Building a "hana" style mod with the fasttech enclosure: looking for tips, tricks, and suggestions

[KTMRider]

Here's the beat up silver one.

 

[aldenf]

In specific regards to the Hana-type boxes, what are the pros and cons of the FD 510 vs. the VT 510?

I know the FD will extend above the "drip well" and the VT will sit slightly below. Beyond that, I'm at a loss for real differences.

Thanks!

 

[Duffloop]

In specific regards to the Hana-type boxes, what are the pros and cons of the FD 510 vs. the VT 510?

I know the FD will extend above the "drip well" and the VT will sit slightly below. Beyond that, I'm at a loss for real differences.

Thanks!

Apparently FD has something to stop juice seeping through - derlin? I went for VT cos I like the low profile. Hmm seems a new V4 1mm low profile FD that's available.

 

[Duffloop]

meanwhile... the nightmare has begun...

 

[Duffloop]

what's wrong with this picture?

bugger - the best solder i did as well! Bleedin PITA getting it out.

 

[mackman]

Get some desoldering wick

 

[Duffloop]

gotta cut and solder VT and fix dna in etc

but...

At this stage what's best...


1. Fix in side buttons with hot glue? Cut wires and solder in place?

2. Cut wires and solder to side buttons? Then fix in buttons and hot glue?

Need a beer!

 

[Duffloop]

Get some desoldering wick

that's what I used - but bloody hard clearing out the hole to get a new wire in - eventually got it sorted - pheweeee.

 

[tchavei]

that's what I used - but bloody hard clearing out the hole to get a new wire in - eventually got it sorted - pheweeee.

You're probably using a too weak soldering iron? Can't imagine why it should be hard disolder a wire unless you don't have enough heat and or transfer?

Regards
Tony

Sent from my GT-I9195 through Tapatalk

 

[Duffloop]

You're probably using a too weak soldering iron? Can't imagine why it should be hard disolder a wire unless you don't have enough heat and or transfer?

Regards
Tony

Hmm well it's a 40w job - 1st time on this lark so just winging it ;-)

Just call me Mr Blobby...

damn - look at that gap on the battery hole...

hmm seems like a strong fix when i pull it tho

 

[KTMRider]

Solder Sucker Desoldering Pump Tool Removal Vacuum Soldering Iron Desolver Oy | eBay

Hot glue/epoxy in the buttons before you solder. When they're attached to wires, they move around and don't seat very well.

 

[KTMRider]

Hmm well it's a 40w job - 1st time on this lark so just winging it ;-)

Just call me Mr Blobby...

damn - look at that gap on the battery hole...

hmm seems like a strong fix when i pull it tho

Slow down on the soldering. You're burning the board. Solder 1 or 2 and let it cool for a few mins.

 

[Duffloop]

Solder Sucker Desoldering Pump Tool Removal Vacuum Soldering Iron Desolver Oy | eBay

Hot glue/epoxy in the buttons before you solder. When they're attached to wires, they move around and don't seat very well.

gotcha! cheers

(got one o them vaccum thingys too - tricky with my .....ty helping hands ;-)

 

[tchavei]

Hmm well it's a 40w job - 1st time on this lark so just winging it ;-)

Just call me Mr Blobby...

damn - look at that gap on the battery hole...

hmm seems like a strong fix when i pull it tho

We all have to learn.

First, are you using any Flux? It doesn't look like you are. Those blobs happen when there is a big temperature difference between the solder on the wire and the metal contact on the board. Without Flux, the solder doesn't want to run to the board so it blobs up instead of creating a nice cone / pyramid shape.

Second, like it was said above, you're torching the board. Did you know that heat conducts more heat? When you stay too long over a solder spot, the heat transfers to the surrounded areas. Besides risking frying some nearby component, that heat will make any additional heat brought by the soldering iron dissipate even faster so basically you struggle to solder (or unsolder) a part because the heat dissipates / spreads too fast and you actually don't get enough heat on the specific point you want.

So, bottom line:

1. Use Flux on both parts to solder
2. Pre tin any wire first
3. Insert wire
4. Use a tiny drop of solder on your iron tip
5. Place the tip next to the wire so it touches the wire and contact on the board at the same time
6. Once you see the solder melt and spread uniformly forming a cone shape, remove the iron.
7. Do not move the wire, wiggle or blow on the spot until it has cooled off (5 secs) or you risk a cold joint which will give you grief later.
8. Work precisely and effectively. Let the board rest a few minutes between each wire. Don't rush it.
9. If things start not going your way, walk away! Don't keep trying. It will get worse. Take a 10 min break and start over.

Practice, practice, practice

Regards
Tony

Sent from my GT-I9195 through Tapatalk

 

[Duffloop]

We all have to learn.

First, are you using any Flux? It doesn't look like you are. Those blobs happen when there is a big temperature difference between the solder on the wire and the metal contact on the board. Without Flux, the solder doesn't want to run to the board so it blobs up instead of creating a nice cone / pyramid shape.

Second, like it was said above, you're torching the board. Did you know that heat conducts more heat? When you stay too long over a solder spot, the heat transfers to the surrounded areas. Besides risking frying some nearby component, that heat will make any additional heat brought by the soldering iron dissipate even faster so basically you struggle to solder (or unsolder) a part because the heat dissipates / spreads too fast and you actually don't get enough heat on the specific point you want.

So, bottom line:

1. Use Flux on both parts to solder
2. Pre tin any wire first
3. Insert wire
4. Use a tiny drop of solder on your iron tip
5. Place the tip next to the wire so it touches the wire and contact on the board at the same time
6. Once you see the solder melt and spread uniformly forming a cone shape, remove the iron.
7. Do not move the wire, wiggle or blow on the spot until it has cooled off (5 secs) or you risk a cold joint which will give you grief later.
8. Work precisely and effectively. Let the board rest a few minutes between each wire. Don't rush it.
9. If things start not going your way, walk away! Don't keep trying. It will get worse. Take a 10 min break and start over.

Practice, practice, practice

Regards
Tony

Sent from my GT-I9195 through Tapatalk

thanks Tony/KTm - yeh been fluxing both, though like you say been holding it on for too long!

will take advice on board

 

[JimmyDB]

We all have to learn.

So, bottom line:

1. Use Flux on both parts to solder
2. Pre tin any wire first
3. Insert wire
4. Use a tiny drop of solder on your iron tip
5. Place the tip next to the wire so it touches the wire and contact on the board at the same time
6. Once you see the solder melt and spread uniformly forming a cone shape, remove the iron.
7. Do not move the wire, wiggle or blow on the spot until it has cooled off (5 secs) or you risk a cold joint which will give you grief later.
8. Work precisely and effectively. Let the board rest a few minutes between each wire. Don't rush it.
9. If things start not going your way, walk away! Don't keep trying. It will get worse. Take a 10 min break and start over.

Practice, practice, practice

Regards
Tony

Sent from my GT-I9195 through Tapatalk

There isn't much more I can say except to emphasize the practice part... practice as in with something generally broken already, that you don't care about... review your equipment and see if it's up to snuff or not... as usual, what your packin' has a lot to do with things despite what the lessers claim (sure, you can make do with inferior equipment). You can look up web images (images.google.com) for 'solder fillets' and even 'solder through-hole' to get a really good idea of what you want your connections to look like. At the end of the day though, I have seen some TERRIBLE stuff in the pre-built boxes and it still works

 

[tchavei]

I learned to solder when I was a kid. My father would solder some thing and I would jump around screaming I want to try it, I want to try it lol.

So one day my father brings this old huge radio home, grabs three jars, the soldering iron and a couple of screwdrivers and says:

This is a resistor, this is a capacitor. Open the radio, unsolder everything, put the resistors in one jar, the capacitors in the second and everything else in the third. Knock yourself out.

I spent the next six hours reducing that old grey radio into its basic components... What a great day... I was 8 and I still remember it like yesterday although it was like 30 years ago...

Regards
Tony

Sent from my GT-I9195 through Tapatalk

 

[JimmyDB]

I learned to solder when I was a kid. My father would solder some thing and I would jump around screaming I want to try it, I want to try it lol.

So one day my father brings this old huge radio home, grabs three jars, the soldering iron and a couple of screwdrivers and says:

This is a resistor, this is a capacitor. Open the radio, unsolder everything, put the resistors in one jar, the capacitors in the second and everything else in the third. Knock yourself out.

I spent the next six hours reducing that old grey radio into its basic components... What a great day... I was 8 and I still remember it like yesterday although it was like 30 years ago...

Regards
Tony

Sent from my GT-I9195 through Tapatalk

Hey! Are you from the future and do you have a terrible memory?! If so, you could pass for my 3 year old! I did just that with one of them... (3 at the time, not any more)... we broke down a radio, a few video cards, some modems... a bunch of stuff! By the end of it I could trust him to sort the resistors from the caps and such. He is not even double that old now and always wants to grab my tools in my office.

First hand learning is the way to go! ... and what beats first hand with your mum or pop?! Nothing, that's what!

I have various kits that I bought up before/after be was born ready for him as well (Yes, and his brother...) just because I saw all the kits were turning into 'lesser' kits with pre-assembled items... and I want them to learn [better] than like I did. I had to go to the library and befriend old-timers/elmers. I even have a large tube shortwave radio just waiting for the moment I feel safe having them work around high voltage!

FWIW: My sons have already talked on amateur radio... and I put the fear of electricity into them quite young... just wish I didn't use myself as a living example

 

[KTMRider]

Heh.

When I was about 7, my dad bought a Panasonic tape player. My parents went out one day and I was bored so I took it apart on the living room floor. It was in about 100 pieces when they came home, my dad just looked at me and then went to his room. I managed to put it back together and he was impressed and not ...... anymore.

It looked just like this:

In HS/college, I got into r/c cars and started racing locally. I built my own matched battery packs and soldered them together as well as the electronics. I got 2nd place in regionals . That's when I learned the most about soldering (over 20 yrs ago!).

 

[Duffloop]

chaps - you can't accuse me of not practicing - look - I done 2 wires before i started...