Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#51

Post by butvacuum » Fri, Sep 04, 2026, 10:04 PM UTC

eternityforest wrote: post #46

sandreas wrote: post #11

While soldering is not that hard, different tasks require different tools. Most of them can be from very cheap to very expensive. As a beginner I'd recommend the following: A small USB-C soldering iron supported by IronOS[1], e.g. Pinecil vor TS100 A solid stand with brass wool A KU soldering tip (looks a bit like a knife) for good heat transfer, too small tips are not good Thin ( No clean flux (not a pen) Isopropyl…

C245 clones seem to be the new current standard tip format, they're pretty nice. Not supported by any open third party firmware usually, but that's fine with me. One thing to watch out for is tip grounding, some cheap irons leak a few volts at micro to milliamp level power, relative to ground, which could matter if you solder very sensitive things that are grounded, which you probably don't. DIY fume extractors are h…

and breathing flux is a far larger concern than leaded solder. Physically getting them somewhere (eating while soldering, not washing hands, etc) is still a problem.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#52

Post by sscaryterry » Fri, Sep 04, 2026, 10:11 PM UTC

Don't overthink it, seriously. Avoid the fumes, if the joint looks shiny, its probably cool.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#53

Post by MithrilTuxedo » Fri, Sep 04, 2026, 10:30 PM UTC

NAVAIR 01-1A-23

https://www.robins.af.mil/Portals/59/documents/technicalorde...

I was a 2M Mini/Micro repair technician for a few years in the Navy. That book was our school and manual.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#54

Post by readme » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 1:12 AM UTC

half_fish wrote: post #8

This gives me flashbacks to the last time I tried to replace the microswitches in my mouse... After I finished, the right click felt like it was 'glued down' or 'stuck'... I never heard the click sound again... Yep, it was broken. I've decided never to solder anything ever again... But good luck to you!

you attempted a skilled technique without practice, you were surprised when you screwed it up, and then you quit

this is not a good pattern!

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#55

Post by readme » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 1:19 AM UTC

jrflo wrote: post #29

FYI you're trying to repair surface-mounted components by hand, that's pretty tricky. Most hand soldering is done with through hole components, not surface mounted. Not to say it can't be done, but you're starting on hard mode for sure.

I've taught people to start with surface mount before. It's really worse depending on what you're soldering. A lot of people doing hardware hacking will get tons of mileage just out of being able to solder on a chip with a soic-8 package. That's easy enough that you can learn it on day 1.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#56

Post by hiddencost » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 4:04 AM UTC

Is there a local makerspace? They often will have free nights where you can pick up some knowledge with direct supervision. Having someone else watch you is incredibly helpful.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#57

Post by winrid » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 4:11 AM UTC

I highly recommend a desoldering gun, like a Hakko, absolutely life changing if you take stuff apart or repair often.

Also, flux is your friend.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#58

Post by sssilver » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 4:22 AM UTC

Arguably, the only resource you need to get better at it, is time.

Every next solder makes you better at soldering.

Get through your first 1000 solders as soon as possible, and then keep going. The rest will figure itself out along the way.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#59

Post by tootie » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 4:24 AM UTC

I took a local class that really helped but the lesson was really just a basic project that had like 40 solder points. First few barely stuck, last few looked perfect. Just do it over and over and you'll get better pretty quickly.

Re: Ask HN: Resources to get good at soldering?

#60

Post by kube-system » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 4:51 AM UTC

eternityforest wrote: post #49

SAI_Peregrinus wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will say it's important that the soldering iron be temperature controlled. It's especially nice if it's one with the temperature sensing integrated into the tip in a cartridge (like the ones you suggested). Also, 63/37 tin/lead "eutectic" solder is the easiest to use. Wash your hands after using it, or wear gloves. 60/40 solder is almost as easy, and cheaper. Lead-free is more difficult, especially for learning. Le…

I think there's no real need to learn with leaded anymore now that we have temp controlled irons and better fluxes and such. Wearing gloves and washing your hands five million times is more annoying than just using lead free. And even with perfect precautions, the flux expands and makes it spit tiny little balls, which then contaminates your whole work area with a somewhat fine dust.

Flux can be hazardous too, even if your solder is lead-free.

But in a non-occupational exposure setting you're not likely to have issues if you solder occasionally even with lead solder and don't take any precautions.