A simple, beginner-friendly guide to soldering electronics.
Soldering is a fundamental electronics skill - and it’s much easier than it looks. This guide is designed for complete beginners and pairs with Tinker Fox soldering kits.
This video is from Make and covers the basics of soldering.
Place the tip of the soldering iron so it touches both the component leg and the copper pad on the circuit board.
Feed solder into the heated joint - not directly onto the iron. The solder should flow around the joint.
Once the joint is covered and shiny, remove the solder first, then the iron.
Don’t move the joint while it cools. This only takes a second or two.
If your solder joints look dull, blobby, or uneven - don’t worry. That’s completely normal when learning.
Tinker Fox kits include a separate practice board so you can learn without pressure. Your first few solder joints probably won’t be perfect - that’s expected!
Once you’re comfortable, move on to the final project knowing what to expect.
Still not working? Get in touch!
info@tinkerfox.uk
If you’re following this guide as part of a Tinker Fox kit, you’re ready to start assembling your project.
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