An approach for through-hole component soldering for a PCB, and a resulting PCB assembly, that eliminates protruding solder joints, is provided. The approach comprises back-drilling, from a bottom surface of a PCB, one or more through-holes, wherein each back-drilled through-hole is back-drilled to a depth partially through the PCB and at a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the through hole. Solder paste is applied to the PCB. The components are placed on the PCB, inserting each pin into a corresponding through-hole. The PCB is passed through a solder process, whereby, within each through-hole having a component pin inserted therein, the solder paste is wicked into the through-hole, and forms a solder joint with the respective pin. Each solder joint of a back-drilled through-hole is situated within the through-hole in a manner whereby the solder joint does not protrude beyond the bottom surface of the PCB.