[Announcement] HF Secret Santa 2016 - Make Santa Great Again Edition
- Thread starter Tress
- Start date
That we're all JCM? They already know that.The tyrannical admins have uncovered our deepest secrets!
I don't know why @JCM insists on this charade of buying presents for
--Patrick
A
Anonymous
Anonymous
So was this a no @Denbrought ?
Err, sorry, left this open on my work machine to respond to after work, except I forgot to.
I technically have two Amazon wish lists, but they're pretty barren: http://a.co/0f1frgI and http://a.co/b9nl4LJ. I can add more to them in the next 1-2 days if that makes things easier.
I also have a Steam wish list, I'm Denbrought on there.
Info dump might be helpful if the above are not. Books and e-books both welcome, though I prefer non-fiction. Topics of interest include programming, electronics, miniatures, knitting, world history, geography, mathematics (and most other subjects, come thing of it). Developing an interest in sautering (electronics) and basketweaving but have not purchased supplies/tools for either yet. I have plenty of clothing and things relating to Spain. I have two cats, both 8-10lb. I drink, mostly scotch.
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And if you're going to go that direction a cheap soldering iron isn't worth it, so might not be a good secret santa gift, but here's the minimum soldering iron I'd recommend, and here's the unit I use and prefer. You could get an accessory or two, though, within the budget. I stopped using wet sponges years ago and prefer this type of tip cleaner. It doesn't cool the iron down nor damage the tip nearly as much as water does, and I never have to go find water before I can use the soldering iron.
I also always have the following items at my soldering station:
Scribe - pushing tiny things around. More useful for surface mount stuff, but also great for scratching/cleaning/checking dirty surfaces prior to soldering.
*Forceps - these locking pliers are cheap and hold solder wick, wires, etc without having to use your hand grip or burn yourself holding a component too close to the heat.
*Solder Wick & desoldering tool - I don't use the tool, but use the wick all the time. Lots of others use the tool a lot, though, so it's something you have to try.
Wire wrap tool - Great for quickly wiring stuff together, and has a 30awg wire stripper so you can easily make jumpers and modify existing circuit boards quickly.
Wire wrap wire - Used with above. 30awg (ie, very, very thin) solid core insulated wire.
Tweezers - Mostly for surface mount, but also for manipulating 30awg wire and other things, so still might be useful for beginners.
*Lead solder - You could go lead free, but it's a steeper learning curve because it's much more difficult to get good joints.
*Flux pen - The solder above has flux inside, but some joints need more, and sometimes you need to heat a joint without adding solder. When in doubt, add flux.
*Wire cutter - Needed to trim wires after soldering. Don't use on steel or piano wires, it'll make you sad. This is a flush cut version, much nicer for this work than most wire cutters.
Wire stripper - Beats stripping wires with your teeth. This size is useful for small electronics work, not household wiring.
*Precision Screwdrivers - The English language does not contain the words to convey the horror that occurs when people use the wrong screwdriver on tiny screws.
Exacto knife - Cutting PCB traces, stripping wires in the middle, moving things, circuit post mortems. You may rarely use it, but when you need it it's the only thing that'll do.
Antistatic mat - Most of the time static isn't an issue. When it is you can't tell, and you'll tear your hair out debugging a problem caused by a static shock.
Binocular zoom boom microscope - Probably only necessary for surface mount work, but also excellent for inspection and removing splinters. Also a big investment, but I wouldn't be without one.
The asterisk is next to those things I would focus on first. I always have a 5" length of solder wick in the forceps, with only 3/4" extending from the forceps. And, again, I don't have or use a desoldering tool. They're just too fiddly. Instead I heat up the joint and remove the wires, clean up as much as I can with solder wick, then pick up the board, heat the hole with the iron, and blow really hard through the hole. Try to avoid getting molten solder on anything important, like small children. It clears the hole far better than the soldering tool for me, though. As far as the screwdrivers go, you might be tempted to get the interchangeable bit sets or similar, and this kit is large, but once you have a soldering iron you tend to try to repair toys and electronics, or at least take them apart for exploring, and a lot of mass manufactured items have deep small holes for screws. This set has long thin shafts for the screwdrivers and will fit down into most recessed screw holes.
Surface mount soldering is when you don't have holes in the circuit board, and you use very, very small components soldered directly to the flat copper traces on the circuit board. Most small consumer items use surface mount, but electronic hobbyists can still do a lot of work with through hole circuits without having to touch surface mount. Due to its size it's harder to do well, but almost all surface mount can be done without the expensive equipment if one is patient.
Thank you! That's a more comprehensive and useful guide than I've found online, or gotten out of other hobbyists I've prompted. Time to draft a budget for next year.
*Makes notes to ask engineers about engineer-y stuff more often*
*Makes notes to ask engineers about engineer-y stuff more often*
Why? With supply so high, I'd imagine the cost is hardly worth the bother of avoiding it.
They tend to run around and scream, which is very distracting.
aka,"barbecue".
AKA doomweasel food.
Repeat this mantra whenever you turn on the soldering iron:
If it falls, don't catch it.
I keep my iron at 700C, so its already too late if you don't instinctively train yourself to recoil from a falling soldering iron.
Also cotton fabrics are your friend.
My station stays at the very back of the bench so the iron cord doesn't hang over the edge of the table, and having a dedicated stand for it is important for me. Between those two things I don't recall the last time I burned myself.
If it falls, don't catch it.
I keep my iron at 700C, so its already too late if you don't instinctively train yourself to recoil from a falling soldering iron.
Also cotton fabrics are your friend.
My station stays at the very back of the bench so the iron cord doesn't hang over the edge of the table, and having a dedicated stand for it is important for me. Between those two things I don't recall the last time I burned myself.
This got drilled into me during an infancy of helping in the kitchen. I jump away from falling metal things, because OH GOD KNIVES. Hopefully the instinct transfers over.
...
wouldn't 400C be enough? Seems dangerous keeping it hot enough to melt aluminum.
--Patrick
GasBandit
Staff member
Yeah but what if he needs to melt aluminum?
GasBandit
Staff member
Yeah but what if he needs to melt aluminum for under $100?
Unit failure. Should be 700F. Here's my answer to how hot a soldering iron needs to be.[DOUBLEPOST=1480537574,1480537346][/DOUBLEPOST]
Pft. I'mma make my own if I need one.
GasBandit
Staff member
GasBandit
Staff member
Never mind, I'll look into THAT instead.
I'll post pics a little later in the evening.
Aw man..
Dave
Staff member
Bumble!!
You should totally set up your own secret santa. Send your name/address to @Dave, and tell people to PM him for it, then promise a drawing for everyone who sends you a gift with a legible return address.
Heck, I'd send something.
B
BErt
Ah, the gift that keeps on giving
This is the one I actually expected you'd use, assuming you had any need for such a thing.
--Patrick
Eventually.