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Author Topic: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?  (Read 101819 times)

K6REA

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #30 on: March 12, 2018, 08:38:22 PM »

I had a chemistry set too. I made lots of gunpowder with it.
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KD5RYO

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #31 on: June 18, 2018, 06:12:00 PM »

As others have said:  as soon as they're responsible and mature enough.

My son first wielded a soldering iron at 5 years of age (with my supervision, of course).  His class has experienced interest in kit building and they're 5-9 years of age.
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KD6KWZ

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #32 on: August 31, 2018, 01:17:37 PM »

I started tinkering with soldering when I was like 8. I even fixed a flaw on a kit Norelco radio that had kept it from working, when I was like 9. Dad was slightly irked I did it when a babysitter was watching us, but, it solved the problem my my radio.  ;D
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NK7Z

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #33 on: August 31, 2018, 01:52:05 PM »

When they can grasp (no pun intended) this important concept:


I want that shirt, where did you get it?
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Thanks,
Dave
Amateur Radio: RFI help, Reviews, Setup information, and more...
https://www.nk7z.net

KG4RUL

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #34 on: September 01, 2018, 05:10:56 AM »

When they can grasp (no pun intended) this important concept:


I want that shirt, where did you get it?

That exact shirt is no longer available but this is another source:

https://colamaga.com/product/if-it-smells-like-chicken-youre-holding-it-wrong-t-shirt-cl/

Disclaimer: I have no connection with this company.
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NK7Z

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #35 on: September 01, 2018, 05:34:29 AM »

Thank yoU!
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Thanks,
Dave
Amateur Radio: RFI help, Reviews, Setup information, and more...
https://www.nk7z.net

K0UA

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #36 on: September 02, 2018, 04:17:05 PM »

Learning to solder properly and safely is a step on the road of learning to TIG weld.  And not many things can compare to the joy of finishing a good TIG weld.
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73  James K0UA

KC4ZGP

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #37 on: September 07, 2018, 12:12:13 PM »

"Eight Wildly Irresponsible Vintage Toys"

Those darn chemistry sets!   I had a couple of them.  Neither one had the chemical that I wanted . . . Potassium Nitrate!

 ::) (innocent smiley)

Why ever would you need potassium nitrate? Mwwaaaa!!!!

Dr. Franken Kraus
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W3TTT

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #38 on: December 30, 2018, 06:59:54 PM »

 :D
Seven year old Sophie completes her first soldering project!

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W4KVW

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RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #39 on: January 08, 2019, 03:28:48 PM »

I remember soldering microphones when I was seven or eight & I learned from watching the CB Techs who worked on our gear.A touch in the wrong spot reminds you where NOT to touch quickly.It is far simpler than welding & not brain surgery.  ;D 8)

Clayton
W4KVW
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W9WQA

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Re: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #40 on: March 03, 2021, 08:51:47 PM »

get them out of diapers first...
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KF5LJW

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Re: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #41 on: March 04, 2021, 06:57:43 AM »

Right after they learn to play with matches and gasoline.
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WB8VLC

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Re: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #42 on: March 04, 2021, 10:37:31 AM »

My nephew, we now call him 1 eyed William, was probably too young at 6 years old to attempt to build a simple code practice oscillator.

My brother and sister in law still won't talk to me after that fiasco.
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AC2EU

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Re: RE: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #43 on: March 04, 2021, 01:23:13 PM »

A kid can be trusted as soon as he has the maturity and coordination to use a soldering iron safely.  That could be 5 years old or 50.  I built my first Heathkit when I was 9 or 10.  A VTVM.  I already had a scope.  My father wasn't competent with anything mechanical or electrical.  I learned it all on my own.  I made a lathe with old washing machine parts and brazed stuff by sticking it into the burner on the gas water heater or the furnace.  My parents never knew most of the stuff I did.  Some was fairly dangerous but I'm not dead yet and I still have all my appendages.

I would have liked one of those glass blowing kits.  Maybe they still sell one.

Wow , we have similar stories!  My father was the same way.
I had been building plastic model kits from 7 or so, got interested in all kinds of mechanical and electronic devices about the same time. Might have been around 9 when I was allowed to use a solder gun and mess with HV electronics. I'm still here too!

I guess it depends on how the kid handles those dangerous things whether to let them do it unattended.

KC3TEC

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Re: How old should a child be to handle a soldering iron?
« Reply #44 on: November 01, 2022, 09:27:05 AM »

With proper supervision you can start a child at 6 to 8 years of age , but you must be very watchfull that the follow directions correctly.
It is the discretion of the teacher/ instructor to evaluate whether they can safely handle a hot iron.
But it is the same with any tools

There is something to learn from mistakes but an injury or painful burn can put them off forever.
So safety is a paramount topic to teach in any skill.
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