Newbie here looking for recommendation on what solder paste to get?

I use SynTECH from

Whatever you want, it's just copper. Size it according to the size of the things you'll be desoldering.

They either use wire solder, or rely on solder balls or leftover HASL solder.

I use a Kester 2331-zx pen. But remember that paste has flux in it already, and I've found that fluxing the board makes the paste stick less well to it.

Solder flux serves different applications. A very "aggressive flux" will be combined with a solvent and perhaps have the Ph tweaked. It could be acid long after the joint is made - but no problem for a "vapor de greaser" flow solder machine, or studious application of brush and elbow grease.

My recommendation Get some of the common variety flux. Thin it if you have to - acetone will usually work fine since that is the solvent to remove flux.

The reason they recommend no solder and just use a flux pen is that there is usually enough solder already on the board and "wetted" part

- called re flow soldering - both parts are already fluxed and tinned and you just need a little heat to make a union - with just a smidgen of flux - or trace of flux - or flux vapor in the air.

In a repair situation you probably already have enough solder for a re flow.