A soldering iron, which can be used to join both fine and blunt materials, is perhaps the most commonly known of the hand-soldering tools. Various other soldering tools, though, are available, and suited to different soldering applications. Soldering guns provide more power and allow you to solder larger objects. Soldering torches, powered by butane, use flames to heat objects, ranging from jewelry requiring high temperatures to copper piping. Soldering copper is particularly useful for soldering sheet metal: the large thermal mass characteristic of soldering copper provides enough heat to solder large areas.
Many accessories are available to make soldering easier and more pleasant. A heat sink, which absorbs and dissipates heat, can be used to protect heat-sensitive components. Wire brush and emery cloth are useful in cleaning and preparing joints for connection. Soldering iron stands are useful when soldering multiple joints, providing a holder for a soldering iron or gun so that you don't have to lay the hot iron or gun on the bench. Fume extractors, an essential safety tool, will suck up and filter soldering fumes.
Desoldering tools apply heat to a solder joint, melting the solder so that the two components of the joint can be separated. You can use a soldering gun to apply heat to a single joint, and choose from a variety of tools to remove the solder. A vacuum bulb will remove solder by slowly but consistently removing air from the joint and taking the molten solder with it, while a solder plunger will rapidly remove air and solder from the joint. A desoldering braid, consisting of 18- to 42-gauge AWG wire, will remove the solder from a single joint by capillary action.
You can rapidly heat multiple joints in applications such as factory re-work by using a temperature-controlled rework station equipped with special soldering bits that facilitate even distribution of heat throughout a part. Alternatively, you can use a torch or hot-air gun to rapidly heat multiple joints, although you must take care to apply these methods without damaging important parts. After heating your multiple joints, you can use a vacuum bulb, plunger, or desoldering braid to remove the solder.