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How To Get Started In Soldering

popularmechanics.com

11–20 of 281 posts

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#11

> 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.

Learning on lead-free nearly turned me off of soldering until a buddy gave some Kester eutectic, that is a freaking joy compared to lead-free

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#13

A tip I got here a while ago is to use dry brass/copper sponges instead of wet sponges to clean the iron, because water stresses it too much. Like this one https://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Iron-Tip-Cleaner-Non-slip/d...

it's better, but still abrades

More importantly, the lesson I learned was to get a soldering system\station where you can get replacement tips easily\cheaply

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#15

> 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.

[flagged]

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#16

> 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.

Gen Z will be one of the most practical generations in history, thanks to Youtube.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#17

> 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.

The author is 25 (gen z) and has done multiple car reviews / car product reviews that feature his own car which is a manual...

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#18
post #14

The most important thing: Put the heat where you want the solder to flow to, not where it's starting from. This also applies to soldering/brazing copper pipes.

To add to that, you add the solder to the heated part and it will flow into the point you're soldering. Don't try to transfer it from the iron or paste it on the spot semi-melted.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#19
Build a ventilation system for your soldering area, it's more than worth it if you're going to be doing much soldering (and is also useful for many other purposes). The best option is a fan connected to vent tubing leading outside, I doubt 'smoke extractors' are that effective, e.g.

https://ribbeckeglass.com/ventilating-soldering-fumes/

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#20

> 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.

youtube can help maps and checks... but its not easy to find manual transmissions anymore.
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