this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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Soldering

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Advice for tool ; bad sight (piefed.blahaj.zone)
submitted 1 day ago by melimosa@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/soldering@lemmy.ca
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Hello,

I am a student / cleaner worker in EU. I do digital (mainly Intel 8051 and 6502) and analog (for mod synth) electronic, in a very low budget DIY way.

The thing is, I mainly work on breadboards, because my bad sight don't allow me to do very good soldering. However, I've been desoldering, scrapping and repairing PCB and electronics for like 5/6 years now, and it is still very hard despite this (little) experience.

I have success on THT with big components, although this is not the cleanest work. I would like to reduce the form factor of my work / stabilise it, but this often means smaller components, maybe SMD, and tight spaces, which I currently can't work well with.

In the last 2 years I've been searching for accommodations, things like better soldering iron, smaller tips (Currently for tight spaces and small pads I use thin Pinecil tips), better quality tin (with lead), flux, building helping hands, desolderings tools and consumables etc... This helps a lot but this is really not enough. I know that, in the end, I need some sort of magnification device.

The thing is, magnification devices are not cheap, at least for good quality and usability. I also don't have the money to "just try" one. I've been reading review, watching videos about some, talking to some friends etc.. but most people either don't have sight issues, or have "this very expensive microscope that only engineers can afford". This also comes with the fact that I fear to need to wear my glasses when using the device.

Soooo, I was wondering if there was some people out here with the same issues, or with experiences on some tools etc... any tips is welcome :)

I'm sorry if this question has already been answered, I didn't find it. If so, please link to the thread I'll be very happy :)

xoxo
~melimosa

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[–] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 2 points 23 hours ago

If it helps to hear - I have the same issue, and I always just wear two (or even three!) pairs of my normal glasses at the same time, one over the other.

I look ridiculous, but it gives me good magnification.

So, really, anything like this should work for you. As long as it's in front of your eyes and improves magnification, the fit should be good enough.

I recommend picking one up from some place that lets you return it, if you don't like it.