Skip to content
Gallery
TKCN
Task Overview
BARNEY MACHINE
Inventory & Orders
OGRE MACHINE
Documents
Archive
Share
Explore
Archive

icon picker
Soldering Iron Research

info

It looks like in the ‘semi-professional’ (non-$2,000) soldering iron market there are a few key players; X-Tronic, Weller, and Hakko. Hakko & Weller are kind of the top dogs and are basically the same level of quality with varying strengths. Xtronics (at least in our foreseeable price range) follows closely behind and has the best accessories/customizable layout. Depending on what we are looking for in terms of budget on the ‘Buy-Once-Cry-Once’ scale, we have a few options from each brand which can be considered.

X-Tronic:

X-Tronic seems to have a wider range of price brackets than the other(s), including (obviously) the $50 set you found already. Customer service seems best out of the three; multiple reviews praise good customer service & replaceable elements offered directly from the brand, and all their products apparently include a 3-year warranty. They’re the only one out of the three that comes with accessories/platforms other than just the heating element and iron holder.

Hakko

Almost exclusively well-reviewed & highly recommended throughout the soldering ‘community,’ seems to be considered the most reliable of the three brands and is at the very least comparable to Weller, if not better. Units are reportedly better for precise work, have a smaller form factor, and possibly the best build quality of the three, band (once you get past the initial setup) relatively simple operation. Pricier than X-tronics in terms of what you get as a package/accessories for the same price, but usually slightly more affordable than Weller. apparently. Customer support is kind of ‘meh,’ with only a 90-day warranty compared to X-tronics’ 3 years and

Weller:

Apparently invented the instant-heat-up soldering iron. Seems to be considered at the very least comparable to Hakko, if not better. Reportedly more robust in terms of power, and durable. More expensive than the other two, but 2nd best in warranty with 1 full year of coverage.

⁠
Comparison by Details & Price:
Select list
Picture
Model # / Name
Price
Pros
Cons
Link
Online Review Excerpts
X-Tronics
3
image.png
4010 PRO X
$118.00
30min Auto-Cooldown
Several temperature presets, display, adjusted by buttons.
Heats up and cools down quickly to change bits.
Relatively compact form factor
Screw holder tray
Thing to hold the cord up and out of the way
Comes with 5 tips/nibs
Multiple cleaning methods built in, nice tip cleaner thing.
No wire spool
No temp dial, must use buttons.
Open
image.png
4008 PRO X
$74.00
Basically the 4010 but without the presets & with the iron holder thing being separated from the power supply unit.
More accessories included
​
Open
image.png
3020 XTS w/ Peripherals
$50.00
10min Auto-Cooldown
Temp Adjustment w/ display & Dial
Heats up and cools down quickly to change bits.
Comes with several basic peripherals.
Screw holder tray & solder wire spool.
No presets, non-movable iron holder base. Included peripherals may not be very good quality.
Open
Hakko
2
image.png
FX888D-23BY
$115.00
Good build quality; looks like plastic but is actually encased in metal.
Comparable, perhaps slightly better performance compared to Weller & w/ a smaller footprint.
Almost exclusively well-reviewed and highly recommended throughout community
Reportedly good quality, easily interchangeable bits, two cleaning methods built into the iron holder base.
5 programmable temp presets, probably not as intuitive to set up initially as the X-Tronics
Some accessories built for it such as a gun thing that lets you solder with one hand/feed the solder wire w/ a trigger.
Looks like a Fisher Price toy (lol)
Reportedly unintuitive UI for initial setup processes, keep the manual handy.
No temp dial, must use all both of its buttons.
Some say the temp reading isn’t always 100% accurate.
No wire spool or screw tray.
Only 90 day warranty compared to Weller’s supposed 3 years

Open
image.png
Model #: 936
$50.00
Generally well-reviewed, most comparable to Weller WLC 100
Same quality level, basically an older, simpler version of the more expensive Hakko.
temp dial
Has been discontinued, so we’d have to get it used online. I found a listing on eBay that seems legit.
Basic design, maybe not as accommodating of accessories as the Xtronic set.
No digital readout or presets.
Open
Weller
2
image.png
WE1010NA
$115.00
Easier-to-read screen & slightly more intuitive UI than the Hakko
Widely well-reviewed & recommended throughout the community
Bit storage in the iron holder base, uses a common bit type called “ETA” w/ ability to use 3rd party tips.
Can be opened and repaired
Iron holder comparable to the X-Tronic’s
Only one sponge mount for cleaning method
Larger footprint takes up more desk space
Less sophisticated iron base than the Hakko
Does not come with any other accessories
I don’t think it has programmable presets like the Hakko or some of the X-Tronics
No wire spool or screw tray.
Open
image.png
WLC 100
$64.00
Temp dial
Compact
Generally well-reviewed, good value for performance.
Some praise the handle grip as being very comfortable.
basic design, maybe not as accommodating of accessories as the Xtronic set, for example.
No wire spool or screw tray
Only one cleaning method built-in.
No temp dial or presets
Open
⁠

⁠
Comparison/Ranking by Feature:
...
Presets
Reliability
Accessories
Warranty Support
Compact Size:
Intuitive UI
Quick Heat/Cool
Customizable Layout
Built-In Tip-Cleaning
Comfort (guessing)
1
Best Overall:
Xtronics
Hakko
Xtronics
Xtronics
Hakko
Xtronics
Hakko & Weller
Xtronics (mostly)
Hakko & Best of Xtronics
Weller
2
2
Hakko
Weller
Hakko
Weller
Xtronics
Weller
Xtronics
Hakko & Weller
Cheaper Xtronics
Hakko
3
3
Weller
Xtronics
Weller
Hakko
Weller
Hakko
​
​
All Weller units
Xtronics
There are no rows in this table
⁠

Resources:


Hakko vs. Weller:
1:
Hakko vs. Weller Soldering Stations: Which is Better? - ElectronicsHacks
⁠
⁠
2:
Weller vs Hakko: The Best Soldering Irons & Stations - VSearch
⁠
⁠
⁠
image.png
⁠
⁠
image.png
⁠
⁠

Weller Review:
⁠
https://www.baldengineer.com/hakko-fx-888d-review.html?amp=1
⁠
⁠

Hakko vs X-Tronic:
FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko vs Model #3020-XTS Digital Display Soldering Iron Station by X-Tronic detailed comparison as of 2023 - Slant
⁠
⁠
Review website’s ranked list of best irons:
⁠
What's the best soldering iron for small electronics? - Slant
⁠
⁠
Pretty comprehensive review of a bunch of common brands, including those I’ve found so far:
⁠
What is the best soldering iron for electronics? (robotsbench.com)
⁠
⁠
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.