dlloyd:
Love using solder with silver alloy ... makes any tip work better (improved wetting properties).
Certainly does if you have to use lead free solder.
I find bent tips useful if i have to use a mag glass.
Which is every time these days.
dlloyd:
Love using solder with silver alloy ... makes any tip work better (improved wetting properties).
Certainly does if you have to use lead free solder.
I find bent tips useful if i have to use a mag glass.
Which is every time these days.
Wish someone would make an "anti-shake" iron, like those gyro stabilized binoculars. >:(
Wish someone would make an "anti-shake" iron, like those gyro stabilized binoculars. >:(
I know what you mean.
I rest the heel of my hand on the desk top, this keeps things from moving to a minimum.
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LarryD:
BTW
Using distilled water on the solder iron sponge keeps the salts in the water from building up on/in the soldering iron stand.
I think you just solved a problem I didn't really know I had. I always wondered why I'd clean my tip and immediately have junk on it again.
outsider:
Wish someone would make an "anti-shake" iron, like those gyro stabilized binoculars. >:(
I am suffering too, soldering and keeping still. Its impossible for me to do surface mount prototyping.
Last night I had an idea to make a pair of robotic hands, that I would use operating a pair of jog dials, with a footswitch to dip-down the soldering iron. The time it would take me to make that would distract from the rest of my projects.
I'm always looking for better tools, jigs to help.
@DocStein99
If you are considering SMD devices, a hot air rework station may be your answer.
These might be of interest:
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Prop-Forge:
I think you just solved a problem I didn't really know I had. I always wondered why I'd clean my tip and immediately have junk on it again.
I gave the brass mesh sponge in a tin a try after the damp sponge method. Brass mesh sponge is indescribably better.
LarryD:
@DocStein99
If you are considering SMD devices, a hot air rework station may be your answer.
I just get the mother in law to breath on it
Yes that would work
You can get solder to quickly solidify by submitting it to the cold shoulder from the wife.
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I am NOT considering SMD. All of those tools will not help me hold, place those tiny components. I already have a tough enough time reading labels on DIP sized chips.
That's where I was, so I got a stereo microscope.
I wont be without one now.
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DocStein99:
I am NOT considering SMD. All of those tools will not help me hold, place those tiny components. I already have a tough enough time reading labels on DIP sized chips.
I find a cheap USB microscope useful for this.
Placing smd components i find increasingly difficult (shakes).
I wonder how the upcoming generation and new students handle this with fewer components being available in thriough hole packages.
Here is a good idea to get one stable hand
Edit:
In the version I made, I added a third, middle alligator clip at the center of the rod therefore there are 3 of them.
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i use something like this.
That has parallel jaws though, mine has a 2mm lip for sheet metal which is ideal for solderig PCBs.
Very solid so only twitch is the soldering iron.
Better pic, but mine is better. 2 quid from a boot sale
Those are good, got one in the shop too.
A good panavise is also a nice thing to have.
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I use a rotisserie jig to hold circuit boards, is nice. Has a spring to move in and out to hold the board, flips around, and holds position. I would show a picture of it here, except the forum won't allow me to insert pictures (with ease). I bought it at a flea market for like $5.00 and had no idea what it was until I looked it up when I got home. It's old and indestructible. They are rare, I've never seen one for sale on any modern electric tool supply.
I have the panavise at work, with this pcb holder :
and is indeed useful for pcb repair/rework. For assembly I have this one from Weller :
nice to own, but I have not used it so much.
Both are not so cheap, but not very expensive.
Ciao, Ale.
Yes, mine looks like the "panavise" on Larryd's post at the top. I havent seen any of the other tools, they are interesting.