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

[Spiceman1967]

The problem with too much solder is the inability to view the connection. You won't be able to tell if it's a cold solder joint. Also it just plain looks bad and if you need to unsolder the joint it can make it more difficult.
Question for everybody, if you could only but one soldering iron, what wattage would you buy and are soldering "stations" what I should go with?

Summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime. I can't wait for summertime!

I love my Hakko FX888D. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C1N30DI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[KTMRider]

The problem with too much solder is the inability to view the connection. You won't be able to tell if it's a cold solder joint. Also it just plain looks bad and if you need to unsolder the joint it can make it more difficult.
Question for everybody, if you could only but one soldering iron, what wattage would you buy and are soldering "stations" what I should go with?

Summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime. I can't wait for summertime!

Depends how much you want to spend. The 40w pen style soldering irons are more than enough for most people. My Ungar 40w served me well for over 20 yrs and I hope to expect at least 10 yrs for the Weller I just bought only because the tips aren't as good as the Ungar and they really don't make tools like they used to. For circuit boards, you're better off with a soder station with temp control if you're inexperienced. You can heat the board too much and damage it if you don't know what you're doing. The 2 most popular solder stations is the Hakko Spiceman mentioned and the Weller WESD51. If I were in the market for a solder station, I'd go with the Hakko.

Pen style are $10-$40. Stations are $60-$200+.

 

[dr g]

Thanks for the picture! But how can you see that the second one is a cold joint? It does look shoddy of course but I can't see that it isn't joined to the pad.

Also is "too much solder" a problem?

The texture of the surface of the solder. If it is a proper joint the surface will be smooth and shiny.

IMO the quality of soldering has become more of an issue as boards have become more advanced. I see a lot of reports of "bad DNA40s" and almost all of them have bad solder jobs.

 

[retird]

The texture of the surface of the solder. If it is a proper joint the surface will be smooth and shiny.

IMO the quality of soldering has become more of an issue as boards have become more advanced. I see a lot of reports of "bad DNA40s" and almost all of them have bad solder jobs.

Yep..... only will add "flux is your friend"....

 

[tchavei]

Well it seems my package with the mini hana vanished somewhere in Lisbon. First time in 12 years a package of mine gets lost.
I'm kinda tired of the chase. I think I'm at this since last November when I ordered my first board and mini mod.

Anyone has an idea as an alternative? Less than 80mm height would be nice (still 18650). I can only think of the cloupor mini but it would be hard sticking a dna into it not to mention the charger board.

Bah

Regards
Tony

Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.

 

[Carnage9270]

I think my next project will be to shove a dna 40 or 25 into an istick 50w. It's fairly doable, just need to figure out the buttons.

 

[tchavei]

Hmm... Too big for my likes but it does look nice

Regards
Tony

Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.

 

[dr g]

I love my Hakko FX888D. Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station with Chisel Tip Pack T18-D08/D12/D24/D32/S3 - Power Soldering Accessories - Amazon.com

This is the one if there is to only be one.

Assuming you can't afford something like an FM-206.

 

[Hammy75]

Well it seems my package with the mini hana vanished somewhere in Lisbon. First time in 12 years a package of mine gets lost.
I'm kinda tired of the chase. I think I'm at this since last November when I ordered my first board and mini mod.

Anyone has an idea as an alternative? Less than 80mm height would be nice (still 18650). I can only think of the cloupor mini but it would be hard sticking a dna into it not to mention the charger board.

Bah

Regards
Tony

Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.

Very sorry to hear about your luck on this project Tony. I think the Cloupor mini is pretty much perfect for what you want to do but I agreen it will be a very tight space. I found the Hana mini enclosure a bit tight but very workable and it's lighter then the Cloupor. i hope things turn around for you soon!

 

[rhelton]

Well it seems my package with the mini hana vanished somewhere in Lisbon. First time in 12 years a package of mine gets lost.
I'm kinda tired of the chase. I think I'm at this since last November when I ordered my first board and mini mod.

Anyone has an idea as an alternative? Less than 80mm height would be nice (still 18650). I can only think of the cloupor mini but it would be hard sticking a dna into it not to mention the charger board.

Bah

Regards
Tony

Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.

How about a hammond 1550P I enjoy the ones I have. SX350 - Album on Imgur

 

[Duffloop]

Well it seems my package with the mini hana vanished somewhere in Lisbon. First time in 12 years a package of mine gets lost.
I'm kinda tired of the chase. I think I'm at this since last November when I ordered my first board and mini mod.

Anyone has an idea as an alternative? Less than 80mm height would be nice (still 18650). I can only think of the cloupor mini but it would be hard sticking a dna into it not to mention the charger board.

.

+ 1 on the 1550p - really nice size and it rests on the little finger

 

[KTMRider]

Finally...

 

[Duffloop]

Finally...

QUOTE]

tiny tim! looking good

any chance pic in hand and inside?

 

[KTMRider]

tiny tim! looking good

any chance pic in hand and inside?

Here's a pic I took a while ago to compare size. I didn't take a pic inside because I had to re-install everything because the charging board was bad.

 

[Hammy75]

Looks great KTM! What did you end up using for a battery?

 

[KTMRider]

Looks great KTM! What did you end up using for a battery?

I hardwired a LG HE2 2500mah.

*edit*

Here's a pic of the battery outside the box. I had to test it and the LED on the charging board was constantly on. I re-installed everything after replacing the board and it was a mess but worked great.

 

[Hammy75]

I am thinking of going the hard wired route too. An fully charged 18650 lasts me all day on my full sized DNA40 so it would be fine. I have 3mmX3mm magnets on the way so might wait until they get here to do anything. Thanks

 

[DejayRezme]

Has anyone tried to "insulate" the 510 connector? In the sense to have a seal between the bottom of the atomizer and the 510 surface. I currently use my derringer and it tends to leak a bit here and there from condensation which leaks down in between the 510 surface / atty and also into the sides of the varitube connector.

Is it a good idea to use epoxy glue to try to create thin and smooth surface finish on top of the varitube 510 and the hana clone box rim?

Or maybe someone should invent a "dripper diaper" that you put between the atty and the 510

 

[tchavei]

Very sorry to hear about your luck on this project Tony. I think the Cloupor mini is pretty much perfect for what you want to do but I agreen it will be a very tight space. I found the Hana mini enclosure a bit tight but very workable and it's lighter then the Cloupor. i hope things turn around for you soon!

Thank you but luckily the post found my package and I got it yesterday. I spent a few hours converting the mod and finished this morning.

How about a hammond 1550P I enjoy the ones I have. SX350 - Album on Imgur

That one looks great although a little fat but will be a nice alternative in the future. Thank you for the heads-up.

I hardwired a LG HE2 2500mah.

*edit*

Here's a pic of the battery outside the box. I had to test it and the LED on the charging board was constantly on. I re-installed everything after replacing the board and it was a mess but worked great.

That technique with the gold connectors should pay royalties to me lol

My mod is done too:

Build pics showing all the crappy mess I did will follow in a separate thread. Don't want to ruin this one

Regards
Tony

Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.

 

[Steamer861]

These 2 are my latest they both have DNA 40's and this cradle https://www.shapeways.com/product/YWJLNJYJW/dna40-adjustable-combo-cradle?optionId=43751815&li=ostatus
The charging board needed to be epoxied cause the cradle just didn't hold it in place very good. The chip is held nicely with the cradle but the charging board part needs some improving IMO.