"Soldering Iron & Solder" Rank First in Electronic Craft Purchases! Meanwhile, About 37% Feel "Parts Are Hard to Find"

■ For Repair and Hobby: People Enjoying Electronic Crafts

Have you ever thought about trying to repair a broken home appliance yourself before throwing it away?

Recently, as soldering irons and electronic components have become easily available through online shopping, an increasing number of people are enjoying DIY creation with their own hands, ranging from repairs to hobbyist crafts.

On the other hand, it is not uncommon for people to hit walls when trying to continue, such as not being able to find necessary parts or stumbling over technical aspects.

Therefore, we conducted a survey on the "Actual Conditions of Electronic Crafts and Manufacturing" jointly with BuhinDana Co., Ltd., a wholesaler and online retailer of electrical and electronic components, tools, and solder-related products, targeting 78 men and women nationwide who answered "I have done electronic crafts or electrical DIY" in a preliminary survey.

* When quoting the contents of this press release, please take the following steps:

- State that the source is a "Survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and BuhinDana Co., Ltd., a wholesaler and online retailer of electrical and electronic components, tools, and solder-related products."

- Provide a link to BuhinDana Co., Ltd. (https://www.buhindana.co.jp/)

Overview of "Survey on the Actual Conditions of Electronic Crafts and Manufacturing"

Survey method: Internet questionnaire

Survey period: May 27 - June 3, 2026

Target audience: Men and women nationwide who answered "I have done electronic crafts or electrical DIY" in a preliminary survey

Valid responses: 78 samples

Survey Questions:

Question 1: What made you start electronic crafts or electrical DIY?

Question 2: What components and tools do you purchase for electronic crafts? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 3: Where do you gather information for electronic crafts? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 4: What are the difficulties or barriers you face in continuing electronic crafts? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 5: Do you want to continue electronic crafts as a "hobby"?

Question 6: Please tell us the reason.

* As a rule, percentages are rounded to the nearest first decimal place, so the total may not be exactly 100%.

■ 41.0% Answered They Started Electronic Crafts to "Repair Home Appliances"

First, we asked what prompted them to start electronic crafts and electrical DIY.

The most common response was "Repairing home appliances" at 41.0%.

This was followed by "Hobbyist manufacturing" at 24.4% and "As part of school/learning" at 12.8%. The top three combined account for about 80% of the total.

It appears that the trigger for starting electronic crafts is often not just learning or hobbies, but familiar troubles like "wanting to do something about a broken appliance." The desire to solve everyday inconveniences acts as an entry point into electronic crafts.

■ 74.4% Answered They Purchase "Soldering Iron / Solder" for Electronic Crafts

Next, we asked what components and tools they purchase for electronic crafts.

The most common response was "Soldering iron / solder" at 74.4%.

A soldering iron is a basic tool for electronic crafts used to melt metal and join electronic components together.

This was followed by "Wiring materials / cables" at 69.2% and "Connectors / switches" at 50.0%, with all three gathering support from more than half of the respondents.

It is clear that tools and components necessary for basic operations in electronic crafts—such as connecting, fixing, and switching actions—are frequently purchased. In particular, a soldering iron and solder are indispensable for joining electronic parts, and many people prepare them as essential items when starting.

■ 50.0% Answered They Gather Information on Electronic Crafts from "YouTube"

Next, we asked where they gather information about electronic crafts.

The most common response was "YouTube" at 50.0%.

This was followed by "Specialized books / magazines" at 34.6% and "Technical blogs of manufacturers or online stores" at 20.5%.

YouTube is likely favored because it allows users to check work procedures and tool usage through video, making it easy for beginners to learn while watching the actual movements.

On the other hand, a certain number of people refer to specialized books, magazines, and technical blogs, indicating that many proceed by verifying accurate specifications and detailed explanations in addition to watching videos.

■ 37.2% Answered the Barrier to Electronic Crafts is "Difficulty Obtaining Parts"

Next, we asked what problems or barriers they face in continuing electronic crafts.

The most common answer was "Parts are hard to get" at 37.2%.

This was followed by "Stumbling technically" at 29.5%, "Lack of information" and "High costs" both at 28.2%, and "Need for tools and workspace" at 24.4%.

Meanwhile, 23.1% answered "Nothing in particular."

Other responses included "Hard to find the cause of failures" at 11.5% and "Lack of time" at 9.0%.

"Difficulty obtaining parts" ranks high among troubles, as it is difficult to proceed if parts matching the device to be repaired cannot be found. There are also many concerns regarding technique, information, and costs, showing that there are various hurdles to continuing electronic crafts.

■ 69.3% Answered They Want to "Continue Electronic Crafts as a Hobby"

Finally, we asked if they wanted to continue electronic crafts as a "hobby."

As a result, 32.1% answered "Strongly think so" and 37.2% "Somewhat think so," meaning a total of 69.3% want to continue in the future. On the other hand, 26.9% answered "Don't really think so" and 3.8% "Don't think so at all."

Nearly 70% of respondents wish to continue electronic crafts, suggesting that many feel the joy of creating things with their own hands through repairs and manufacturing.

We asked about the reasons why they want to continue it as a "hobby" and here are some of them.

Reasons for wanting to continue as a "hobby":

- It relieves stress. (Male, 20s)

- Because making things is fun. (Female, 20s)

- Because if I gain more knowledge and skills, I might be able to build a PC or create original home appliances. (Female, 30s)

- Because I want to repair home appliances and use them again. (Male, 40s)

- Because being able to repair things myself saves a lot of money. (Male, 60s)

Reasons for continuing as a hobby included voices enjoying the act of making things itself, such as "Making things is fun" and "It relieves stress."

Additionally, there were comments like "Want to repair home appliances to use again" and "Fixing things myself saves money," indicating that electronic crafts are valued not only for the fun of a hobby but also for their practicality in daily life.

■ Conclusion

In this survey, it was found that the most common reason for starting electronic crafts is "repairing home appliances," the primary tools purchased are "soldering irons and solder," and the main source of information gathering is "YouTube."

Although "difficulty obtaining parts" is the biggest barrier to continuing electronic crafts, about 70% of the respondents are positive about "wanting to continue it as a hobby." Making and repairing things with one's own hands seems to offer both enjoyment and practicality.