Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How To Get Started In Soldering

popularmechanics.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 281 posts

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#41

Post by atoav »

TrackerFF wrote: post #36

Whenever I teach soldering to someone, I try to keep it short - and tell that the only things they really need to know is 1) Keep the surfaces of the two metals you want to solder clean. That means removing rust, oxidation, dirt, etc. If possible, make a mechanical connection. 2) The three metals (surface A, surface B, solder) need to be equal temperature. 9 out of 10 times, the solder errors I see are due to the abo…

Yeah the most common mistake is actually not cleaning well and not heating all things up that need to be heated (e.g. trying to use the soldering iron like a "brush").

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#42

Post by lbayes »

nimajneb wrote: post #27
the__alchemist wrote: post #25

- No mention of tip types/quality - No mention of flux outside that embedded in the solder - No mention of braid etc - Recommends a wet sponge to clean (This shocks the tip) - Defaults to leaded solder without mentioning the risks (I admit this is hot-take territory!)

What do you suggest other than wet sponge to clean the tip? I usually try and use a damp sponge, instead of a wet one. This is how I learned like 20-25 years ago as a kid though. I never learned how to professionally solder.

Brass wire sponge works great.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#43

Post by dustinsterk »

TurkishPoptart wrote: post #38
dustinsterk wrote: post #35

I would recommend starting with a kit so that you also get the benefit of feeling like you created something valuable as your practice/learn. Something like this is great for the price! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X13KY6S

have you used this one? I'd like to buy it, I'd just want to hear that someone used this successfully.

Yes, my son built is a few weeks ago, no issues and works great!

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#44

Post by whstl »

galleywest200 wrote: post #31
bambax wrote: post #24

> just be careful not to overspend on your first iron. I first learned how to solder on an ultra-cheap hardware-store unit, and you should, too I beg to differ. I used to suck at soldering, and while I'm still no expert, swapping my €20 basic soldering iron for a serious Weller unit (starting at €150) changed everything. The Weller heats up almost instantly, goes up as high as you want, and stays at a constant temper…

In this case of soldering I agree, as the tool really does make it easier. Generally for most hobbies I tell people to buy the "cheapest" they can find and if they use it until it breaks then buy the most expensive one you can afford.

I think this might work for some subset of hobbies (can't think of any), but anything that requires some learning or training to improve, crappy tools will hold your progress back and might cause you to drop out. From ping pong balls to guitars...

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#45

Post by atahanacar »

I used to "suck" at soldering, until one day I was recommended a Louis Rossmann video by Youtube and decided to watch it. Once I saw how much flux he used, I started to use more flux and as it turns out, that was my problem.

That is my problem with this article. Flux is only superficially in a sentence. So my tip to beginners: Cleaning flux is way easier than struggling to solder with little/no flux.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#46

Post by cookie_monsta »

was_a_dev wrote: post #6

> 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.

I am Gen X and I have never written a cheque in my life. Manual transmission and maps I am ok with.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#47

Post by was_a_dev »

reaperducer wrote: post #37
was_a_dev wrote: post #6

> 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.

Let's talk down the youngest generation You're not the younger generation anymore. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Alpha no one of Gen Z, that I know of, is unable to do any of those examples. "That I know of" is the hallmark of Gen Z: Thinking that their experiences are the only experiences. Taking the manual transmission example, there were a number of items in the news back when manual transmission was…

> youngest generation of adults

Gen Alpha are yet to become adults

> that I know of

A disclaimer, as I am more than aware my experience is just that, my own.

Just like my experience and viewpoint probably differs with other factors

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#48

Post by TylerE »

CarVac wrote: post #29
bambax wrote: post #24

> just be careful not to overspend on your first iron. I first learned how to solder on an ultra-cheap hardware-store unit, and you should, too I beg to differ. I used to suck at soldering, and while I'm still no expert, swapping my €20 basic soldering iron for a serious Weller unit (starting at €150) changed everything. The Weller heats up almost instantly, goes up as high as you want, and stays at a constant temper…

I 100% agree. They say "a good craftsman doesn't blame his tools" but when you start out you need good tools. A non-temperature-controlled soldering iron is a huge impediment to learning because the temperature varies with usage and so its behavior is hard to predict for a new solderer. Even between temperature-controlled ones there can be a large difference in ability to conduct heat into a part: my Pinecil takes fa…

Don't blame tools, but it's okay to blame tool shaped objects.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#49

Post by was_a_dev »

cookie_monsta wrote: post #46
was_a_dev wrote: post #6

> 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.

I am Gen X and I have never written a cheque in my life. Manual transmission and maps I am ok with.

For myself, writing cheques have been a case of supporting the older generation(s)

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#50

Post by Steltek »

bambax wrote: post #24

> just be careful not to overspend on your first iron. I first learned how to solder on an ultra-cheap hardware-store unit, and you should, too I beg to differ. I used to suck at soldering, and while I'm still no expert, swapping my €20 basic soldering iron for a serious Weller unit (starting at €150) changed everything. The Weller heats up almost instantly, goes up as high as you want, and stays at a constant temper…

There are pretty good cheap soldering irons these days too. My $35 Pinecil is pretty fun to use.
Post reply on HN