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Tool Kit - Beginner
Replacement:TOL-11807. We've added our SparkFun Safety glasses to this tool kit, go check it out! This page is for reference only.
This assortment of tools is great for those of you who are new to soldering. We've found our favorite, low-cost tools, and created a kit that we would give to our friends. While these tools might not be enough for more difficult, surface-mount type assembly, they should be just what you need for through-hole soldering.
This time around we've kitted all the tools together in our spiffy new SparkFun branded packaging. We've also replaced the leaded solder with the safer and generally more compliant lead-free solder. Go hack something!
Replaces:TOL-09465
- Soldering Iron - 30W US 3-Prong 110V - Simple, fixed-temp soldering iron
- Soldering Iron Stand - Keeps your soldering iron handy and off your floor
- Solder Wick #2 5ft. - If you've never used wick before, this will save your ~~life~~ project.
- Solder Lead-Free 15-gram Tube
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Diagonal Cutters - Snip those long leads
- SparkFun Mini Screwdriver
Tool Kit - Beginner Product Help and Resources
Core Skill: Soldering
This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.
Skill Level: Noob - Some basic soldering is required, but it is limited to a just a few pins, basic through-hole soldering, and couple (if any) polarized components. A basic soldering iron is all you should need.
See all skill levels
Core Skill: DIY
Whether it's for assembling a kit, hacking an enclosure, or creating your own parts; the DIY skill is all about knowing how to use tools and the techniques associated with them.
Skill Level: Noob - Basic assembly is required. You may need to provide your own basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer or scissors. Power tools or custom parts are not required. Instructions will be included and easy to follow. Sewing may be required, but only with included patterns.
See all skill levels
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Customer Reviews
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Any chance of a BYO solder or a lead (63/37) solder version? These are just about right for workshops, but we've found lead-free solder very frustrating for beginners and the lead solder, while not RoHS compliant, isn't particularly hazardous to solder with.
We do carry a couple of different options when it comes to solder: Lead free, leaded, and a special blend
Just got this in the mail, got all set up to learn to solder with the kit, but the iron isn't hot enough to transfer heat through the 22 AWG wire to the lead-free solder on the opposite site and melt it. It even takes two to three seconds or so to melt the lead-free solder when directly touching the solder. I've had it on for about 20 minutes heating before attempting to solder. How long is it supposed to take to heat all the way up? (Also, the included stand doesn't quite fit right so the tip of the iron contacts the stand which acts as a heat sink, slowing heat-up time.)
When you are first learning, (and I bet you've already figured this out) a "dab" of solder on the tip of your iron helps improve the heat transfer to the lead/wire/pcb trace. I've got six of these irons and have found that they work really well for 11-13 year-olds once they learn proper technique, even with the lead free solder. I plug all six irons into a power strip which I don't plug in until about five minutes before the "book learning" part of my little "learn to solder" class is done. They heat up to working temperature in about 8 minutes.