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

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

#341

Post by userbinator »

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…

You can get good temperature-controlled 936-style soldering stations for less than $30. Spend the rest of your budget on solder, flux, and an assortment of tips.

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

#342

Post by davemp »

userbinator wrote: post #339

I agree with some of the others here that this is far too complex for what is fundamentally a heater with a thermostat. Why hellishly-complex USB-C with its effete tiny-pinned connectors instead of a plain old robust barrel jack? And requiring software instead of a simple analog feedback loop? Software which could fail and cause runaway heating is never a good idea. Soldering irons have always been quite repairable,…

The article even talks about using it with an API I’d never heard of: WebSerial, https://hackaday.com/2022/03/21/web-serial-terminal-means-it...

I guess that’s the inexorable trend in tech—add more and more shim layers between problems we’re not allowed or too lazy to fix.

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

#343

Post by Kirby64 »

wildzzz wrote: post #303
Kirby64 wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Literally all the cheap soldering irons (Miniware TS80/100/etc, Pinecil) use a 3.5mm jack for their tips. These look incompatible, though, with those designs, which is a shame.

The Pinecil nor TS100 definitely do not take 3.5mm jack tips but I see that the TS80 does. Thanks, never seen that before. I still don't trust putting 100W through it though!

My mistake on that. Yeah, guess it’s only the TS80 series. Either way, it’s been used. But they seem incompatible. Also, it’s gonna be the current that kills you. If they’re running higher voltages it probably isn’t an issue.

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

#344

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS »

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…

Your last part undersells how important a parts holder is. Very often soldering is a 3 handed job. Quite frequently it is a 4 handed job. Somewhat often it is even a 5 handed job. You will save yourself a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth and end up with much better results if you have a way to line everything up beforehand and hold it steady.

Let’s couch it in real terms. You can try to attempt something poorly 20x because you can’t line things up and your hand isn’t steady and do a poor job with worse aesthetics and in 20x the time, risking damaging your part, or you can get it right the first time with ease and have it look great because everything was lined up and there was no real way that shaky hands might ruin it.

I speak from personal experience here. Spend a little bit and save time, money, and sanity and get a better result.

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

#345

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS »

bigiain wrote: post #331
_pigpen__ wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>a $40 roll of thin gauge solder (which will last the rest of your life) I dunno, I'm 56 and I'm about to finish the roll I bought as a teenager. (Albeit bought in pre-RoHS times.)

> Albeit bought in pre-RoHS times. Yeah. Old high lead content solder is way nicer to solder with than modern stuff.

Was there an actual safe way to deal with this stuff besides maybe wearing a gas mask while you were working with it?

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

#346

Post by nemosaltat »

bigiain wrote: post #331
_pigpen__ wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>a $40 roll of thin gauge solder (which will last the rest of your life) I dunno, I'm 56 and I'm about to finish the roll I bought as a teenager. (Albeit bought in pre-RoHS times.)

> Albeit bought in pre-RoHS times. Yeah. Old high lead content solder is way nicer to solder with than modern stuff.

Since no other navy nukes have chimed in on this thread to speak about ETMS—eutectic point is a huge piece of the puzzle and there are tradeoffs for selecting between 60/40 and 63/37. Fillets suck, bifurcated terminals are worse.

For any other Navy nukes, I wanted to link to a good reference on what ETMS is (was?) but couldn’t readily find anything. If anyone has a reputable link to publicly available course material on their solder grading rubrics or the 7-step, I’d be interested.

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

#347

Post by nemosaltat »

SOLAR_FIELDS wrote: post #345
bigiain wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Albeit bought in pre-RoHS times. Yeah. Old high lead content solder is way nicer to solder with than modern stuff.

Was there an actual safe way to deal with this stuff besides maybe wearing a gas mask while you were working with it?

we had overhead vacuum suction on all the terminals in the training environment. On the sub, not so much, but if you’re soldering^ underway, it’s because shit has hit the fan so badly that a bit of lead inhalation is the least of your worries.

edit: if you’re ^soldering *Nuke* stuff underway, it’s because things have hit the fan, and that’s the whole point of ETMS. Other rates also solder underway and might also use (did use) lead, and perhaps none of our inhalation was warranted.

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

#348

Post by irjustin »

wvenable wrote: post #207
Fwirt wrote: post #100

Why overcomplicate a simple tool? If you're not soldering professionally and only need it a few times a month, I never see anyone recommend the Hakko FX-600. I couldn't be happier with mine. Heats up in seconds, adjustable temperature, uses standard Hakko tips, and very affordable. And takes up no bench space, you just shove it in your toolbox (with a tip cover) when you're done with it. The only downsides are that i…

I would recommend a TS100 or TS80 over the Hakko FX-600 for occasional hobbyists. Those are both closer in design to the iFixit iron. Digital display, standard (replacable) power connectors, safety features, etc. Even more compact.

TS100 here! Take a look at the OSS firmware

https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS

It's a very nice, incremental improvement making the occasional hobbyist soldering a joy.

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

#349

Post by bigiain »

nemosaltat wrote: post #346
bigiain wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Albeit bought in pre-RoHS times. Yeah. Old high lead content solder is way nicer to solder with than modern stuff.

Since no other navy nukes have chimed in on this thread to speak about ETMS—eutectic point is a huge piece of the puzzle and there are tradeoffs for selecting between 60/40 and 63/37. Fillets suck, bifurcated terminals are worse. For any other Navy nukes, I wanted to link to a good reference on what ETMS is (was?) but couldn’t readily find anything. If anyone has a reputable link to publicly available course material…

Not what you're asking for, but I have this from NASA in my bookmarks:

"THROUGH-HOLE SOLDERING GENERAL REQUIREMENTS"

https://workmanship.nasa.gov/lib/insp/2%20books/links/sectio...

This one might be relevant too (but it's too long for me to read through right now to confirm):

"Military Standard - Standard requirements for soldered electrical and electronic assemblies (1989)"

https://electromet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Electromet...

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

#350

Post by talldayo »

epiccoleman wrote: post #330
talldayo wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't recommend a Pinecil enough. It's cheap as chips and basically has all the best features of other irons I've used. No complaints, I've half a mind to stockpile them and hand them out as gifts to nerd-inclined friends.

$30? $30?! You got me. Pinecil is en route. Thanks for the recommendation!

Enjoy! Best hidden feature is the Bluetooth connectivity that lets you dial in precise controls from your phone or browser. It's definitely a keeper, and doubles as "that one RISC-V thing I own" when your nerd friends drop by.
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