12 Jan
2005
12 Jan
'05
6:31 a.m.
From: "Philip Pemberton"
<philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com>
In message <S.0000412101(a)mythtech.net>
chris <cb(a)mythtech.net> wrote:
Yep - picking up the hot end of a soldering iron is another one. Yes, I've
done that once. That was reason I went out and bought a proper stand for the
iron.
Hi
It is mostly learning to not reach for it when it is
falling. You should jsut let it fall.
Dwight
the
attraction is to all the people that burn themselves WHENEVER they
pick up a soldering iron...
I thought those burns where a right of passage in using an iron!?! 
12 Jan
12 Jan
7:05 a.m.
Hi
It is mostly learning to not reach for it when it is
falling. You should jsut let it fall.
Dwight
Also when you accidently melt the stand don't try and wipe off the
molten plastic with the wet sponge on the stand. When I was about 15 I
had the a perfect imprint of the soldering iron on my thumb and
finger.
Dan
7:06 a.m.
From: "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey(a)amd.com>
That's what they make cords for. Always grab the cord when it is falling.
Randy
From:
"Philip Pemberton" <philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com>
In message <S.0000412101(a)mythtech.net>
chris <cb(a)mythtech.net> wrote:
Yep - picking up the hot end of a soldering iron is another one. Yes, I've
done that once. That was reason I went out and bought a proper stand for
the
iron.
Hi
It is mostly learning to not reach for it when it is
falling. You should jsut let it fall.
Dwight the
attraction is to all the people that burn themselves WHENEVER they
pick up a soldering iron...
I thought those burns where a right of passage in using an iron!?! 
7:57 a.m.
In message <200501121731.JAA02808(a)clulw009.amd.com>
"Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey(a)amd.com> wrote:
It is mostly learning to not reach for it when it is
falling. You should jsut let it fall.
It wasn't falling - it was laying on a desk. I picked it up, but I picked up
the wrong end. Sizzle sizzle...
Now I've got a solder station - unfortunately dropping the iron tends to drag
the solder station with it, until the DIN plug pops out, at which point the
iron plummets to the floor, usually landing tip-first. That does not do much
good for the heating element...
I've had soldering irons burn out due to the quantities of burnt flux and
such that accumulate on the element after a while. The element gets insanely
hot, then the ceramic element shatters. Thankfully my solder station seems to
be a little more resistant to that sort of damage. %DEITY knows what would
happen if the sensor went dead-short though...
Later.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem(a)philpem.me.uk | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice,
http://www.philpem.me.uk/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI
... I've got 256K of RAM, so why can't I run Windows 3.1?
11:12 a.m.
For anything approximating real work, you simply need a temp.
regulated soldering station. There's inexpensive ones. The tip
doesn't get hotter-and-hotter, it regulates reasonably well.
They usually come with stands and a place for a sponge.
My iron-plated soldering iron tips last years (>> 5 years).
Usually until I nick them or, of course, drop them tip first,
which they seem to like what with the cord to orient them that way
on their downward course.
I have of course reflexively grabbed for it and caught the hot
barrel. Not for some time. Brown and white smelly cracked and
painful skin is pretty good mammilian feedback!
You want 50 watts or more. DOn't forget, there's temperature and
there's heat ... nothing more annoying than a 750 degree tip that
gets cold when you touch the work.
It is difficult to do even half-assed quality work with those
crap-ass wood-burner things with the screw-in heating elements.
The tips suck, always pitted, temperatire all over the place.
Jameco sells a tolerable station for under US$50 new.
Having a shitty tool says you don't care. You don't need a lot of
expensive tools, good dykes, needle-nose, soldering station, good
solder, greenie screwdriver, etc and you can get one at a time
even if you're relatively poor.
1:25 p.m.
In message <20050112140537.M998@localhost>
Tom Jennings <tomj(a)wps.com> wrote:
For anything approximating real work, you simply need
a temp.
regulated soldering station. There's inexpensive ones. The tip
doesn't get hotter-and-hotter, it regulates reasonably well.
I'm not sure if it would come under the same classification as a Pace or a
Weller, but I've got an Antex 660TC (the one with the temperature-set wheel,
not the one with the display - that's the 690SD).
You want 50 watts or more. DOn't forget,
there's temperature and
there's heat ... nothing more annoying than a 750 degree tip that
gets cold when you touch the work.
I think mine's a 50W. <quickly checks>. Yep. 24V, 50W with temperature
feedback.
It is difficult to do even half-assed quality work
with those
crap-ass wood-burner things with the screw-in heating elements.
The tips suck, always pitted, temperatire all over the place.
Jameco sells a tolerable station for under US$50 new.
Amen to that. I tried to repair a Jupiter Ace with an Antex XS (25W, no
temperature control). They're OK for tinning wires and such, but hopeless for
any form of PCB-level repair.
Having a shitty tool says you don't care. You
don't need a lot of
expensive tools, good dykes, needle-nose, soldering station, good
solder, greenie screwdriver, etc and you can get one at a time
even if you're relatively poor.
I picked up the 660TC when Maplin decided that ?130 was "a little too
excessive" and dropped the price to ?60. I only ever use the XS for tinning
wire or quick connector-resoldering sessions. If it's on any longer than 30
minutes or so, it hits about 400C. If the bit isn't secure, it'll go right
up to 490 and blow the element. Thankfully the 660TC doesn't do that, and the
iron (and cable) are much lighter and thus easier to grip.
Next item to buy: a proper fume extractor or similar.
Later.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem(a)philpem.me.uk | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice,
http://www.philpem.me.uk/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI
... I am not young enough to know everything.
2:16 p.m.
On Thu, 13 Jan 2005, Philip Pemberton wrote:
> Having a shitty tool says you don't care.
I'd like to amend that to a more reasonable "having all shitty
tools..." We all have some crap tools, but some few critical ones
need to be decent!
Next item to buy: a proper fume extractor or similar.
What's wrong with holding your breath?
(Seriously, for extended bouts I have (only recently) started
using an odd side-exit muffin fan for this. The scratchy throat
thing I used to get when I was an electronics technician just
CAN'T be good for you!)
13 Jan
13 Jan
9:53 a.m.
On Wed, 12 Jan 2005, Ron Hudson wrote:
What kind of screwdriver is a "greenie"
screwdriver?
I thought they were universal!!!! :-)
about 4" long, thin flat blade, 3/32" or so, green translucent hex
handle, by xcelite. Trimpots, prying chips, cutting PCB traces,
punching holes in your pocket. Fancy models come with a pocket
clip. Decent quality, cheap. Just knowing I own one (actually,
three) makes life better.
7164
days inactive
7165
days old
8 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
dwight.elvey＠amd.com -
philpem＠dsl.pipex.com -
randy＠s100-manuals.com -
ron.hudson＠sbcglobal.net -
tomj＠wps.com -
williams.dan＠gmail.com