A customer told me my soldering looked messy and I'm glad they did

I was fixing a vintage radio for a guy last month, and when he came to pick it up, he pointed right at a joint and said, 'That looks a bit rough, is it solid?' I used to think a repair just needed to work, and my joints were strong but honestly kind of blobby. His comment got under my skin, so I watched a few videos on proper technique. I spent $25 on a new tip for my Hakko iron and practiced on old boards for a week. Now I make sure my joints are shiny and smooth, not just functional. It takes a bit longer, but the boards look professional and I'm more confident in the long-term fix. Has anyone else had a simple comment make them totally change a basic skill?

2 comments

2 Comments

willow2445d ago

Yeah, that outside eye thing is real... makes you realize the difference between a fix that works and one that looks like it was done right.

lindareed5d ago

My buddy who does carpentry had a client say his finish nails were too visible on a trim job. He started setting them deeper and filling the holes, and now his work looks seamless. Sometimes you just need that outside eye to see the obvious flaw.