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jayshearn
3
Sep 8, 2017
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MadGingaTrust me when I say this - soldering requires minimal skill, just patience. Watch a bunch of Youtube tutorials, ask around on reddit, it'll be a breeze if you're prepared! Being turned off by having to solder significantly cuts out a huge chunk of the hobby to you.
Epic_Enkidu
206
Sep 9, 2017
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MadGingaIf soldering isn't your thing then you can always put some Holtite (8134-HC-8P3) in the board. These will allow you to swap out your switches without soldering, and you can even get some for the LED holes.
ZealPC has some gold ones that you can buy https://zealpc.net/collections/accessories/products/gold-plated-hot-swap-sockets-for-pcbs
You can also get them from Digikey in bulk, the led ones are cheaper then the golden ones so you can save a little there. https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/8134-HC-8P3/A114359-ND/1151726
ZealPC has some gold ones that you can buy https://zealpc.net/collections/accessories/products/gold-plated-hot-swap-sockets-for-pcbs
You can also get them from Digikey in bulk, the led ones are cheaper then the golden ones so you can save a little there. https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/8134-HC-8P3/A114359-ND/1151726
SamPittman
85
Sep 9, 2017
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MadGingaThe hurdles against soldering are: space, knowledge, and tools.
Space: If you have a kitchen table, then you have space for soldering. Knowledge: As others have posted, there are very good videos online that can train you. It will work. Tools: This is the one thing that you probably don't yet have, and must physically acquire. The Sparkfun site has many appropriate tools for sale, though: https://www.sparkfun.com/. Other posters will probably have links to other good sites. You will need a soldering iron, solder, flux, and de-soldering wick and/or a solder-vac. Those tools don't take up much space when you pack them into a box in a closet, so space is not too much of a concern.
You can ask yourself if you want to own the tools at all. I think that if you are planning to solder even two different projects of this cost level, then it is worth owning the tools. One project? Maybe you could borrow the tools?
Have fun!
Space: If you have a kitchen table, then you have space for soldering. Knowledge: As others have posted, there are very good videos online that can train you. It will work. Tools: This is the one thing that you probably don't yet have, and must physically acquire. The Sparkfun site has many appropriate tools for sale, though: https://www.sparkfun.com/. Other posters will probably have links to other good sites. You will need a soldering iron, solder, flux, and de-soldering wick and/or a solder-vac. Those tools don't take up much space when you pack them into a box in a closet, so space is not too much of a concern.
You can ask yourself if you want to own the tools at all. I think that if you are planning to solder even two different projects of this cost level, then it is worth owning the tools. One project? Maybe you could borrow the tools?
Have fun!
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