How To Get Started In Soldering • Hacker News Board

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#81

Post by brewdad » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 3:56 PM UTC

was_a_dev wrote: post #49

cookie_monsta wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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)

My GenZ child wrote their first check a few months ago. The State Department doesn't take cash or credit cards for passport applications. The guy at the post office talked them through it and their passport arrived last week.

A decade from now they'll write their second check and have to be talked through it again.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#82

Post by brewdad » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 3:58 PM UTC

gregshap wrote: post #62

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.

Curious where you are finding a sample of Gen Z members who can all drive manual transmission?

My GenZer wants to learn but we literally don't know a single person who owns a manual transmission car. Well we know one but it's a cousin who lives 1500 miles away and we really only see at weddings and funerals.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#83

Post by gaze » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:00 PM UTC

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…

What people don’t understand is that Hakko and Weller ARE the low end units. The good units are made by JBC, Pace, and Metcal.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#84

Post by squarefoot » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:00 PM UTC

Steltek wrote: post #50

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.

Seconded. I have two Weller TCPs and a while ago decided to buy the Pinecil just as a way to support the folks at Pine64. Well, it turned out it's a really good iron, and I use it along the Wellers without noticing any difference.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#85

Post by jonhohle » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

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.

Based on the spelling, you’re probably not from the US. Until recently, there were really no “free” ways to give independent contractors money except cash or check. That’s changing, slowly.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#86

Post by SillyUsername » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

sb618 wrote: post #10

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 all…

No mention of solder suckers or tinning either. Mention of how to reflow connections using a heat gun is a simpler alternative to an iron for fixing some problems too.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#87

Post by TremendousJudge » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

gregshap wrote: post #62

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.

Curious where you are finding a sample of Gen Z members who can all drive manual transmission?

In countries that are not the USA?

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#88

Post by usrusr » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:04 PM UTC

Steltek wrote: post #50

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.

Similar story: went from a series of bad cheap irons to a good cheap iron and it was like night and day.

I still struggle occasionally, but that's when connecting enameled copper to 1.27 mm crenellated edge connectors, and in my book that's a task where "struggling" isn't actually that bad.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#89

Post by johnwalkr » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:06 PM UTC

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, the iron linked in the article is actually OK, but overpriced for what it is. The problem is that if you take the advice as written and go to Home Depot, you will end up with a frustrating piece of garbage and give up the hobby before long.

But fortunately today there are great, cheap tools. The $35 pinecil and T12 clones (as little as $25 if you can wait on shipping) are as good as $150 units from 10 years ago. I have a Hakko 888 and I haven't used it in years because a pinecil in my desk drawer is so much more convenient. It has enough juice for almost anything you'd find linked on hackernews or hackaday, and when I want to use it I just move a usb-c charging cable from my laptop to it for a while.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#90

Post by Yhippa » Mon, Apr 10, 2023, 4:06 PM UTC

The first -- and only -- time I ever soldered was on a job interview! The company was making gastric pacemakers and wanted to see if I could do it. One of my favorite job interviews for some reason. I have a tough time with the "code in front of the interviewer"-style interviews but this was actually kind of fun.

That said, I don't feel like I've had the need to bust one out since then. I'm sure there are useful times for it, but for me, I typically replace the item or pay someone to fix it and move on with my day.