How To Get Started In Soldering

see also whitequark's soldering mistakes troubleshooting guide:

- beginner: not using flux

- intermediate: not using enough flux

- advanced: not using the right flux

and visually: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfIwHuGzUEk

> It’s a metal alloy comprised of tin and lead (often 60 percent tin and 40 percent lead) used to bond items together.

No more lead in the EU, with few exceptions.

> Much like the ability to drive a car with a manual transmission, read a map, or write a check, Gen Z is learning less and less about how to work with their hands—and it’s time for that to change.

Ugh. Let's talk down the youngest generation of adults to justify a basic tutorial article.

Ironically no one of Gen Z, that I know of, is unable to do any of those examples.

> Much like the ability to drive a car with a manual transmission, read a map, or write a check, Gen Z is learning less and less about how to work with their hands—and it’s time for that to change.

If only there way some way to obtain this ancient knowledge. Perhaps a video repository of sorts. But I’m sure the hand wringing about new generation is justified THIS time for sure.

Aaah, this is really not a good beginner's guide to soldering! Cranking up to max temperature might work a lot of the time but runs the risk of frying ICs and causing PCB traces to come off. Also using a wet sponge can cause the tips to rust. It's much better to clean them with a brass "sponge" leaving the tip tinned to protect it. Finally the real key to easy soldering is solder flux (and leaded solder if you're allowed).