Comment by steve_adams_86
5 days ago
> You'll definitely need to learn to solder.
Probably implied here, but learning to desolder is huge too. And there are tricks to it that didn't come easily to me. When you buy your first iron, I think it's worth getting some flux and solder wick as well. Taking circuits apart cleanly and properly can make repairs so much easier.
Me the complete soldering newbie was very surprised when he discovered that desoldering is much more difficult than soldering. Getting a blob of tin to conduct is easy, getting the blob of tin out of there… impossible without tools and technique. Obvious in hindsight.
On that note, is it worth it to get a desoldering iron ? Like, what is essentially a soldering iron and a desoldering pump combined ? I've had little success desoldering in the past, and broke boards because of it.
Yes. If you can afford it (around 100 $€ will get you a basic one) and you expect to use it more than once, it'll save you a lot of grief.
Desoldering is one of those things where the right tool is almost mandatory.
Sure, you can desolder with a cigarette lighter and some luck, but you’ll be much happier with the iron.