[Zero Two]

Soldering is a skill that improves fast once you understand what's actually happening. Most beginner problems come from the same few mistakes.

The most common mistake: not enough heat, too long
Beginners often use too-low iron temperature and compensate by holding the iron on the joint for too long. This damages components and gives cold joints. Better: use adequate temperature (350-380°C for leaded, 380-400°C for lead-free), heat the joint for 2-3 seconds, flow solder, remove.

You're heating the joint, not the solder
Touch the iron to the pad AND the component leg simultaneously. Let the joint heat up, then bring solder to the joint (not to the iron). The solder should flow toward the heat.

A good solder joint:

• Shiny (not dull or grainy - dull = cold joint)
  
• Concave fillet shape, like a volcano
  
• Not balled up (too much solder) or flat and sparse (too little)
  

Flux is not optional
Flux cleans oxidation and helps solder flow. Most solder wire has flux core but it burns off quickly. For rework or anything that's being a pain, add extra flux paste. It's what makes the difference between a joint that works first time and one that takes ten attempts.

Gear worth having:

• A temperature-controlled iron (Pinecil is excellent at £25, Hakko FX-888D if you want pro)
  
• Flux paste
  
• Solder wick for removing excess
  
• A solder sucker (desoldering pump) for through-hole work
  
• Good lighting and magnification - you'd be surprised what you can't see with the naked eye
  

What are you currently soldering?