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

91–100 of 281 posts

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#91

Post by atoav »

CarVac wrote: post #21
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…

A wet sponge doesn't cause rust, it's occasionally blamed for cracking plating when you use a high temperature. If you use a moderate temperature (650°F/340°C) it's a gentler way to clean flux residue off the tip. Brass wool I reserve for scrubbing oxidation off the tip, but this eventually wears through the plating so I don't do this often. Leaded solder is both toxic and completely unnecessary for hobbyist use. I l…

> Brass wool I reserve for scrubbing oxidation off the tip, but this eventually wears through the plating so I don't do this often.

I am cleaning my JBC tips with brass for the past 5 years of intense use and can't really tell a difference.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#92

Post by tiagod »

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?

I live in Portugal and you'll find more Gen Zers (with a drivers license) afraid of driving an automatic than a stick shift.

If you've never driven one, automatic cars feel super dangerous as you can accelerate indefinitely even when unconscious, and even in a normal situation your left foot clutch muscle memory will make you push the brake (to the floor) without meaning to as well.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#93

Post by purpleblue »

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'm Gen X and the only way I knew how to drive a manual was because of video games.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#94

Post by eyegor »

CarVac wrote: post #21
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…

A wet sponge doesn't cause rust, it's occasionally blamed for cracking plating when you use a high temperature. If you use a moderate temperature (650°F/340°C) it's a gentler way to clean flux residue off the tip. Brass wool I reserve for scrubbing oxidation off the tip, but this eventually wears through the plating so I don't do this often. Leaded solder is both toxic and completely unnecessary for hobbyist use. I l…

340c would be a pretty high setting for most casual use... Good chance you'll ruin a board like that. Modern solder is pretty easy to work with around 250c and the risk of overheating the board is a lot lower. Unless you're soldering giant connectors there's no reason to tell a beginner to crank it over 300c.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#95

Post by mgaunard »

I was taught soldering in middle school. Probably did it three or four times in my life outside of that.

Didn't do a great job, but it worked. If I cared about it being done well, I would have gotten a craftsman.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#96

Post by purpleblue »

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.

You're Canadian. I'm surprised you didn't write cheques for rent, like I did when I lived in Canada.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#97

Post by MrBuxley »

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 wish I'd known this years ago. When I was about 16, I tried my hand at soldering. I had little idea of what I was doing but really tried for several weeks. Nothing worked. I thought all this time it was just me.

I mean, it could just be me, but I haven't picked up a soldering iron for many years because of that experience. I might invest good iron and give it a shot again.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#98

Post by johnwalkr »

gaze wrote: post #83
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.

You could say they are medium range units (especially since the models usually recommended are not the very lowest end models of those brands), but the gap between a cheapo from the hardware store and a Hakko is like 10x bigger than the gap from Hakko to the highest end model for a professional PCB assembler. Incidentally I work in aerospace and I rarely see anything in lab besides Hakko 800 series, 900 series, or 200 series (rework station).

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#99

Post by mgaunard »

the_only_law wrote: post #60
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.

> Just 2.4% of our cars sold today have stick shifts.[0] Gee, I wonder why these stupid kids aren’t familiar with manual transmissions. [0] https://www.carmax.com/articles/stick-shift-index

That's only in the USA though.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#100

Post by johnwalkr »

whstl wrote: post #44
galleywest200 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

For working on cars, the standard advice is to buy a basic wrench and socket set from harbour freight, any specialty (non electrical) tools from there as you need them, and then upgrade the few things that end up not being adequate.
Post reply on HN