[bschwindHN]

> # Desoldering Pump > > Because I needed it (beginners won't)

Funny you mention that, because I just instructed someone how to solder for the first time and on probably their 4th joint they needed the desoldering pump because they added too much solder. I think it's easier to teach a beginner how to use a desoldering pump than how to use desoldering braid.

[ssl-3]

I think it's easier to teach how to do good work when the instruction method prevents getting bogged down by fixing mistakes to begin with.

Too much or too little heat/time/solder/whatever? No worries; just move on to the next joint and try to get it a little bit better than the ones before.

This tends to mean working with practice materials instead of with real boards that actually have some future value, and that's quite OK. The practice has value in and of itself.

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I can't imagine having to stop all forward progress and learn how to fix a thing after so few tries of something new.

We don't throw kids straight into the batting box and watch them strike out ("Sorry kid, maybe you can try again next weekend!"); we instead provide time and materials for them practice with first, let them make mistakes over and over again, and focus on encouraging the successes.

And then -- after enough practice that a good amount of familiarity is instilled -- they eventually get to go play a game of baseball.

Soldering should not be different in this way.

[sandreas]

That might be true in some cases, but you can also use a bit of brass wool to wipe of excess solder. The iron will suck the rest of the connection pretty well.

However, this is also something where it might pay of to buy a good one (ENGINEER SS-03) instead of a cheap knock-off in the long term.

[moepstar]

This thread is no good for my bank account. Ordered

[mrguyorama]

A hand operated solder sucker is like $5 though, they are talking about the station based ones that can be used to desolder the entire board with little effort.

[bschwindHN]

Ah yeah I missed they were talking about the station ones, beginners definitely don't need that.