TL;DR
What did kalcode use Gemini for?
While practicing soldering for a DIY drone build, a hobbyist takes pictures of their work and has Gemini critique it, which taught them tips they hadn't known, including a tip change that improved their results. They say it taught them things they hadn't realized. After switching from a broad knife tip to a chisel tip, their results were "way better" for that use.
What they did
They practice soldering, take photos of the results and ask Gemini to critique them and give feedback, alongside a video tutorial they found helpful.
How it went
They say it taught them things they hadn't realized. After switching from a broad knife tip to a chisel tip, their results were "way better" for that use.
Worth knowing
- Feedback from a photo is a second opinion, not a substitute for practice. They point out that hours of practice can't be replaced by reading. Take sharp, close, well-lit photos.
- Price check: Google Gemini: free plan; Google AI Plus: US$4.99/month (checked Nov 1, 2026).
Try it yourself
Paste this into a chatbot, then add your own details underneath.
I'm learning to solder. Here are close-up photos of my joints. For each one, tell me if it looks good, cold, too much solder or too little, and the likely cause. Then give me the top 3 things to change in my technique, iron temperature or tip choice.
Original post
See kalcode's original post on Hacker News → (Sep 5, 2026)
Sources
- kalcode on Hacker News, Sep 5, 2026 — the original post
- Google Gemini pricing — checked Nov 1, 2026