YCD 4-in-1 welding tool set, soldering iron tip cleaner + 0.6mm solder wire (1.76 oz / 50 g) + Rosin Solder Flux Paste (0.35 oz / 10 g), no-clean soldering core

Why this little kit earned a spot on my bench

I like kits that make bench work simpler. The YCD 4‑in‑1 soldering kit aims to cover the basics—cleaning, feeding, fluxing, and fixing mistakes—without a lot of fuss. After using it across a few small PCB repairs and wire terminations, I’ve found it to be a practical, budget‑friendly set with one standout component, one pleasant surprise, and a couple of limitations you should know about.

What’s in the kit

• Brass‑wire tip cleaner with a metal base (dry cleaning, no sponge/water)
• 0.6 mm leaded “no‑clean” rosin‑core solder, 50 g spool
• Rosin flux paste, 10 g (labeled low‑residue/no‑clean)
• 2.0 mm oxygen‑free copper desoldering braid, 29.5 in (about 75 cm), low residue

That mix covers the most common tasks for hobby electronics, prototyping, and light repairs.

The tip cleaner: the star of the set

The brass‑wire cup is the piece I keep reaching for. Dry cleaning preserves tip temperature better than a wet sponge, which reduces thermal shock and oxidation. With a quick plunge and twist, old solder and oxides came off cleanly, and my tips stayed tinned longer during extended sessions. The coil density is good—aggressive enough to remove grime but not so coarse that it chews through plating, provided you don’t jab it like a woodchisel.

The base is light, so I anchored it with a dab of poster putty to keep it from sliding when I work one‑handed. The insert is replaceable, which is smart; brass wool eventually saturates with solder. As a daily driver for tip maintenance, this punches above its price.

Practical tip: after every third or fourth joint, quick‑clean in the brass wool and re‑tin with fresh solder. Your joints will look better and your tip will last longer.

The solder: fine for general work, not my favorite

The 0.6 mm diameter is a versatile choice for small pads, SMD jumpers, and wire leads. It meters well and helps avoid flooding. The rosin core flows adequately at typical leaded temps (I ran 330–360 °C on a temperature‑controlled iron), and on clean copper pads the wetting was acceptable. Joints froze with a reasonably crisp transition, as you’d expect from a leaded alloy.

That said, the flux core feels on the mild side. On tarnished leads or oxidized pads, it took extra time—or a touch of external flux—to achieve the kind of shiny fillets I look for. If you’re used to premium, high‑activity cores, you’ll notice you need a little more patience or flux assistance with this spool. For everyday hobby work, it gets the job done; for fussy or contaminated surfaces, pair it with the included paste.

Note on composition: the kit is explicitly leaded. That’s a positive for ease of use and lower melting point, but it brings health and compliance considerations (more on that below).

The flux paste: unexpectedly helpful

The 10 g rosin paste is thicker than a gel flux and easy to control with a pick. I used it for three tasks:
- Retinning a couple of older tips that had lost their shine.
- Prepping oxidized header pins on a repair board.
- Dipping wire ends prior to tinning.

In each case, it improved wetting and reduced dwell time. Though labeled “no‑clean,” rosin paste can still leave a light amber residue. For visual inspection or high‑impedance circuits, I prefer to give it a quick scrub with isopropyl alcohol. Used sparingly, it’s tidy enough to leave alone on most maker projects.

The desoldering braid: strong on leaded, fussy on lead‑free

At 2.0 mm wide, the braid hits a sweet spot for through‑hole work and multi‑pad cleanup without being unwieldy on small PCBs. It wicks quickly and leaves minimal residue, especially if you feed in a touch of fresh leaded solder and keep your iron tip well tinned. I had no trouble clearing DIP pads and tidying bridged SMD pins.

Where it struggles is straight RoHS joints. Like most copper braid with mild flux, it needs more heat and more active flux to pull modern lead‑free alloys efficiently. If you’re reworking consumer electronics with RoHS solder, a tiny seed of leaded solder or an extra dab of flux wakes the wicking right up. That’s not unique to this braid, but it’s worth noting if you primarily service lead‑free boards.

At 29.5 inches, you’ll burn through the roll quickly on larger jobs. For small fixes and training, it’s fine; for frequent rework, plan to stock extra braid.

Workflow and usability

Taken together, the kit supports a clean, repeatable process:
1. Pre‑tin the tip, then use the brass wool for quick cleaning between joints.
2. Apply the solder directly for clean pads; add a smear of paste flux for dull or stubborn surfaces.
3. If you make a bridge or need to clear a pad, lay the braid, add a touch of fresh solder to improve heat transfer, and lift cleanly.

The combination kept my iron temperature steady and my joints consistent, particularly useful when practicing or tackling small electronics repairs. The compact sizes make it portable enough for a field pouch.

Safety and compliance

This is a leaded kit and carries a Proposition 65 warning. A few reminders if you’re new to soldering:
- Use local fume extraction or at least a fan; rosin fumes are irritating.
- Wash hands after handling solder or braid; don’t eat at the bench.
- Keep consumables sealed and out of reach of kids and pets.
- If you must maintain RoHS compliance, this kit isn’t appropriate.

Durability and refill considerations

• Brass wool: long‑lasting for hobby use; replaceable when saturated.
• Solder: 50 g disappears faster than you think during a learning phase or a multi‑connector project.
• Flux: 10 g goes a long way; likely the last item you’ll run out of.
• Braid: the shortest‑lived consumable here; plan to buy more if you do frequent rework.

Where it fits—and where it doesn’t

This kit excels as a starter or secondary set for:
- Beginners practicing technique on small boards and wires.
- Hobbyists doing occasional repairs (game consoles, microcontrollers, audio gear).
- A travel pouch for field fixes where you want the essentials without bulk.

It’s less ideal for:
- Lead‑free only environments.
- Heavy rework where you’ll need meters of braid and high‑activity flux.
- Users who demand top‑tier flux‑core solder; the included spool is serviceable but not premium.

Pros and cons

Pros
- Brass‑wire tip cleaner keeps temperatures stable and cleans effectively.
- 0.6 mm solder is a versatile diameter for fine work.
- Flux paste meaningfully improves wetting on oxidized parts.
- Braid wicks leaded solder fast and leaves little residue.
- Compact, inexpensive way to cover the essentials.

Cons
- Solder’s flux core feels mild; oxidized surfaces often need extra flux.
- Braid is less effective on lead‑free joints without added flux or leaded seed.
- Light base on the tip cleaner benefits from being anchored.
- Short braid length; runs out quickly on bigger jobs.
- Contains lead; not suitable for RoHS‑compliant work and requires care.

Recommendation

I recommend the YCD kit for beginners and hobbyists who want an affordable, compact set of soldering essentials that actually support good technique. The brass tip cleaner is genuinely useful, the flux paste pulls more than its weight, and the braid handles typical leaded rework well. The solder is fine for everyday tasks but benefits from a touch of extra flux on stubborn joints. If you work primarily on lead‑free assemblies or do a lot of rework, plan to supplement with a more active flux, a larger roll of braid, and possibly a premium solder spool. For light projects, practice, and quick bench fixes, this kit is a practical, good‑value choice.