Top Soldering Irons
Choose the Best Stained Glass Soldering Iron
- Compare soldering irons for soldering stained glass and find the best one for you.
- Make life easy for yourself by choosing an iron that reaches and holds the correct temperature for soldering stained glass.
- Learn which irons have the flexibility you need to tackle all types of creative stained glass projects.
Soldering irons are a crucial part of your stained glass kit, so you need to choose carefully. If you’re confident that you know what you’re looking for, Delphi Glass supply a comprehensive range of irons at very reasonable prices.
They ship all over the world and I’ve always found them to be extremely reliable and easy to deal with. If you’re not sure which iron you need, I’ve picked out the best from each budget range for you to look at.
There are three key things to look out for when considering a stained glass soldering iron – temperature, weight and versatility.
First, temperature. Your iron should have a heat capacity of between 80 and 200 watts. When you are soldering stained glass, you want the tip to reach and maintain a certain temperature to melt the solder evenly.
Second, weight. You might be using the iron for prolonged periods of time, so its weight and the balance between the handle and tip are important.
Thirdly, versatility. There are different tips and temperatures needed for various stained glass soldering tasks, so it’s best if your iron can be adapted to suit your individual projects.
A standard ¼” tip is great for copper foil or lead came projects, whereas smaller tips are better for decorative soldering. Being able to adjust the temperature of your iron means that it can be set at the melting point of the solder you’re using and give you perfect results.
Soldering Iron Choices
Starting at the top, we have the Queen of stained glass soldering irons, the Hakko 
556 Soldering Iron. This ticks all the must have and wish-list boxes. Not only is the temperature thermostatically controlled, it combines the latest highly efficient ceramic heating element with a built-in control that can be adjusted to 10 different temperatures.
Having the ability to change the tip temperature adds versatility and means that this iron can be used for all types of stained glass work.
The ceramic heating element enables it to reach temperature very quickly and to maintain it consistently over prolonged periods.
The ‘cold’ spots sometimes suffered by lesser irons when they attempt to recover heat are non-existent with this iron. It’s also cheaper to run than irons with the more conventional temperature controlled tips.
Weighing in at less than 6oz, with various replacement tips for more delicate tasks and a one year warranty the Hakko 556 Iron is perfect for those serious about pursuing creative stained glass.
A close second, and great for beginners, is the Studio 100 Iron. The main difference 
between this and the Hakko 556 above is temperature flexibility and efficiency.
The Studio 100 has a temperature controlled tip which has a set (rather than adjustable) temperature – normally around 600F – which the iron reaches and then shuts off. It then has to turn itself on again once heat has been lost from the tip, and it is this that can cause ‘cold’ spots which stops it melting the solder. As long as you keep the tip clean you’ll be fine. I’ve used this iron and the similar Weller W100 Soldering Iron and have never found this to be a problem.
Both the Studio 100 and the Weller have replacement tips in various sizes, are lightweight and recommended by beginners and professionals alike. There really isn’t much in it, but on balance I’d go for the Studio 100 Iron, simply because it’s cheaper and comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty.
The Spg80 Soldering Irons are just right for those who are starting out and not planning to spend a great 
deal of time soldering stained glass. This 80 watt iron doesn’t have any in-built temperature control, so unless you add a temperature controlling device you will have to keep unplugging it to regulate the temperature. It comes with two tips, which is helpful for a variety of projects. Bear in mind that 80 watt irons will take longer to reach temperature.
If you decide to go for this iron, I would definitely recommend adding the Mika Tempright Temperature Controller to go with it. This works 
with any stained glass soldering iron and will immediately solve the temperature regulation problem. It will also mean that you will be able to adjust the tip temperature to suit your particular stained glass project. In fact, you will end up with a more versatile soldering set-up than if you choose the mid-range Studio 100 Iron on its own.
Remember that this is an 80 watt iron so will always be working harder to keep its temperature than a 100 watt iron.
As you can see, there are pros and cons for each option. Once you’ve decided which stained glass iron is right for you there’s a free how to do leaded stained glass solder tutorial for you here.
Copper foilers might want to look at this ‘how to solder stained glass’ video from Delphi Glass. Wow, that woman is good!
