A couple of members at Arch Reactor teach an Arduino class. Of course the Arduino is a fantastic little micro-controller that everybody loves, but we aren’t here to talk about that today.

I’ve already been through the class the first time around, but this time they are focusing on a super-tiny variation called the Ardweeny. This time, instead of just buying a project board, the first class was soldering together an Ardweeny kit.

Soldering! I’ve been meaning to learn how to solder properly for years!

Turns out having the proper tools make a big difference. A dollar-store soldering iron isn’t good for much than burning yourself and tripping circuit breakers. However its helpful to have a good variable heat iron, third-hand armature, tip cleaner, rosin, rubbing alcohol, desk lamp, pink eraser, and a partridge in a pear tree bathing in your kitchen sink.

Working with an ideal setup I found soldering to be much easier than I expected. It may have just been the fumes, but ass I assembled my kit I began to find soldering a very zen experience. Knowing that the liquid solder flows towards the heat becomes your best tool. So keeping your heat at a single spot and not letting it radiate away through your armature or anything else conductive is helpful.

To my amazement, everything worked after only one attempt. As you can see from the lit LEDs in the photo, it’s alive… IT’S ALIVE! Mwahahahaha! I’m so proud of myself. I’m considering sending my finished kit to my mother so she can put it on the refrigerator.