Spike's Bob Boyce Circuit

[bigjgarr]

I don't have my digital camera at the moment but I think this will do. Here is the exact plastic welder I bought. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41592 I bought a double bubbler aquarium pump at Walmart - The I picked up the plastic tube for the pump and a Y connector for the tube. Then I placed both bubbler lines from the pump on the Y so I had a single hose going to the end of the welder hose. I secured it all together with black electrical tape and shrink wrap over that. The heater is built in the welder so you need to plug in both the welder and the aquarium pump. The heater is adjustable right on the welder too. The handle you hold is large, about 1 1/2" in diameter. If anything is bad about it it would be that it would be nice if smaller. The outlet for hot ait is about 1/4" diameter and in most cases this is just fine. I have made a smaller tube that fits inside very snugly in order to concentrate the heat more for when I am removing a component from a board. This way I try not to get a bunch of components loose to cause me more work. Always use a tweezers to remove components and I find using them is easier to place components as well.

When you have SMT components mixed in with through the board components I always mount the SMT ones first. They are hardest and I like to get them out of the way first. As for other components I always resistors first, then caps, then transistors, then ICs. But sometimes in a tight area you may have to alter this.

As far as a regular soldering iron I always use a temperature regulated model with an isolated tip.  That way you don't chance a millivolt blowing your IC or transistor.  They cost more but I do a lot of work that requires it. For the once in a while guy you can use a battery or cordless soldering iron or just connect a separate ground wire on your soldering tip to keep it grounded.

The main thing to keep in mind though is that heat from soldering irons is usually around 700 degrees and this will burn a component quickly. So try to keep your iron on solder joint time under 2 seconds and everything will be fine.

[bigjgarr]

Spike,
If you buy the welder and set it up to use in electronics just make sure you don't let it sit still on a single place if you are down close to the board. You don't have to move it a lot but move it some so the area doesn't overheat. I work the tip about 4 to 6 inches away from the board.

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Found it Spike.

Thanks Dr Not!

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Yes, I found it. and the way  technology is going, We are bound to see more of these SMT circuits.

Spike

[bigjgarr]

I have seen some that are even smaller believe it or not - They are a royal pain in the you know what.....

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Talk about micro min soldering, You probable look something like a diamond cutter at your soldering station, With the big magnifying light.

Spike

[bigjgarr]

You're right! Some components that I have has to work with are so small that you can pick them up with a pointed tweezers and you're not sure you even have it untill you see it under magnification. Even with SMT equipment these are almost impossible. I don't think they are really designed for people to fix at all. Micro-mini circuits provide us with small gadgets that are really cool, but if they break you often have to buy another one......... Think they plan it that way? Just like the planned obsolescence of almost every item now on the market. Food for thought!

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  COIL PARTS !!!! 

Just an update, My circuit is done. Just need checked one more time. But It's time to make the dough nuts. The coil is a job all its own. It's a behemoth,    Huge, 10lbs or iron powder, then add wire and tape. I'm hoping that it packs just as big of a punch.    But here is a picture of the coil, And a video link.



Spike