How long does it take for a soldering iron to heat up? Measurement Results
When it comes to soldering, one of the most important things is making sure that your soldering iron is up to the temperature before you start.
If the tip is not hot enough, the solder won’t flow properly and you’ll end up with the worst solder.
So how long does it take for a soldering iron to heat up? We tested different types of soldering irons, let’s see the results.
How Long for Soldering Iron to Heat Up
When it comes to how long it takes for a soldering iron to heat up, there is no one definitive answer. It depends on the make and model of the iron, as well as how hot it is set to get.
However, most irons will take between 30 seconds and a minute to heat up to their full potential. If you’re in a hurry, there are a few tips that can help speed up the process.
Let’s see the results for each type of soldering iron.
| Type | Time | Temperature |
| Simple electric soldering irons | 37,7 seconds | 300°C (572°F) |
| Soldering station | 20,4 seconds | 300°C (572°F) |
| Soldering gun | 24,1 seconds | 300°C (572°F) |
| Gas-powered soldering Iron | 15,6 seconds | 300°C (572°F) |
| Cordless soldering iron | 73,8 seconds | 300°C (572°F) |
Simple electric soldering irons
We got a result of 45 seconds to warm up to 300 degrees. This soldering iron has a power of 60 watts.
We got a result of 37,7 seconds to warm up to 300°C (572°F). This soldering iron has a power of 60 watts.
A simple soldering iron is made of a metal alloy tip, a copper conductor, and a heating element. The heating element is powered by electricity, which heats up the conductor and then the alloy tip.
Soldering station
The solder station proved to be much better than the ordinary soldering iron due to high-quality heaters and higher power.
It took the Soldering Station just 20,4 seconds to reach 300°C (572°F). Which is twice as fast as a regular soldering iron.
This result is due to the high-quality ceramic heaters that enable such a rapid flow of heat.
Soldering gun
A soldering gun heats up much faster than a soldering iron. It reached a temperature of 300°C (572°F) in just 24,1 seconds.
The main reason for such fast warming is because they have their step-down transformer that reduces the voltage and sends high amperage current.
Gas-powered soldering Iron
Without many dilemmas, the gas soldering iron is the winner of our test. It reached an operating temperature of 300°C (572°F) in just 15,6 seconds, which is the fastest of all other models.
A gas-powered soldering iron uses a small tank of propane or butane to warm the tip. These highly flammable gases heat the tip of the soldering iron very quickly.
Cordless soldering iron
The cordless soldering iron is the last place as the soldering iron that needs the most time to warm up. It took 73,8 seconds to warm the tip to 300°C (572°F).
This is normal for this type of soldering iron, their main advantage is wireless.
Wattages in Soldering Irons and How it Affects Heating Time
Soldering irons are available in a range of wattages. The wattage of a soldering iron determines how quickly it will heat up and how much heat it will generate.
A higher wattage soldering iron will heat up more quickly and generate more heat than a lower wattage soldering iron.
However, a high wattage soldering iron is not always necessary. If you are working on a small project, a low or medium-wattage soldering iron will be sufficient
If you are working on a large project, or if you need to solder heavy-duty cables, then you will need a high-wattage soldering iron.
Soldering irons are available in varying wattages ranging from around 20 watts up to about 100 watts. The typical soldering iron has a power rating between 40W and 65W.
How Long Does It Take for a Soldering Iron to Cool Down?
A soldering iron can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour to cool down, depending on the size and power of the iron. For smaller irons, it can take as little as five minutes for the heat to dissipate.
Larger irons, however, can take up to an hour to cool down completely. It is important to allow the soldering iron to cool down completely before storing it, as storing a hot iron can damage it.
How Do I Know If My Soldering Iron Is Hot Enough?
When you are using a soldering iron, it is important to make sure that the iron is hot enough to do the job properly. If the iron is not hot enough, the solder will not stick to the metal and you will not be able to complete the project.
There are several ways to test whether your iron is hot enough. One way is to use a lead-free solder wire. The solder should start to melt as soon as it touches the iron.
If the solder does not melt, the iron is not hot enough and you will need to increase the heat setting.
Another way to test the heat is with a sponge. If you wet the sponge and touch it to the iron, and steam comes off of it, then the iron should be hot enough to use.
Also if you have a multimeter probe with options to measure temperature you can see if tip hot enough.
Why Isn’t My Soldering Iron Getting Hot Enough?
There could be a few reasons why your soldering iron isn’t getting hot enough.
If the soldering iron is old, the heating element may have worn out and needs to be replaced.
If the soldering iron is not properly calibrated, it may not be heating up to the correct temperature. Make sure that you are using the right type of solder for the project you are working on, and that the tip of the soldering iron is clean and free of oxidation.
Finally, if you are using an electric soldering iron, make sure that it is plugged in and has power.
If you are unsure about your soldering iron’s condition, it is a good idea to replace the tip of the soldering iron.
How long does it take for a 60W soldering iron to heat up?
Depending on which model you use, what the quality of the heater is, what the size of the tip is, and so on, the average time is 30 seconds.
Why is it important to have a fast heating soldering iron?
Soldering tools are an important part of many people’s lives, as they are used for everything from fixing electronics to creating art.
However, one of the most important features of a soldering tool is its warming speed.
A fast-warming soldering tool means that you can get to work quickly, without having to wait long for the tool to warm up. This is important because the sooner you can start working on your project, the sooner you can finish it. Today we are all stuck with time.
Additionally, a fast-warming soldering tool means that you’ll spend less time waiting for the tool to cool down before you can put it away. This is especially important if you’re working on a project that requires multiple soldering sessions.
How a soldering iron works?
A soldering iron is a handheld tool that uses heat to join two pieces of metal together.
The tip of the soldering iron is warming up and then used to melt solder, which is a type of metal that has a low melting point. The melted solder is then applied to the joint between the two pieces of metal, which melts and joins them together.
Conclusion
The golden middle for the soldering iron to warm up is between 20 and 60 seconds.
Soldering irons come in different wattages, and each one has a different warming time. A higher-wattage iron will warm up faster than a lower-wattage one.
The best way is to test your soldering iron to determine how long it takes to heat the tip.