CONTEST Fig's Happy Hot Holiday

[DailyDovetails]

Mine aren't, I always keep my nuts fully exposed...

What a nut! You can just see a glimmer of it up top of the Filigree Siberian Hamster.

Where do you get those? I’m almost out of the ones I have and those seem perfect for me.

 

[Feral Feline]

Where do you get those? I’m almost out of the ones I have and those seem perfect for me.

Got mine at Tayda and elsewhere.
On my phone now, so it’s awkward to drop links — will get you some linkage when Internet is restored to the neighbourhood and I’m on my computer again.

 

[owlexifry]

Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with flux?

You love its properties that facilitate soldering, but I hate cleaning it off the board.

(soft) toothbrush + isopropyl alcohol does a surprisingly good job.

ive been getting really frustrated with these pricey aerosol can PCB / flux cleaners (from local electronics store).
aerosol cleaners are kinda dumb. because they're aerosol, the cleaning agent gets too fucken cold and just freezes the flux instead of dissolving it.
(and air dusters are just as dumb. air in a can? pigs arse. its frost in a can, forget trying to dry off any solvent with these things)

anyway, so the other day i got a toothbrush and pump spray iso, and hell yeah, works a treat. less residue too.

 

[Feral Feline]

Where do you get those? I’m almost out of the ones I have and those seem perfect for me.

Sorry, our Internet was down for quite awhile, then I had to find this thread again...

DC Power Jack 2.1mm Enclosed Frame With Switch External

Get It Fast - Same Day Shipping

www.taydaelectronics.com

https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/cui-devices/PJ-011A/305540?utm_adgroup=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMax%20Supplier_Focus%20Supplier&utm_term=&productid=305540&utm_content=&utm_id=go_cmp-20282403582_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-305540_sig-EAIaIQobChMIwuGQ3tz6ggMVfQStBh0wkw4kEAQYFiABEgLuvPD_BwE&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwuGQ3tz6ggMVfQStBh0wkw4kEAQYFiABEgLuvPD_BwE

I bet Mouser has 'em, but good luck finding them.
Found it. DL'd the Datasheet of the one from Digikey to find it on mouser: PJ-011A



Amplified Parts, one is cheap the other is Cliff — buy a couple of both see if the cheapy lasts (I've had to replace some cheapo ones I got from China):
Power Jack - DC Panel Mount, Rear Mount, 5.5mm External, 2.1mm Internal
Power Jack - Cliff, DC Panel Mount, Rear Mount, 5.5mm External, 2.1mm Internal

DC Power Jack 2.1mm - Outie

Top Quality Parts for Guitar Effects Pedals and DIY Music Devices. Knobs, Pots, Switches, Kits, LEDs, Enclosures, Jacks, Wire, Resistors, Capacitors, Semiconductors

stompboxparts.com

CLIFF Switched 2.1mm DC Power Jack - Outtie

The CLIFF brand is known for quality and strong metal nuts. Get the CLIFF DC power jack in "Outtie" style with an external nut to save space in tight builds.

lovemyswitches.com

Outtie Switched 2.1mm DC Power Jack

Same day shipping and awesome prices for guitar pedal parts! A family owned business with AMAZING customer service.

lovemyswitches.com

There's a few other places, but that should give you enough options.

 

[Fama]

My biggest struggles with soldering have been 1.) the tip oxidizing and 2.) desoldering. I think part of 2.) is also 1.), since I usually don't have any oxidization issues when I keep soldering stuff nonstop, so I constantly add more solder. Moving to assembling multiple PCB's at once also helped, since then there's more soldering and longer breaks in between so the iron can cool down, compared to adding a few components at a time and soldering those, where the breaks and soldering times are shorter.

But I do learn and get better, I was considering throwing the soldering equipment away after messing up the Desolate fuzz switches and pots, AND then soldering a couple of electrolytic caps on the Rat Salad the wrong way around, but I managed to fix both of those reasonably well (some parts are a bit raised and not as deep as they could be, but the solder connections are solid so I don't care).

I keep wondering if I should get some leaded solder or if a better iron would help, but I think these issues can also be overcome with better technique and not letting the iron be too hot for too long without adding more solder. Plus a lot of flux for desoldering.

 

[VanWhy]

I never win these things and can't compete with the other stories, songs, etc. but only thing I will add to a solder thread is some advice. I'm no expert by any means but using good solder makes a big difference. This stuff is expensive but has made a big difference compared to the few other ones I tried.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068IJOU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Of course, this doesn't fix a crappy, unkempt solder tip.

 

[Fuzzonaut]

1.) the tip oxidizing etc

I had similar issues and regularly using some "Tip Activator" helped.

 

[Fama]

I had similar issues and regularly using some "Tip Activator" helped.

View attachment 62462

Thanks, I'll look into it! Not sure if I can find it locally, but I can order online at least.

 

[Cybercow]

As a kid in the late 60's with a cheap little Kay tube amp and Gibson Melody Maker guitar, I got broke quick taking that cheap amp to the repair shop. So I went to the local library and started reading up on electronics and learned that the beside the required tools for such a pursuit, soldering-as-a-skill was also top of the list of things to learn. In that library I discovered the "NASA Guide to Hand Soldering Techniques". Therein, I learned that soldering is basically two taste treats in one - a skill and an art that is learned by trial & error.

That's when I also learned how to maintain soldering iron tips. Always keep them "wet". That is, if setting a hot iron down for more than 5 minutes, clean and 'tin' the tip so it remains 'wet'. Never let it go dry (no solder on the tip) or the tip will oxidize and be reluctant to take or flow solder easily.

By the 70's, I had grown proficient at soldering and getting the most out of each soldering iron tip. After joining the Air Force, I found I could take a lot of different educational courses that the VA would cover for the tuition and took up a 2-year correspondence course in Color TV Electronics. In that course, I could earn an Electronics Certificate by completing the primary project of the course - a 25" Quazar 'Works-in-a-Drawer' color TV. After all was said and done, I completed the entire course in just 9 months, finishing that 25" color TV and obtaining a certificate in electronics. The TV was built in modular fashion, with different sections as the point of the later lessons. In the final lessons, all modules were assembled and wired together on a standard color TV frame. But it had no covering (cabinet). So, I went to the wood shop on the Air Base and learned how to create my own cabinet for that TV. A few weeks later, I had a simple, nice, stained and varnished Cabinet to mount the TV in. That TV served in my home for the next 11 years as the family television.

Without a solid soldering technique, no electronics project can succeed. Learning to solder is a vital aspect of anything electronics and DIY. Knowing how to solder enables one to DIY all kinds of repairs, including plumbing wherein the same principles are applied.

Over the years I've had a few different & expensive Weller units, but over time they all died. Today, I have and use a cheap no-name (ZD-99) $30 temperature adjustable soldering station from MPJA. I still have the one I bought from MPJA 5 years ago and have replaced the wand & chord one and have gone thru only two iron tips with several fresh ones on hand. (Just in case.) It has helped me build over 250 pedals and few other odds-n-ends in that time. With a good soldering technique and awareness of how to maintain soldering iron tips, I never saw a need to use an expensive soldering station again.



EDIT: It just occurs to me that I may have completely (and in great detail) justified why I should not receive the soldering pencil prize even if selected the winner of this neat little contest.

 

[fig]

Mine hasn't seen much action lately....hopefully I've still got "it"

 

[Cybercow]

Mine hasn't seen much action lately....hopefully I've still got "it"

Pretty sure you still"got it". Soldering is like riding a bicycle that way.

 

[Pauleo1214]

Play at your own risk.

https://soundcloud.com/paul-eliasson%2Ffriends-in-low-traces

Some thoughts; this is a LOT of work and embarrassment to subject myself to to get out of getting a prize.

I brought myself to listen to this cringefest and it's taking everything I have not to delete it. I sing like an amputee; can't hold a note, can't carry a tune.

 

[cwsquared]

I brought myself to listen to this cringefest and it's taking everything I have not to delete it. I sing like an amputee; can't hold a note, can't carry a tune.

Way better than I could do. Pretty sure the members here would track me down and put one in my head, just to put me out of my misery.

 

[GizzWizzKing]

My first time soldering was in a basement with a friend. He was into circuit bending and wanted to mod a synth. I was watching him and he asked if I wanted to try. I said sure not having a clue, how hard could it be?? I then drizzled a lot of hot solder on the hand of my friend which he was immensely appreciative of. it wasn't till years later I figured out how to actually solder again by trial and error and completed my first working pedal.

Not really a terrific story but at least it's mine.

 

[fig]

I brought myself to listen to this cringefest and it's taking everything I have not to delete it. I sing like an amputee; can't hold a note, can't carry a tune.

It give a whole new meaning to "gnarfle the Garthok"....you nailed it!

 

[music6000]

My biggest struggles with soldering have been 1.) the tip oxidizing and 2.) desoldering. I think part of 2.) is also 1.), since I usually don't have any oxidization issues when I keep soldering stuff nonstop, so I constantly add more solder. Moving to assembling multiple PCB's at once also helped, since then there's more soldering and longer breaks in between so the iron can cool down, compared to adding a few components at a time and soldering those, where the breaks and soldering times are shorter.

But I do learn and get better, I was considering throwing the soldering equipment away after messing up the Desolate fuzz switches and pots, AND then soldering a couple of electrolytic caps on the Rat Salad the wrong way around, but I managed to fix both of those reasonably well (some parts are a bit raised and not as deep as they could be, but the solder connections are solid so I don't care).

I keep wondering if I should get some leaded solder or if a better iron would help, but I think these issues can also be overcome with better technique and not letting the iron be too hot for too long without adding more solder. Plus a lot of flux for desoldering.

I always keep a Damp sponge on my bench right alongside the Iron, just a quick swipe keeps it nice and Shiny!
It's recycled , After the wife puts a new one in the sink.
Grab it & cut it in half, I change them regularly as I end up smoking them when the Iron sits on em when i'm not looking!

 

[owlexifry]

I always keep a Damp sponge on my bench right alongside the Iron, just a quick swipe keeps it nice and Shiny!
It's recycled , After the wife puts a new one in the sink.
Grab it & cut it in half, I change them regularly as I end up smoking them when the Iron sits on em when i'm not looking!

lmao this is exactly what i do

 

[jhaneyzz]

Play at your own risk.

https://soundcloud.com/paul-eliasson%2Ffriends-in-low-traces

Some thoughts; this is a LOT of work and embarrassment to subject myself to to get out of getting a prize.

I hope the girl I. The photo doesn’t plug that iron on before learning how to use it.

 

[jhaneyzz]

Mine aren't, I always keep my nuts fully exposed...

What a nut! You can just see a glimmer of it up top of the Filigree Siberian Hamster.

Some people just like their nuts fully exposed…

 

[Fama]

As a kid in the late 60's with a cheap little Kay tube amp and Gibson Melody Maker guitar, I got broke quick taking that cheap amp to the repair shop. So I went to the local library and started reading up on electronics and learned that the beside the required tools for such a pursuit, soldering-as-a-skill was also top of the list of things to learn. In that library I discovered the "NASA Guide to Hand Soldering Techniques". Therein, I learned that soldering is basically two taste treats in one - a skill and an art that is learned by trial & error.

That's when I also learned how to maintain soldering iron tips. Always keep them "wet". That is, if setting a hot iron down for more than 5 minutes, clean and 'tin' the tip so it remains 'wet'. Never let it go dry (no solder on the tip) or the tip will oxidize and be reluctant to take or flow solder easily.

By the 70's, I had grown proficient at soldering and getting the most out of each soldering iron tip. After joining the Air Force, I found I could take a lot of different educational courses that the VA would cover for the tuition and took up a 2-year correspondence course in Color TV Electronics. In that course, I could earn an Electronics Certificate by completing the primary project of the course - a 25" Quazar 'Works-in-a-Drawer' color TV. After all was said and done, I completed the entire course in just 9 months, finishing that 25" color TV and obtaining a certificate in electronics. The TV was built in modular fashion, with different sections as the point of the later lessons. In the final lessons, all modules were assembled and wired together on a standard color TV frame. But it had no covering (cabinet). So, I went to the wood shop on the Air Base and learned how to create my own cabinet for that TV. A few weeks later, I had a simple, nice, stained and varnished Cabinet to mount the TV in. That TV served in my home for the next 11 years as the family television.

Without a solid soldering technique, no electronics project can succeed. Learning to solder is a vital aspect of anything electronics and DIY. Knowing how to solder enables one to DIY all kinds of repairs, including plumbing wherein the same principles are applied.

Over the years I've had a few different & expensive Weller units, but over time they all died. Today, I have and use a cheap no-name (ZD-99) $30 temperature adjustable soldering station from MPJA. I still have the one I bought from MPJA 5 years ago and have replaced the wand & chord one and have gone thru only two iron tips with several fresh ones on hand. (Just in case.) It has helped me build over 250 pedals and few other odds-n-ends in that time. With a good soldering technique and awareness of how to maintain soldering iron tips, I never saw a need to use an expensive soldering station again.

View attachment 62617

EDIT: It just occurs to me that I may have completely (and in great detail) justified why I should not receive the soldering pencil prize even if selected the winner of this neat little contest.

FWIW I've got the same one. Well the name is different, but they're clearly just a white-label product that is rebranded all around.

I always keep a Damp sponge on my bench right alongside the Iron, just a quick swipe keeps it nice and Shiny!
It's recycled , After the wife puts a new one in the sink.
Grab it & cut it in half, I change them regularly as I end up smoking them when the Iron sits on em when i'm not looking!

I used to use a damp sponge, but I had the first tip of my iron corrode until it was actually hollow and in practice just ruined. I've switched to a brass sponge - again I think it's better to use a brass sponge with non-leaded solder. Or alternatively I think you should use distillated water with a normal sponge, and ain't nobody got time for that.