When comparing WLC100 Soldering Station by Weller vs Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart, the Slant community recommends Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart for most people. In the question“What's the best soldering iron for small electronics?” Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart is ranked 1st while WLC100 Soldering Station by Weller is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart is:
The temperature settings allow you to choose from 212 up to 752 °F of heat. Having that much control, you can use this soldering iron for tasks that demand precision - like working with very small objects.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Great value
Considering the decent power and thoughtful design, this soldering station is very affordable compared to most of its alternatives on the market which can sometimes cost hundreds of dollars.
Pro Robust design
It is often the case that soldering iron tips have to be replaced due to corrosion just after several month of using them. However, tips of this Weller are tougher than average and will serve you up to three years.
Pro Convenient to use and store
While some soldering stations take up as much as 10x7 inches of space, this one has dimensions of 8x6 inches. It won't take up a large area on the desk or the shelf.
Pro Comfortable even for long stretches of time
This iron is equipped with a soft foam grip that prevents your fingers from slipping and makes using it very comfortable.
Pro Hardy stainless steel pencil stand
The stainless steel spring stand lets you conveniently rest the pencil when you're not using it.
Pro You can choose the power output
By choosing power output from 5 to 40 W, you can find the heating mode that suits your needs best for the work you're doing.
Pro Well-suited for tasks that demand precise temperature
The temperature settings allow you to choose from 212 up to 752 °F of heat. Having that much control, you can use this soldering iron for tasks that demand precision - like working with very small objects.
Pro Heats up and cools down very quickly
It can take up to 5 minutes for a regular soldering iron to reach 500 °F. The Pro32 will take only 11 seconds. Cooling down is a matter of seconds as well.
Pro You can change all settings by connecting the iron to your PC
There is a micro-USB port on the rear of the housing that lets you connect the soldering iron to your laptop. This way you can change settings, such as displaying temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius, the default working temperature, and the sleep mode temperature.
Pro Suited for heavy-duty use
The high wattage allows this soldering iron to give consistent heat for long periods of time. It is very well suited for working on big, resource-hungry projects.
Pro Economical to use and maintain
The automatic sleep mode kicks in after 2 minutes of inactivity and decreases temperature of the tip to save power. The soldering iron reheats automatically once you pick it up. Moreover, to warn you about over-heating of the device, there is a special LED indicator.
Pro Very compact design
Most soldering stations with comparable functionality will take up about 8x6 inches of space, while this soldering iron is just 7 inches long and extremely thin. It weighs a fraction of the mass of its alternatives - just a little over 10 ounces, compared to the average of 1.5 lbs of other soldering irons.
Cons
Con Rigid cord makes using the station less convenient
The power cord of this soldering station isn't flexible, which takes away from the convenience of using it and carries a high risk of eventually breaking the cord.
Con Not suited for precise soldering
While the power can be switched, there is no direct way to control temperature. You can't really ensure a constant heat output. This makes this soldering station ill-suited for tasks that demand high precision.
Con Uncomfortable grip
Because there is no cushion or indentation on the handle, the pencil slips forwards when you hold it, so you have to be careful not to burn your fingers.