Desoldering Braid
MECHANIC R300 Desoldering Braid
This is the wick I use on my bench. It’s cheap, effective, and after comparing it side-by-side with the higher-end Japanese brand Goot, I’ve found it performs just as well.
I’ve also bought it on special from here at a lower price, and it’s identical to the official store stuff.
Get it from the official AliExpress MECHANIC store, be wary of other sources.
2UUL DW15 ‘Solder Vampire’ Desoldering Braid
My good friend swears by this stuff, and I’ve given it a try. It’s excellent. Very similar if not better than MG Chemicals super-wick. You buy it in lots of ten but the price per roll is very low.
Flux
Primarily used for reflowing solder. Flux quality and activation can vary considerably, and low-quality flux can lead to poor reflow, excessive residue, unpleasant fumes, and even leakage current between traces. Here are some reputable options available on AliExpress.
MECHANIC M35 Flux
A top-tier flux among the low cost choices at AliExpress. Works well for both leaded and unleaded soldering.
It has good activity, flows nicely under heat, and helps solder wet pads quickly without burning off too fast. The no-clean formula leaves relatively little residue compared to cheaper generic fluxes, although it can still become sticky and is best cleaned with IPA after use.
Get it from the official AliExpress MECHANIC store, be wary of other sources.
Soldering Wire
There is some absolutely awful soldering wire available on AliExpress. Poor-quality solder often has inconsistent alloy composition and weak or poorly formulated flux cores, which can lead to bad wetting, weak joints, and excessive residue. It can also produce harsh, unpleasant fumes from low-grade rosin.
It’s also worth being cautious with “60/40” solder specifically, as it isn’t eutectic, so it doesn’t have a single sharp melting point. Instead it passes through a pasty phase, which can make joints easier to disturb while cooling and increase the risk of cold or grainy solder joints if you’re not careful. Prefer 63/37 for leaded.
MECHANIC HX-T100 63/37
Mechanic HX-T100 solder wire is what I use for general PCB and SMD work. It’s a 63/37 tin-lead eutectic solder with a rosin core that flows nicely and makes reliable, shiny joints when the surface is properly prepped. It melts cleanly and wets pads well, which makes hand-soldering and rework straightforward without needing excessive flux. For a budget solder, it’s been consistent enough in practice to be a solid everyday choice on the bench.
Get it from the official AliExpress MECHANIC store, be wary of other sources.
MECHANIC HBD-366
A lead-free alloy that uses Bismuth instead of lead to achieve a low melting point. Feels similar to 63/37 without the lead.
Get it from the official AliExpress MECHANIC store, be wary of other sources.
Brass Cleaning Sponge
Brass sponges are used to clean oxidation and excess solder from a soldering iron tip without significantly cooling it down, unlike traditional wet sponges. This helps maintain stable tip temperature and reduces thermal stress on the plating.
You’d think buying a brass cleaning sponge would be easy, but many of the ones sold on AliExpress are actually copper-coated steel rather than solid brass. You can often spot the difference by the color: brass has a yellow tone, while copper has a more reddish tint.
Real brass cleaning sponge
A good-sized brass cleaning sponge sold in a pack of six. I’ve bought these myself and confirmed with a magnet that they contain no steel. They clean soldering iron tips well and hold up nicely with regular use.
Flush Cutters
An electronics bench staple. Basically impossible to do work without them.
Flush Cutters
These flush cutters aren’t exactly Knipex-level quality, but they’re very sharp and, given the extremely low price, they’re essentially disposable—you can just replace them when they dull.
A couple of pairs have blades that aren’t perfectly aligned, but even the worst of them are still better than an old, blunt set.
I bought one pair to try them out, and liked them so much I went back and picked up one in every color.
