Soldering SMT Components

The most essential tool out here in the west is for after construction: The Weber barbeque. Sure, by now you can also buy them in Europe but at more than 3x the price (which is still worth it IMHO).

I've seen them in Europe. Before I left Europe the most prevalent brand for mini-ovens seemed to have been Moulinex.

Probably also at 3x the price? :-)

I've seen dirt-cheap toaster ovens for $9.99 at Wal*Mart... incredible.

Hey, I don't watch much TV, but the other night they actually showed a public service announcement-style ad, for "Guess what's going away in 2009? NTSC! Get your converter box now... head on over to

(Apologies for taking the thread off-topic...)

---Joel

If you're used to the old Weller solder stations, you'll find that the

I also use the 750 deg 0.070" chisel tip for larger things. Of course, I still keep my old Weller iron around for those bigger jobs or when I need two irons to remove parts.

The impression from my trip to Europe last month was that stuff over there is still more expensive than here, especially after the USD slid.

I am afraid those deals aren't going to last for much longer. Maybe we have to get used to repair things again which wouldn't be all that bad. However, the quality is often the pits. Last time after I repaired our toaster it only hung on for another half year. Today my wife had to buy a new one :-(

Got our coupons a couple weeks ago. So now I'll have to figure out which converter from the eligibility is the best. My main concern is just what I anticipated, multipath robustness.

For you and me that's a viable option, but for the vast majority of the population out there it isn't. I kinda hope it drives the average quality of goods to improve since, even though this is a cost increase for consumers, I imagine it's still cheaper than paying someone to repair most things.

It's also for the majority. When stuff becomes more expensive, more of it will be repaired even if the repair must be done at a provider. Here in town we have a vacuum repair place whose owner makes a living that way. He repairs vacuums and sewing machines. Possibly there comes a time where shoes will bre re-soled just like in the old days, instead of just chucking them and buying a new pair at the discount shoe store.

We have a shoe repair place a few miles from here. Seems to do a bang-up business. And he has a dandy leather sewing machine ;-)

...Jim Thompson

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Same here, about three miles up the rode where the feed store is. Since we do not have the usual throw-away mentality we used that shop regularly.

WRT mentality: Our waste hauler's transfer station is located on "Throwita Way". No kidding.

have

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Pull up a map of Carefree, AZ, and zoom into the center of town and look at the street names ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Could you post a picture? I'm really curious to see how they make a sewing machine out of leather! ;-)

Thanks, Rich

What?? You've never seen "dandy" leather ?:-)

...Jim Thompson

It's very quick and easy, using the heat-resistant pad provided. It takes about 30 seconds to switch off, swap cartridges, and switch on, including the time for the new cartridge to reach its operating temperature.

Leon

have

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Cool! In case anyone wants to look:

It's coming from where the naugas roam.

I just turn the dial on the Weller a wee bit and it goes from 650F to

How long does it take to change tips?

Leon

I sometimes have to do that when in need of a fine-pitch tip. Ok, full confession, I do not use the proper wrench. To save time I take flat pliers (because that way I can keep holding the tube piece), unscrew, flick the tip into a metal tray and slide the new one in. Maybe five seconds or so.

Care needs to be taken when it's only for one quick solder joint, you want to switch back right away, grab the other tip that was just ejected, and ... *OUCH*. That's where burn gel comes in ;-)

Oh, the "Magnastat" one. Yeah, I still have one of those. I got it when I turned fourteen, which was 25 years ago, and it still works fine.

And of course I remember those Weller burns. You still get them from the modern electronic versions; they are the same, mechanically. Who uses pliers to change tips? I sure don't. It's an exercise in combining a tight grip and a positive turning motion for half a second total.

robert

Pliers. Pah. Anybody can do it with pliers.

robert