OG_Blues
Guitar Geezer
It's all about selecting the right tool for a particular job - there are so many different things that are somehow connected with solder.
The hair thin solder and extra small tips are used for the delicate work, such as when soldering surface mount devices (SMD) on printed circuit boards. These often also require some kind of auxiliary "third hand" device/tool to hold the component in place while soldering. These are often home made to suit the individual and some people refer them as a dufus. It can be as simple as a toothpick. SMD's have gotten so small, many are barely the size of a pin head - they are a challenge to work with, and require very steady hands - and the right tools. They can skipping into never never land with the slightest provocation. About the only way to find them is with a vacuum cleaner with a nylon stocking over the end.
Oddly, additional flux, pre-applied to the printed circuit board pad with a special pen that looks like a felt tip marker, is often used when working with SMD's. The home hobbyist can even use "reflow" techniques by positioning the SMD's on the board, and then heating the whole board up with a hot plate and a hot air gun. That is often when parts decide to take flight.
A good iron has continuously adjustable temperature with tip temperature digital display and tip temperature compensation control. One learns fairly quickly what temperature is required for a job with a given size / mass. Bigger, heavier connections = more heat, applied for a longer time, and vice versa.
Getting good at it is a combination of science and art.
The hair thin solder and extra small tips are used for the delicate work, such as when soldering surface mount devices (SMD) on printed circuit boards. These often also require some kind of auxiliary "third hand" device/tool to hold the component in place while soldering. These are often home made to suit the individual and some people refer them as a dufus. It can be as simple as a toothpick. SMD's have gotten so small, many are barely the size of a pin head - they are a challenge to work with, and require very steady hands - and the right tools. They can skipping into never never land with the slightest provocation. About the only way to find them is with a vacuum cleaner with a nylon stocking over the end.
Oddly, additional flux, pre-applied to the printed circuit board pad with a special pen that looks like a felt tip marker, is often used when working with SMD's. The home hobbyist can even use "reflow" techniques by positioning the SMD's on the board, and then heating the whole board up with a hot plate and a hot air gun. That is often when parts decide to take flight.
A good iron has continuously adjustable temperature with tip temperature digital display and tip temperature compensation control. One learns fairly quickly what temperature is required for a job with a given size / mass. Bigger, heavier connections = more heat, applied for a longer time, and vice versa.
Getting good at it is a combination of science and art.