Jewelry making is a hobby that we’ve all grown to love, mostly because of the colorful beads and threads that we used to play with when we were young. But as we grow older, our tools get less colorful and more functional.
Take soldering iron, for example. It’s a necessity for jewelry making and breeds beautiful results. Luckily, it’s widely available and has many features to satisfy every taste.
While the endless choices guarantee more satisfied customers, they also make for a more challenging purchasing process, especially for beginners. That’s where we come in to help!
We’ve made a list of the best soldering irons for jewelry making on the market, along with a buying guide to help you reach a well-studied decision. So, without further ado, let’s jump in!
Soldering Iron Comparison Table
Yihua Digital Soldering Station |
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Handskit Soldering Iron Kit |
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Tabiger Soldering Iron Kit |
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Anbes Soldering Iron Kit |
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Plusivo Soldering Iron Kit |
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Vastar Soldering Iron Kit |
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Lexivon Butane Multi-Purpose Kit |
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Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit |
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Now that we’ve given you an overview of the best soldering irons, it’s time to dive into more details regarding each product.
The Best Soldering Irons for Jewelry Making Reviewed
1. Yihua Digital Soldering Station
Product Highlights
The Yihua Digital Soldering Station shines among competitors because of its superb performance, excellent temperature stabilization, and fast heating up.
It’s ideal for people who spend long hours making jewelry because of its durable build and heat-resistant design. And while it’s on the pricey side of the market, its superb features make every penny worth it.
Features
The Yihua soldering kit offers temperatures ranging from 392°F to 896°F that you can adjust using the temperature knob. You can quickly shift between °C and °F using one button. The jewelry soldering kit also has automatic detection for the handles and intelligent temperature control.
One of the best parts about the Yihua soldering iron kit is its heat-resistant design, so you don’t have to worry about leaving any burnt marks around or burning your hands. In addition, it comes with a portable soldering iron stand made from a durable metal alloy.
Finally, the Yihua soldering station comes with additional high-quality accessories and a control panel for ease of use.
What We Like About the Yihua Digital Soldering Station
Our favorite part about the Yihua soldering station is the durability and quick heating up; you won’t have to wait long before working on your jewelry piece. More so, the control panel and various buttons guarantee ease of use.
What We Don’t Like About the Yihua Digital Soldering Station
What makes the Yihua station pale a bit against its competitors is its price tag. Compared to other choices on our list, it costs a lot. However, the superb features make up for this part.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Heat-resistant design
- Excellent performance
- Speedy heating up
Cons:
- On the pricey side of the market
2. Handskit Soldering Iron Kit
Product Highlights
Whether you want to use the Handskit Soldering Iron Kit for jewelry making, welding, or fixing electronics, you’ll love its high-quality performance and sturdy build. It’s ideal for beginners since it’s pretty easy to use and has an ergonomic design. Moreover, these features come at a reasonable price that won’t break your bank.
One feature that makes this soldering kit exceptional is its quick heating up; it takes only two minutes before it’s ready to use.
Finally, the Handskit soldering iron has heat and scald-resistant design that prevents the metal head from melting.
Features
The Handskit soldering kit offers an adjustable temperature that ranges from 392°F to 842°F, which is more than enough for jewelry making. You can easily adjust it using the rolling button on the soldering iron.
As for the desoldering pump, it’s ideal for one-handed use because of its ergonomic aluminum frame and high-pressure vacuum tube. In addition, the Handskit soldering tips come with a protective heat-resistant cap and anti-skid handles for safety purposes.
The kit comes with five soldering iron tips and three anti-static tweezers for maximum practicality. It also comes with a soldering iron, desoldering pump, solder wire, solder wick, screwdrivers, magnifier, and soldering iron stand. All of these accessories come in a portable bag that’ll make storing them more manageable.
What We Like About the Handskit Soldering Iron Kit
The best part about the Handskit soldering kit is its wide range of applications. It comes with several accessories that make it possible to use it for more than jewelry making.
What We Don’t Like About the Handskit Soldering Iron Kit
While the Handskit soldering kit provides exceptional performance, it isn’t the best kit for long working hours using high temperatures.
Pros:
- Multifunctional
- Adjustable temperature
- Heat and scald-resistant design
- Ideal for one-handed use
Cons:
- Not suitable for long working hours
3. Tabiger Battery-Powered Soldering Iron Kit
Product Highlights
The Tabiger Soldering Iron Kit takes a proud stance among competitors because of its wide range of applications and ideal accessories. It’s suitable for repairing circuit boards and electronics, making jewelry, and homemade crafts. In addition, the soldering iron comes with a one-year product warranty and lifetime customer support for ultimate satisfaction.
The soldering iron kit features an advanced heater to help you reach the desired temperature in no time, and it’s more energy-efficient than many other choices on our list. And for the best part, it comes with a reasonable price tag.
Features
The Tabiger soldering kit comes with five soldering iron tips, a soldering stand, desoldering pump, a tweezer, and a soldering wire tube. These accessories come packed in a portable tool case that you can carry around easily.
The soldering iron kit comes with an adjustable temperature that ranges from 392°F to 842°F. As for the desoldering pump, it’s manufactured from aluminum to ensure durability, superb heat dispersion, and corrosion resistance. And for the best part, you can work with it using only one hand because of its ergonomic design.
What We Like About the Tabiger Battery-Powered Soldering Iron Kit
Our favorite part about the Tabiger soldering kit is its reasonable price tag. It comes with many accessories and advanced features, but you won’t have to spend a fortune to get it.
What We Don’t Like About the Tabiger Battery-Powered Soldering Iron Kit
Our least favorite part about the Tabiger soldering kit is that it isn’t suitable for working long hours. So, if you spend a long time making jewelry pieces, it might not be the best soldering iron for you.
Pros:
- Adjustable temperature range
- Various applications
- Cost-efficient
- Durable and portable
Cons:
- Not suitable for long working hours
4. Anbes Soldering Iron Kit
Product Highlights
The Anbes Soldering Iron Kit will be your new favorite jewelry-making tool. It has a wide range of applications, making it a favorite for DIY enthusiasts. For instance, you can use it for jewelry making, homemade crafts, and repairing circuit boards.
Luckily, the Anbes soldering kit isn’t on the pricey side of the market; you can purchase it if you’re on a limited budget.
Features
The Anbes soldering kit flaunts a heat-resistant design that’ll guarantee the solder tip doesn’t melt and fall off. It also offers adjustable temperatures that range from 392°F to 842°F, and you’ll be surprised at how fast it reaches the desired temperature.
This kit comes with five soldering tips that you can replace, a desoldering pump, soldering iron, wire tube, dual spring iron holder, wire cutter, and anti-static tweezers. And to make your life easier, these tools come enclosed in a portable toolbox.
If you purchase this jewelry soldering kit, you’ll enjoy a durable solder sucker that’s manufactured from aluminum. And since it has an ergonomic design, you can work with it using only one hand.
Finally, the kit comes with a support station that’ll guarantee your safety with its secure base and durable build.
What We Like About the Anbes Soldering Iron Kit
The best part about the Anbes iron kit is that it’s suitable for people on a limited budget and comes with multiple accessories that satisfy every need.
What We Don’t Like About the Anbes Soldering Iron Kit
Our least favorite part about the Anbes soldering iron kit is that not all accessories are of high quality. However, the reasonable price makes up for this downfall.
Pros:
- Multipurpose
- Reasonable price
- Includes a support station
- Durable and portable
Cons:
- Accessories have varying qualities
5. Plusivo Electric Soldering Iron Kit
Product Highlights
The Plusivo Soldering Iron Kit is a solid choice for jewelry making. It comes with multiple accessories that make it possible to use it for various applications like welding circuit boards and repairing electronics. Finally, the kit comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee to ensure customer satisfaction.
Features
The Plusivo soldering kit is both reliable and cost-efficient. It comes with high-quality tools that include a soldering iron stand and a cleaning sponge to ensure your safety and comfort while working. In addition, it has a heat-resistant cap so that the iron’s metal head doesn’t melt.
The soldering kit comes with anti-static tweezers, solder paste, insulating tapes, screwdrivers, a heat shrink tube, and a solder wire cutter. It also comes with a downloadable E-book that’ll help you master soldering in no time.
This jewelry soldering kit comes in a convenient toolbox that’s high-quality and easy to carry around. Not to mention, it keeps all of the tools safely tucked away from children’s reach.
If you purchase this soldering iron, you’ll enjoy a wide temperature range of 392°F to 842°F, along with easy control. In addition, the soldering iron features four ventilation holes to ensure good heat dissipation and excellent soldering efficiency. It also has an anti-skid handle to guarantee a better grip and more safety.
Finally, the kit comes with five soldering tips that you replace effortlessly and in no time.
What We Like About the Plusivo Electric Soldering Iron Kit
We love the Plusivo soldering kit because of the downloadable E-book that comes with it. If you’re a beginner, you’ll appreciate the written information about what each tool is used for and how it’s used.
What We Don’t Like About the Plusivo Electric Soldering Iron Kit
The Plusivo kit’s only downfall is its thin tip that doesn’t withstand exceedingly high temperatures for long hours. If you spend many hours working on your jewelry, the tip might bend before your project ends.
Pros:
- The package includes an instructions E-book
- Easy and precise temperature control
- Excellent heat dissipation
- It comes with a portable toolbox
Cons:
- Tips might bend if used for long hours on maximum temperature
6. Vastar Soldering Iron Kit
Product Highlights
The Vastar Soldering Iron Kit is a superb choice if you want quick heating up and excellent heat dissipation. It has a unique steel-pipe design that helps heat disperse faster, and you can use it for long hours without worrying about its performance.
As a bonus point, you can use this kit for more than jewelry making. For instance, you can use it for welding circuit boards and homemade crafts. All in all, it’s an ideal choice for beginners because of how easy it is to use.
Features
The Vaster kit comes with five soldering tips of different sizes. This way, you’ll be able to use it in various applications. The kit’s only downfall is that it doesn’t come with a station. However, you won’t need it since it’s easy to use and has an ergonomic design.
The Vaster kit also has a wide temperature range that you can adjust using the knob wheel. As for safety features, the soldering iron has an anti-scald design that ensures the tips don’t melt during work.
While this jewelry soldering kit doesn’t come with as many accessories as other choices on our list, its reasonable price makes up for this point.
What We Like About the Vaster Soldering Iron Kit
We love the Vaster kit because of its superb heat dissipation and overall performance. You can use it for long hours, and it’ll perform excellently till the last minute.
What We Don’t Like About the Vaster Soldering Iron Kit
The part where the Vaster kit pales against its competitors is the lack of accessories. In other words, it isn’t as luxurious as other products. However, it’s still among the best soldering irons for jewelry making.
Pros:
- It comes with additional tips of different sizes
- Excellent heat dissipation
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with as many accessories as other products
7. Lexivon Butane Multi-Purpose Kit
Product Highlights
The Lexivon Butane Soldering Iron Multipurpose Kit might be one of the best soldering irons for professional jewelry making on the market. It shines in the hands of professionals and comes with many luxurious options for users. However, it’s on the pricey side of the market because of its various features.
The Lexivon kit isn’t only meant for jewelry making; you can use it for many other applications because of its exceedingly high temperatures. It’s also highly ergonomic and convenient.
Features
The Lexivon multipurpose kit has everything you can look for in a soldering tool. It has a maximum temperature of 1100° F when using tips and 2400° F when not using them, which is astonishingly high.
This jewelry soldering iron kit also comes with a refillable tank that lasts for a long time and never leaks. You can fill it and use it for 75 minutes without taking breaks. Then, after it empties, you can fill it in less than a minute. The kit also comes with a carrying case for portability.
Finally, this soldering iron is equipped with an ignition stopper for safety purposes.
What We Like About the Lexivon Butane Multi-Purpose Kit
Our favorite part about the Lexivon kit is its wide range of applications. You can use it for decorative burning of wood, jewelry making, homemade crafts, and plastic cutting. This is possible because of the multiple iron tips that come with this kit and its wide temperature range.
What We Don’t Like About the Lexivon Butane Multi-Purpose Kit
Although the Lexivon kit excels in nearly every category, its features and price are more suitable for professional and experienced welders. So, if you’re a beginner and still want to practice your skills, it might not be your best option.
Pros:
- Wide range of temperatures
- Multi-purpose
- Ergonomic and convenient
- Includes a refillable butane tank
Cons:
- Not beginner-friendly
8. Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit
Product Highlights
The Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit is ideal for beginners because of its reasonable price and conventional features. If you want to start practicing jewelry making but don’t want to break your bank, it might be the best soldering iron for you.
This soldering iron comes with a money-back guarantee that lasts for 30 days. So, if you receive a faulty product, you don’t have to worry about sending it back.
More so, the Q-Ming jewelry-making soldering iron comes at a great price that most beginners can afford.
Features
The Q-Ming soldering iron comes with an easy on/off switch and a knob wheel to adjust the temperature according to your needs. You can change it starting from 392 ℉ to 842 ℉, and it’ll heat up in less than a minute. It heats up fast because it has a ceramic heating core that helps the heat disperse quicker than other materials.
This jewelry soldering iron doesn’t come with a station; instead, it’s a pencil-type iron that you can use with one hand. The package includes a soldering stand, cleaning sponge, solder wire, and flux paste.
What We Like About the Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit
The part we love most about the Q-Ming soldering kit is that it’s ideal for beginners since it’s easy to use, has many valuable features, and comes at a reasonable price.
What We Don’t Like About the Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit
Unfortunately, the Q-Ming soldering iron isn’t as durable as other choices on our list. So, if you want to work on large projects for long hours, it might not be the best jewelry soldering kit for you.
Pros:
- Ideal for beginners
- Fast heating up
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Not as durable as other soldering irons
Final Verdict
Finding the best soldering iron for jewelry making is challenging because there are many competent products on the market. However, we can make the process easier for you.
If you want an all-in-all product that guarantees ease of use, comes with many accessories, and can be used in various applications, you can settle for the Yihua Digital Soldering Station.
However, if you’re a beginner who doesn’t work long hours and want a reliable and budget-friendly kit, you’ll love the Handskit Soldering Iron one.
Finally, opt for the Lexivon Butane Multipurpose Kit if you’re a professional jewelry maker and want a luxurious soldering iron that can meet your needs.
You can also get many jewelry-making ideas on craftwhack.com.
Buyers Guide
After telling you all about the best soldering irons for jewelry making, it’s time to tell you what points you should consider before purchasing. So bear with us!
Temperature
Jewelry makers often work with different materials; therefore, they need varying temperatures to meet their shaping needs.
There’s no doubt that the best soldering irons on the market for jewelry making are the ones with adjustable temperatures, so you should mainly look for them. You can use these to make various jewelry pieces without an issue.
Most soldering iron kits have temperatures that range from 300°F to 842°F, which is ideal for jewelry making. However, if you’re a professional welder and want to use your iron for many projects, it’ll be best if you look for a broader range.
It’s worth mentioning that some manufacturers use Celsius measurements, while some use Fahrenheit. So you should check beforehand to ensure you don’t get it wrong.
Ergonomics
Jewelry makers have different working techniques; some people like to work using only one hand, and some prefer using both. Also, some jewelry makers work fine with pencil-type irons, while some need a soldering stand for accuracy.
The same goes for handles; people with sweaty hands should ideally use molded handles to prevent slipping.
As a result, before purchasing a soldering tool, you need to check its design and make sure it fits your needs.
Extra Tips
Some soldering irons come with extra tips of different sizes, while some don’t. The additional tips come in handy for finely shaping and decorating metal, especially the thin ones.
So, if you want a kit that meets all of your jewelry designing needs, you should look for one that comes with varying sizes of tips. However, you can skip this feature if you want to work with only one size.
Desoldering Tools
Although many people think that desoldering tools aren’t a necessity for jewelry making, they come in handy when repairing and eliminating unwanted solder safely.
Many soldering iron kits come with desoldering tools like solder suckers, spools, and wicks. These save you the cost and effort of purchasing separate desoldering tools. So you should check for their presence before making a decision.
Safety Features
Soldering tools have very high temperatures and heat up shortly, so they should have reliable safety features to ensure your hand doesn’t get scalded and the tip doesn’t melt and fall off. These features can be either protective caps or heat-resistant overall designs. Ideally, you should check for their presence before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Should I Clean My Soldering Iron?
Most soldering irons come with a cleaning sponge, and you can use it along with water to wipe the tip clean from oxidation and grease. Next, use brass wool to clean all the dried residues efficiently, but avoid using it for too long because it’s abrasive.
What Solder Is Best for Jewelry?
It depends on the type of jewelry you’re making. For example, if you’re making copper or brass jewelry, it’ll be best to use copper or brass solder. Overall, gold solder is the best type for jewelry, but you should only use it for gold jewelry.
Are Butane Soldering Irons Better Than Electric Irons?
It depends on your needs. Butane soldering irons produce higher temperatures and waste less energy. Not to mention, they’re cordless, so they take less space. However, they’re often pricier and more suitable for professionals than electric irons.
Are Soldering Irons Difficult to Use?
No, they aren’t. The basics of soldering irons are easy to learn and usually take no time. The real challenge lies in soldering jewelry. But still, nothing practice and time can’t fix.
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