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Joey's Soldering & Microsoldering Tool Kit

This is the kit I use on the bench and in my repair videos - from the basics you need to start soldering, all the way up to hot air, microscopes and reballing. I started learning repair in 2020, so I've split it into stages: grab the essentials first, then add the microsoldering gear once you're ready to go deeper.

Most items have an AliExpress link (cheaper, slower delivery) and some have Amazon (quicker). Can't decide? My Amazon storefront has everything in one place.

Heads up: these are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure at the bottom.

🪛 My LTT Screwdriver  |  Other LTT Goodies

Want to learn how to actually use all this? Check out my repair courses.

Essential Soldering Tools for Beginners

Everything you need to start soldering - no hot air required.

Microsoldering Tools: Hot Air, Microscope & More

The gear that takes you from swapping parts to proper board-level repair.

  • 🌬️ Hot Air Station - For removing and fitting surface-mount chips and ports. The big step up.
  • 🌬️ Cheaper Hot Air Station - A budget option if you're just getting into hot air work.
  • 🔬 Microscope - Once components get tiny, you can't do it by eye.
  • ⚡ Bench Power Supply - Powers boards directly so you can read current draw and spot shorts.
  • 👁️ Thermal Camera - Finds shorted components by showing you what's heating up.
  • 📟 Multimeter - The most-used diagnostic tool on any bench.
  • 🖊️ Grinding Pen - Scrapes solder mask off traces so you can repair them.
  • 🟡 Kapton Tape - Heat-resistant tape to shield nearby parts from hot air.
  • ✂️ Precision Tweezers - Finer tips for tiny SMD parts.
  • 🟡 Chip Holder - Holds boards steady while you work.
  • 🔥 Preheater - Heats the board from below so chips come off with less stress.
  • 🤖 Mechanic USB-C Tester - Checks charging negotiation and power draw.
  • ⚡ USB-C Reader / Ammeter - Inline readings to see if a device is actually charging.

What's the Best Soldering Iron for Electronics Repair?

Honestly? One with decent temperature control and swappable fine tips. That's 90% of it. For electronics repair, look for an iron that heats up in seconds (not minutes), lets you set the temperature, and has tips you can actually replace. Skip the cheap plug-in irons with no temperature control - they'll lift pads, cook components and make you think you're bad at soldering when it's really the tool.

The iron I use every day is linked at the top of the Essentials section, along with a cheaper one from the same brand if you're just getting started.

Hot Air Rework Station vs Heat Gun: Do You Need One?

A heat gun is for stripping paint. It blasts heat over a wide area with almost no control, so it'll happily cook nearby components and warp plastic. A hot air rework station gives you a set temperature, adjustable airflow and small nozzles that focus the heat on one part.

If you're replacing HDMI ports, charging ports or chips, you need hot air - no way around it. If you're only doing through-hole jobs like controller switches or thumbstick modules, a good soldering iron and a solder sucker will get you a long way first.

Replacement Parts for Common Console Repairs

These are the parts I use most often in my videos and courses.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Cheap, boring and essential for every repair.

BGA Reballing Tools

For reballing GPUs, memory and APUs. Advanced stuff - get comfortable with hot air first.

My Recording & PC Setup

What I use to film and edit the videos.

Everything in One Place

Prefer to browse it all together? 👉 My Full Amazon Storefront (UK + US)

Affiliate Disclosure

All links on this page are affiliate links (Amazon, AliExpress and LTT Store). If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It genuinely helps keep the repair videos and guides coming - thank you! ❤️