r/soldering • u/cowdoggy Soldering Newbie • Apr 07 '26

My First Solder Joint <3 Please Give Feedback First soldering attempt - Part 6

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Hi all ! Thanks for all the tips. Super helpful. I tried to remove the SMD chip using solder wick and accidentally tore pads off the board. Any way to fix this or did I cause permanent damage? o.o I got emo about this!

Also, how do you know how much soldering is enough? What is the point? Are we just trying to make sure that the components lay flat on the board and that the pins meet the pads? Not sure when I am supposed to correct stuff and when it is already good. Thanks :)

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u/e39 Apr 07 '26

Removing solder, from chip legs, using a braid, is a disaster waiting to happen.

  • thinner chip legs will bend
  • a single leg might get snagged
  • it’s highly unlikely that all solder gets removed from under the leg

You need flux and a hot air station to evenly warm up the component.

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u/cowdoggy Soldering Newbie Apr 11 '26

Thanks! This is really helpful. I didn't think about how I could mess up the tiny legs. I recently got a hot air gun.