The soldering equipment on eBay is actually very usable. I test a cheap generic 936 soldering station in this video, including a look inside the unit and at the PCB, and exploration of the actual iron.
One of the nicest things about these soldering stations is the ready availability of cheap parts from the internal PCBs to the complete irons and a wide selection of tips/bits.
If you buy one of these soldering stations with a UK plug, make sure you check if it has a solid metal earth pin. If it has a plastic sleeve on the pin cut the plug off and replace it with a good quality one. The sleeve can prevent a proper earth connection in the socket.
If you enjoy my videos you can support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and solder at https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

14 thoughts on “Soldering basics and choosing a cheap soldering iron.”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Howard Osborne says:

    Interesting info on the soldering irons and stations. I know this is several years after you posted this video but the part near the end where you mention someone patenting pulse modulation for LED control. You could very easily have proved what is called in the patent world as 'prior art' which would have made the others patent claims very weak indeed.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ms Polly says:

    P

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars MiniNinja58 says:

    almost 3 years of soldering and unless im sitting in the workshop with my classmates , i cant solder anything. Either the tip melts after 5 minutes of using or all the connections are bad. maybe its just the soldering iron i have at home thats shit . im probably just doing everything wrong. Ill try to follow every step. If it doesnt help im just buying new soldering iron. Great video clive <3

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars that guy that does stuff says:

    I've just bought a soldering station based on the information in this video and I've paid quite a bit more for a digital model, but it's got a problem.
    The station itself is fine, the weird thing is the iron itself. I've opened it and its got only two wires coming from the heating element (for the heating element) and the circuit board is completely unpopulated. There are five wires coming from the cable but the blue and white are soldered onto the board together as are the red and green wires. So I have no idea how it's checking the temperature of the tip. Thoughts?

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Saalk Z. A. says:

    Does anyone here has any experience with the Baku BK-936E soldering station? I'm (unfortunately) in the process of finding my next affordable soldering iron and on paper the value/price ratio looks good. But there are some confusing infos circling around and I can't afford to just throw money out the window, definitely not in the current economy. ๐Ÿ˜…
    So I'd really appreciate any advice or help.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alex Babcock says:

    Links to suggestions? Thank you for the amazing content

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Topi Linkala says:

    Soldering is like riding a bicycle: once you've learned it you never forget. My father taught me to soldier properly, like Big Clive just told how to do it, when I was 6 or 7 years old. I dabled in electronics during late 70's (I was born 1960) and then I left to do other things. About 2005 I decided that I have to learn to be an electrician. I applied to school where I was learning to be an automation electrician. When we had our soldering class I just remembered how to do it and the teacher was surprised how well I can solder.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Brian Deschene says:

    You plug it in and it gets hot. And my 25watt Radio Shack iron bought during secondary school in 1981 does just that. Iโ€™ve used it with the rolls of 60/40 tin/lead solder and packs of iron tips (during their numerous store closing sales) that I bought over the years and am still using.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars SharkFace says:

    The KSGER T12 was 38 bucks . With a little rework it has plenty of potential! Get the 3.1 v

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ๐™ˆ๐™ง.๐™๐™ง๐™š๐™š๐™ข๐™–๐™ฃ says:

    Hi, my question was about the irons that you showed in this video, did they hold up all this time?
    My channel has been flagged and I can't provide proper replies without them getting deleted automatically sadly.
    Cheers!

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars kacpe876 says:

    I use a yihua 937D and it produces a slight buzz
    edit 1:also when i turn it on my speakers pop

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Cyndi Corinne says:

    Thank you for the suggestion. Iโ€™m looking online now with your recommendation in mind

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jeff B says:

    My first soldering job was a raspberry pi zero w (headers)

    Wasnโ€™t that bad.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Omega Kaotix says:

    I'm "officially" adopting you as my teacher, Clive. I've been stuck in my own head (long story) and it feels like I'm just stuck in time. This particular video made me want to leave work early just so I can go practice with my cheap 'Plusivo' brand iron, because my soldering is still very weak. I've got a few old/dead VCR boards that should be perfect for practice!

    I'm ready for my homework, sir!
    ๐Ÿ˜‰

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.