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Soldering

Soldering is core to almost everything I build — from fixing broken connections to assembling full prototypes.
It’s a skill that rewards practice, patience, and the right mindset (and tip temperature).

What it’s for

  • Making electrical connections between components and boards
  • Repairing broken joints or wires
  • Assembling circuits on perfboard, stripboard, or custom PCBs
  • Modifying or hacking existing hardware
  • Making or fixing cablels

How I approach it

  • I keep a few different tips on hand — chisel, conical, and fine-point
  • 350–380°C is my general temp range, lower for tiny SMD parts
  • I try to use flux often — it’s a cheat code for clean soldering
  • I solder components from lowest to highest profile (resistors → headers)

Tools I keep nearby

  • Soldering iron with adjustable temperature
  • Flux pen or paste
  • Desoldering pump or braid
  • Helping hands or PCB holders
  • Isopropyl alcohol + brush for cleanup

Tips & Notes

  • Keep your tip clean — wipe and re-tin regularly
  • Don’t overheat pads, especially on cheap PCBs
  • If it’s not flowing well, back off and apply flux
  • Desoldering is a skill of its own — go slow
  • A microscope or magnifier really helps for SMD work

For Teaching

  • Start with through-hole, then move to SMD when students are comfortable
  • Show how to fix a cold joint — don’t just explain it
  • Let people fail safely — most mistakes are recoverable