iron is the Liouhoum 80W Soldering Iron Kit from Amazon.
What differentiates this soldering iron from the others is it adopts a premium core with 80w High Power, which heats up in 10 seconds. This 110-120V soldering iron can be adjusted from 180°C -480°C / 356°F-896°F and switched between °C / °F.
It also has a feature of automatic sleep. Once the soldering iron is placed on standby for 5 minutes, it will automatically decrease the temperature, while if you hold the handle, it will store the heat.
The Liouhoum 80W is user-friendly and lightweight. The LCD soldering iron was designed in Chicago, U.S.A., for its quality management system. It was sold into the market after testing and had a 24-month replacement.
A buyer of this item stated that he used it to put heat inserts into their 3D printed parts, and he said that it heats up very quickly and maintains a reliable temperature. He added that setting the temperature is effortless and can get really hot if needed.
A user also said that he bought it to change the fan to his 3D printer and only needed it for once, but it worked perfectly as it heated so fast, and the little stand was excellent too.
You can check out the Liouhoum 80W Soldering Kit at Amazon.
5. Soldering Iron Station Kit – Andolar 60W Solder Station
The Andolar 60W Solder Station is another great option that you can get from Amazon. It has a pretty good temperature adjustment range of 94°F-896°F (90°C-480°C).
To melt solder at a temperature of 392°F it only takes up to 6 seconds to reach that point. There is a sleep mode and wake function that is great for when you are putting the soldering iron down, and also includes simple conversion of °C /°F for tracking the temperature.
In terms of safety features, it has an anti-static design and is ESD safe according to the sellers. There is also a PID temperature control technology and a digital temperature correction built-in.
You also get a nice protective cord shield, along with a silicone heat shield. It should work great for 3D prints and various uses.
One user said he purchased this to replace an older unit and it worked as promised. It holds temperature nicely and said there are no faults on the machine. He uses it for wiring LEDs for dioramas which are 3D printed to give them some shine.
Check the Andolar 60W Solder Station from Amazon today.
6. Soldering Iron Premium Kit, 12-in-1 60W Soldering Iron
This Soldering Iron Premium Kit from Amazon is the last choice on this list. It’s very similar to the other soldering irons on this list but it has a list of parts that come with it.
It has a nice creative design that is ergonomic for better handling and also has a high temperature resistant silicone protective cover. This makes it great for long-term use and has a nice comfortable grip and anti-slip effect.
There is a nice on/off switch so you can save energy and be safer while soldering. It’s a nice temperature-adjustable soldering iron that heats up quickly and has air vents to extend the life of it so there isn’t overheating.
The temperature range is from 200-450°C and can be used on all sorts of objects, especially your 3D prints.
One of the users said it has a Good price which comes in a sturdy box and everything you need to get started.
Another user said that the temperature control and tip work well. The cord was very limber, making it easy to maneuver the iron.
You can find the Soldering Iron Premium Kit from Amazon.