Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: JamesG on July 08, 2016, 05:59:53 PM
-
I just got out of a three-day soldering workshop and now feel much better about doing work on my Amigas.
I used a nice AmScope and JBC soldering station. I even got to experiment with soldering tweezers.
Using those nice tools was an eye opener, being able to see and being able to work cleanly are great. I'd like to invest in some new gear, but the JBC stuff is top-end and I wanted to check and see what might be equivalent.
What setup are you all using to do work?
-
I don't have great stuff, but I've been able to do a lot with it.
A standard Radio Shack 2-setting soldering iron. 15W / 30W I think.
A pretty standard digital multimeter - if you don't have one get one with continuity buzzer.
A self-powered desoldering tool (heated tip) with the red-rubber bulb on it. If I lost this I'd buy another right away as it works great for me for all but the very fine components. I've never had luck with desoldering braid or the pumps that are spring loaded.
A TekTronics oscilloscope from the 1970s. I was given this for free and have to learn how to use it - might even need to be calibrated.
I also just ordered a logic probe which I will need to learn how to use.
I've been soldering for years now so am pretty comfortable/good at that. Just need to advance my knowledge with the scope and probe. Basically, I'm at the stage where I can replace components if it is obvious which ones are broken (i.e. burned components, dead LEDs) or someone tells me what needs replacing, but I don't know how to diagnose problems within a circuit path that are not obvious.
I'm fine with low voltage stuff (i.e. vintage computer circuit board) but working around anything AC or inside a CRT scares the pants off me (which is probably a healthy disposition).
-
I use this Weller station for all my soldering work.
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WESD51-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B000ARU9PO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1468003473&sr=8-3&keywords=weller+soldering+iron
-
I don't have great stuff, but I've been able to do a lot with it.
A standard Radio Shack 2-setting soldering iron. 15W / 30W I think.
I found that the Radio Shack soldering irons were too big to do anything productive.
You also want a soldering iron that can do surface mount soldering so you want a small tip on your iron. In other words, think of the future.
-
Aoyue 968A+ solder station/hot air/fume sucker with tweezer solder addon
articulating arm (but need fitting adapter made for the hot air tool holder, need to visit a machine shop)
883 preheater
vacuum tweezer puller
Small shop vac for larger fume extraction (US 5-gallon bucket cap type would be great as well)
(I'm gearing up for some BGA work)
An old GC Electronics solder pencil station has served me well for many years, but it's hard to find tips for now.
I believe Weller is pretty good.
Metcal and Hakko are great but a bit pricey.
MSO-19 USB O-scope
Oscium iPad O-scope
Bus Pirate
Willem Flash programmer
-
I found that the Radio Shack soldering irons were too big to do anything productive.
You also want a soldering iron that can do surface mount soldering so you want a small tip on your iron. In other words, think of the future.
You're right - it is a bit fat tipped for the smaller stuff, and I would like something where the handle is closer to the tip. Can anyone recommend something under $100 like this (links)? I don't do it enough to warrant a $200+ soldering station.
-
I've never had luck with desoldering braid or the pumps that are spring loaded.
Flux the wick and area and apply iron to component and wick simultaneously. The solder will flow up the wick like magic. Also works beautifully cleaning pads.
I was so glad to finally be able to get this right on through hole connectors. A couple were still stubborn, and you can either add solder and wick again or try the suction.
-
I use an Aoyue 738H Solder Station/Hot Air/Fume Sucker with SMT Tweezers, It's Cheaper than a Weller Station but good quality for Hobby work.
Ral-clan PM me I have an older Hot Air/Solder/Rework Station you can have for a reasonable price, You cannot use the Hot Air and Solder sections at the same time.
-
I'll second the Aoyue 768A+
https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-968A-Digital-Rework-Station/dp/B006FA481G
I've been happy with it and we have several at work that have been working well.
-
I like my Ersa Analog 60 for general soldering. Ersa does high class devices for a reasonable price. it's a good alternative to Weller.
For oscilloscopes. I once used a Tektronix digital oscilloscope (forgot the actual number) and it was, well, a bit "special". I know Tektronix builds very good oscilloscopes. But they also build kind of poor devices. I had a lot of wrong measures with the Tekronix which I originally trusted and was searching my software to death for the "error" I was measuring. Eventually it was the Tektronix and not my software. It actually costed me a serious couple of days of work and provided me quite some headaches. I prefer Hameg (Rohde & Schwarz), they never let me down.
I was able to work with the Tektronix later, but I didn't trusted that device too much and put only some monitoring data to it. I loved my Hameg oscilloscopes though.
-
Thanks to amazon keeping a record of my order history for forever, I can say I've bought the following items in the past couple years (after the 1980's era stuff my dad left me finally wore out):
Weller soldering station: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AS28UC/
Fine tip: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BSP4K/
One of those cheap-o "Helping Hands" things: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB38X8/
Desoldering braid: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019V5MAC/
Solder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068IJNQ/
Flux: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ZIV85A/
I'd say that all of these things kind of suck, but I've successfully repaired a few items with them, including replacing a PoE module on an IP telephone which saved us around $300, so I guess it was worth it. My lack of skill and shaky hands are probably more to blame than any failings on any of the above items. ;)
I've been curious about the tweezers and the sucker, but haven't gotten around to investigating them very much. As such I'll be following this thread with interest, lol. :D
-
I use an Aoyue 738H Solder Station/Hot Air/Fume Sucker with SMT Tweezers, It's Cheaper than a Weller Station but good quality for Hobby work.
Ral-clan PM me I have an older Hot Air/Solder/Rework Station you can have for a reasonable price, You cannot use the Hot Air and Solder sections at the same time.
Hi Shaf. You seem to have your option to receive PMs disabled.
-
I use this Weller station for all my soldering work.
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WESD51-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B000ARU9PO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1468003473&sr=8-3&keywords=weller+soldering+iron
I use the next model down at work, no temp gauge but adjustable. All types of tips are made for them and they work well. One of those blue spring loaded solder suckers work well also.
-
Do yourself a favor and get good gear. If you dont have the money, save for it and get one thing at a time. The soldering tweezers are junk unless you get the $200+ Hako models, get a decent hot air station. The $100 Chinese ones are not bad. I used one for a long time and it served me very well. Get one of the GOOD solder suckers. The blue and yellow ones, not the crap metal small ones.
As for desoldering, get the hako gun. Its only $250 if you can find it on sale most of the time.
-
For anyone interested, i've got a 20MHz Tektronic scope i no longer use in Trondheim, Norway.
I've treated myself to a Rigol 1054Z so the Tektronik is kinda redundant. Well, it got its uses ofc, there are times where an old analogue scope is better, but i'm not gonna go into that now, also i got no room for it.
Also i got a partly disassembled, but fully working Variac that's taking up space.
-
I've had good results with Hakko FX888 soldering station. Adjustable temp, nice selection of tips. Around $100 on amazon.
For desoldering I have the Hakko FR300. Amazing for clearing thru holes. It's a little pricey at $265 currently on Amazon, I got mine for something like $225 on a package deal from an electronics forum.
I keep eyeballing tweezers for my next thing, but also not cheap for something decent.
For me it's buy decent or don't buy. If you're only doing a couple boards might make more sense to send to Acill. If you think you'll be at this for a while, buy good tools and build up your shop right the first time.
Good Luck!
-
Hey Shaf,
You are sending me private messages but your ability to receive them is shut off in your preferences, so I cannot reply to you. All my messages to you are blocked.
-
It's fixed now.
-
I use this Weller station for all my soldering work.
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WESD51-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B000ARU9PO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1468003473&sr=8-3&keywords=weller+soldering+iron
This is the exact one I use at work.. I have used it extensively for many hours/years. You can't go wrong! I do a lot of PCB and cable work. check my video out on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/idqV8RmiPQc
in fact that video was posted in 2009 and I am still using the same soldering station today..it lasts..
-
One question about the Wellers...do you know if tweezers are available with a regular base unit like the WD1002 or WD1003 or do I need a "high-powered" unit?
Edit: I'm buying some AOYUE tweezers to see if they are compatible with my Kendal 852D++...they look like rubbish but perhaps they will work.
-
One question about the Wellers...do you know if tweezers are available with a regular base unit like the WD1002 or WD1003 or do I need a "high-powered" unit?
Edit: I'm buying some AOYUE tweezers to see if they are compatible with my Kendal 852D++...they look like rubbish but perhaps they will work.
Don't know, I have never needed to use tweezers. There has to be a compaibility list somewhere on the net.
-
I use the Aoyue Tweezers to easily solder Caps and Resistors if using solder paste.
-
I use the Aoyue Tweezers to easily solder Caps and Resistors if using solder paste.
guess in my video I am doing the old fashioned way..lol
-
guess in my video I am doing the old fashioned way..lol
Ha, your old fashioned way works and you are very fast. You were also fortunate to be born with 3 hands! :)
-
Ha, your old fashioned way works and you are very fast. You were also fortunate to be born with 3 hands! :)
I sped up the video a tiny bit..but you got the idea..I should post the whole of me populating the whole board.. I figured it would be boring to watch
R.
-
I should post the whole of me populating the whole board.. I figured it would be boring to watch
I watch one guy on YouTube who does Amiga repairs and he never shows the actual work. He focuses on troubleshooting but then "Board is recapped" the end. He is supremely skilled, I would just like to see the actual soldering techniques.
-
I watch one guy on YouTube who does Amiga repairs and he never shows the actual work. He focuses on troubleshooting but then "Board is recapped" the end. He is supremely skilled, I would just like to see the actual soldering techniques.
I think I know who you are talking about, its annoying the way he just talks and zips through it all.
-
I watch one guy on YouTube who does Amiga repairs and he never shows the actual work. He focuses on troubleshooting but then "Board is recapped" the end. He is supremely skilled, I would just like to see the actual soldering techniques.
Oh I have to look for that video..and check it out. I could def. do something Amiga related. I really wanted to build a MiniMig kit and record it but I don't think they are available.
-
this is the one I got... my soldering is night and day difference from the radio shack wand...
its called "SOLDERING IRON STATION 852D++"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZB9D4O
also, I attached a picture that shows an interesting soldering technique....
-
this is the one I got... my soldering is night and day difference from the radio shack wand...
its called "SOLDERING IRON STATION 852D++"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZB9D4O
also, I attached a picture that shows an interesting soldering technique....
Oh my gosh that is too funny..smh..
-
A followup question...
DealExtreme has som seriously cheap scopes.
Are these any usefull?
Links:
http://www.dx.com/p/ds202-3-tft-lcd-portable-pocket-digital-oscilloscope-black-420140#.V4NEqKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/utd1025cl-3-5-lcd-handheld-digital-oscilloscope-114343#.V4NErKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/ut81b-3-2-lcd-digital-multimeter-red-black-4-x-aa-113631#.V4NEuKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/rigol-ds1052e-5-6-tft-lcd-50mhz-2-channel-digital-color-storage-oscilloscope-30573#.V4NEwaKDvsE
+ a lot more. and some DIY kits.....
I'm considering buying one of those. but can it be used seriously?
Some of them have reviews. and don't look to awful....
-
this is the one I got... my soldering is night and day difference from the radio shack wand...
its called "SOLDERING IRON STATION 852D++"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZB9D4O
also, I attached a picture that shows an interesting soldering technique....
Well I've always wondered about proper holding method, I'm going give this one a tryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!
-
A followup question...
DealExtreme has som seriously cheap scopes.
Are these any usefull?
Links:
http://www.dx.com/p/ds202-3-tft-lcd-portable-pocket-digital-oscilloscope-black-420140#.V4NEqKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/utd1025cl-3-5-lcd-handheld-digital-oscilloscope-114343#.V4NErKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/ut81b-3-2-lcd-digital-multimeter-red-black-4-x-aa-113631#.V4NEuKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/rigol-ds1052e-5-6-tft-lcd-50mhz-2-channel-digital-color-storage-oscilloscope-30573#.V4NEwaKDvsE
+ a lot more. and some DIY kits.....
I'm considering buying one of those. but can it be used seriously?
Some of them have reviews. and don't look to awful....
Those look interesting.
If you buy one, let us know how it works out.
Btw - This thread has been useful for me. I am looking at this same purchases.
I also want to try working with smt components.
I haven't decided whether a hot plate or a small oven make more sense.
I saw a fairly nice convection oven with digital controls.
But I doubt the temperature control is that accurate.
-
A followup question...
DealExtreme has som seriously cheap scopes.
Are these any usefull?
Links:
http://www.dx.com/p/ds202-3-tft-lcd-portable-pocket-digital-oscilloscope-black-420140#.V4NEqKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/utd1025cl-3-5-lcd-handheld-digital-oscilloscope-114343#.V4NErKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/ut81b-3-2-lcd-digital-multimeter-red-black-4-x-aa-113631#.V4NEuKKDvsE
http://www.dx.com/p/rigol-ds1052e-5-6-tft-lcd-50mhz-2-channel-digital-color-storage-oscilloscope-30573#.V4NEwaKDvsE
+ a lot more. and some DIY kits.....
I'm considering buying one of those. but can it be used seriously?
Some of them have reviews. and don't look to awful....
Fluke makes some good scope meters..though I don't think so cheap. You get what you pay for in the long run..
-
@ Iggy
Yes, i will look into it. but bare in mind, i am no an electrical engineer. I have no clue to where the limits of a device like this would be. And not to mention calibration..........(!)
As soon as i get my little hobby room finished i will start assembling misc equipment and tools. and then I'll let you know how it works.
@ Vlabguy1 (http://www.amiga.org/forums/member.php?u=4251)
I have worked with fluke multimeters, and they are sweet. have an Escort multimeter now.
The only downside about fluke is its price....
-
Also when I was referring to scope in OP I was referring to microscope, it made some of the fine soldering a breeze. :)
Has anyone had experience with Tenma equipment? Seems like they have quite a few low cost offerings.
-
Don't know, I have never needed to use tweezers. There has to be a compaibility list somewhere on the net.
I got the AOYUE T001 tweezers to work on the 852D++, but there is no temperature reading. As such, they aren't really safe for me or for the equipment.
The tweezers themselves are rubbish when compared to the JBC I had been using.
So, time for me to start saving the pennies and either get a JBC or a Weller.