SNRGY Studios' SOLDR Aims to Put Everything You Need for Solder Jobs in Arm's Reach

Startup SNRGY Studios has launched a crowdfunding campaign for SOLDR — a modular soldering station system designed with makers in mind, though somewhat unusually it's bring-your-own-iron.

"As a maker for many years, I've always been frustrated by how traditional soldering stations demand dedicated desk space and how you always waste time when the right tool is not in your hand," says SNRGY's co-founder Alexander Osika. "This limitation inspired me to create SOLDR — a solution that delivers profession-grade soldering capabilities in a compact, portable format that you can set up on any desk and easily take with you wherever you go."

The idea behind SOLDR is to make sure everything is within arm's reach. The carry case folds out into a heatproof work area with angled tool storage at the rear. The storage area isn't just for the stuff you're not using right now, though: the standard kit includes a repositionable fan and light, which shines onto the work area while doing its best to keep your face free from fumes.

Other accessories include a quartet of "helping hands" part holders, a pen holder with cleaning sponge and copper wire, a solder and copper braid spool, a USB Type-C cable spool, wire stripper, tweezers in a holder, flush cutter, and flux syringe — but its creators say they are also expecting people to add their own accessories using open source 3D-printable models that allow you to design compatible holders for your favorite tools.

Unusually for an all-in-one soldering station, the SOLDR doesn't actually include an iron. Instead, Osika says it's compatible with "most USB-C soldering irons" — and if you don't already have one, the company is offering the Aifen A11 as an add-on to the kit itself.

SNRGY has launched a crowdfunding campaign for SOLDR on Kickstarter, which has already well exceeded its funding goal; launch-day pricing has a "DIY edition" of the kit, which includes all the accessories but only 3D models for the printable plastic parts, priced at $65; the "original edition" is priced at $95, and the "deluxe edition," which adds an Aifen A11 soldering iron, smartphone microscope, multimeter, precision knife, and soldering tips, at $179, all of which represent a 40 per cent discount from the standard selling price. Hardware is expected to ship in July this year, the company claims.