Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

hackaday.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

261–270 of 415 posts

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#261

Post by talldayo »

the__alchemist wrote: post #250
talldayo wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're correct that some soldering irons (especially uber-cheap ones) are shit, but Pinecil proves cheap can also be good. Past a certain point, soldering becomes a hobby about how dangerous you're willing to get to make things easier on yourself. You can swap out non-toxic solder for lead trace if you want a cleaner board; then there are high-wattage irons, board reflow/fluxing, and even all sorts of scale-specific…

Interestingly enough, the leaded-solder topic is a hot-button issue in some online communities. People get angry about it, and I don't have an explanation for why.

As a (former) owner of a dogshit soldering iron, I think it makes sense. People with weaker irons struggle to work with unleaded solder and tend to write it off entirely mostly because of their equipment. If you have an appropriately hot iron, both types of solder will generally behave the same which makes it a bit of a no-brainer to use non-toxic solder.

That being said - leaded solder is easier to work with regardless of what iron you use. It's very easy to fix mistakes and even wicks up without a trace on most PCBs. I personally don't use it, but I think it's easy to see how people will blame their solder before their iron.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#262

Post by manoweb »

FuriouslyAdrift wrote: post #225
cruffle_duffle wrote: post #76

Soldering is one of those things where the tools you use have a direct impact on the quality and enjoyment of the work. Shitty $20 soldering irons from Home Depot not only produce awful results but they are incredibly frustrating. I’m pretty sure most people who think they suck at soldering and hate it only feel that way because their tool sucks. A good quality soldering iron and high quality, thin solder make a huge…

Be interesting to see how this stacks up to a good entry level iron like the Hakko FX-888DX. https://hakkousa.com/fx-888dx.html

Oh yeah, it will be MUCH better, not even close. And I own a Hakko. The new wave of USB irons is incredibly better

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#263

Post by CarVac »

As a gamecube controller modder who uses a TS101 on the go, the handle isn't such a bad deal. I paid the same price for the TS101 bundled with a barrel jack power supply that I never use. The short tip-to-grip distance seems nice, and the higher power is good.

But the full station price is kind of outrageous. I got my Thermaltronics TMT-2000S for less, and that's a monster. But then again, I don't have to use their battery, I can use my $70 Ugreen one.

My one concern about the cap is: I worry that someone with bad depth perception will poke their hand with a hot iron when trying to cap it...

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#265

Post by RF_Savage »

thesh4d0w wrote: post #62

The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me. $110 cad for the soldering iron is semi-reasonable, if a bit high compared to their competitors. $342 for the iron + battery means that's a $230 battery pack, which is absolutely insane. Requiring the battery pack to be able to easily change controls means anyone doing m…

At $342 I'd rather buy the production line JBC from Weidinger and spend the difference on tips or another handle.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#266

Post by cadr »

CarVac wrote: post #263

As a gamecube controller modder who uses a TS101 on the go, the handle isn't such a bad deal. I paid the same price for the TS101 bundled with a barrel jack power supply that I never use. The short tip-to-grip distance seems nice, and the higher power is good. But the full station price is kind of outrageous. I got my Thermaltronics TMT-2000S for less, and that's a monster . But then again, I don't have to use their…

Reading the description of the Thermaltronics TMT-2000S on their web page. Do you not have to set a temperature, and it just senses and figures out the right temperature?

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#267

Post by pkolaczk »

FuriouslyAdrift wrote: post #225
cruffle_duffle wrote: post #76

Soldering is one of those things where the tools you use have a direct impact on the quality and enjoyment of the work. Shitty $20 soldering irons from Home Depot not only produce awful results but they are incredibly frustrating. I’m pretty sure most people who think they suck at soldering and hate it only feel that way because their tool sucks. A good quality soldering iron and high quality, thin solder make a huge…

Be interesting to see how this stacks up to a good entry level iron like the Hakko FX-888DX. https://hakkousa.com/fx-888dx.html

Hakko fx888 is a good quality iron but quite outdated tech. The biggest downside is it doesn’t measure the temperature at the tip, but at the heater.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#268

Post by jtriangle »

MarcScott wrote: post #245
jtriangle wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends, how much solder did you eat? In all seriousness, very little. I would personally want more than just a bathroom fan to do fume evacuation. Outside on a patio/balcony is my usual spot. I also have a 120mm computer fan that I hacked onto a gooseneck mount so I can blow the fumes away from my face. The times I can't be outside, usually due to weather, I use a table right in front of an open window, and one of t…

I didn't think lead, in it's metallic form, had a particularly high toxicity. I thought it was lead salts that were the problem.

I mean, it depends. It's mostly dangerous to kids, because it's detrimental to brain development. Not exactly vitamins for anyone though.

Also something to remember about ingestion is that, lead only forms salts in acidic environments, and, your stomach is quite acidic, which is why it's such a problem. Combine that with lead accumulating in your body and, well, it's best to avoid it, and it's simple enough to avoid it.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#269

Post by kayson »

Curious how this compares to something like a Metcal MX-500. Got one from work for free a long time ago, and while its old, it works great. I only checked just now and it's rated at 40W but that's always been plenty for what I do, including big ground planes. It's insanely responsive because of the whole curie effect thing, and with the tip saver stand, it cools off instantly when I put it down. The tips are stupid expensive though.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#270

Post by mixmastamyk »

scottbez1 wrote: post #170
mixmastamyk wrote: post #98

Looks neat. I might have thought web features were cool ten years ago but no longer want any more devices with wifi and possibility of telemetry in my house. Not to mention having to bring up a browser to configure instead of pushing a physical button. No desire for limited Tesla-like design. Is that the case, or did I misunderstand?

No wifi - it's web serial so connects locally via the USB connection when you plug the iron (or base station) into your computer. It's only "web" in the sense that it uses a browser and web technologies for the GUI, not "web" as in over the internet or wireless.

Cool, thanks.
Post reply on HN