I keep 3 x 5 inch cards with test procedures printed on them. I know the prceedures but when I get tired It helps keep me straight.
Some proceedures were just cut and pasted from AK to the cards.
Great for novices.
View attachment 1226103
Great for novices? Hell, I'd say that's great for anyone opening up an amp or receiver--I need to do that. I get very excited about doing the work and sometimes start sound testing the amp while it's still plugged into the DBT.I keep 3 x 5 inch cards with test procedures printed on them. I know the prceedures but when I get tired It helps keep me straight.
Some proceedures were just cut and pasted from AK to the cards.
Great for novices.
View attachment 1226103
I've been promising my fingers (burnt many times by hot solder and the iron itself) I would get one of those for about ten years.I use a little 'helping hands' device. It's on a weighted stand and has 2 alligator clips and a magnifying glass, all on adjustable arms. Really good for holding parts for soldering. The magnifier is useful too.
Here is another one I totally forgot about: how fun is it to strip, join, and solder those super-thin leads to the bulbs in an old receiver? Not fun at all says I! The gauge is too small for the smallest notch on my wire strippers and I end up doing bad things to get the insulation off, things that involve my teeth and shredded wire. I got a pack of those clear plastic buttons for phone connections at Home Depot, along with the special needle nose pliers that trap and squish the button's halves together. I am not describing these things well, but I believe they were created for quick, permanent, weather-tight splices on low voltage communications wires. You stick the two ends of the wires you want to join into the little button (no stripping needed at all), hold them there while you squeeze the top and bottom halves of the button with the pliers, and a mini-guillotine thingy presses down, along with a tiny blob of silicone, and you're all done. No soldering iron, no stripping, no teeny tiny heat shrink tubing, no dangerous heat near the damned dial string (yep, I've ruined one or two while soldering). Is it perfect? No. Is is what a professional restorer/tech would do? I'm gonna say no again. Is it good enough for me and my equipment? Oh, hell yeah. If anyone is actually interested in this, I can post some pictures. I doubt any professionals would do this, but it is good enough for any gear I'm keeping for myself.
I believe that device is usually labeled "Helping Hand", and being only able to use one hand because of being partially paralyzed,(left side) all versions have been most welcome, and very handy for me working on electronic repairs..I use a little 'helping hands' device. It's on a weighted stand and has 2 alligator clips and a magnifying glass, all on adjustable arms. Really good for holding parts for soldering. The magnifier is useful too.
That is great! Have you ever ended up with screws in your ice?
That makes me thirsty.Nope. Had a screwdriver on ice though
I forgot about that! I don't know if I trust myself with an open flame around an open chassis!cigarette lighter for stripping thin wires or for burning varnish off solid wires like transformer wires etc .
Notice the 4 caps crammed in the corner with a ton of other components. I smeared flux all over the joints that correspond, so to not lose track of them when I go to desolder.
I do the same with a small 1/10 hp motor that I turned the shaft down to 1/4" on.You are the man! I love it--again, why the hell didn't I think of that?
Oh yes, that is a trick and one I will start using. Thank you for sharingDon't know if this counts as a trick, but sometimes I loose track of a solder joint that I intend to desolder, leading me to desolder the wrong joint.
To remedy this, once I identify the joint, I mark it with flux. I then get everything into position to desolder, go for the desolder pump, find the flux-covered solder joint and go to town. This kills 2 birds with 1 stone. First of all, it keeps me from losing track of the solder joint and the flux helps big time with the dedoldering process.
This is usually only a problem with heavily populated boards. I will find the cap on the component side, then find the corresponding solder joints on the solder side, go for the pump then lose track of the joint. No more of this going on with using flux.
See the pics of the Sansui receiver I am recapping right now.
Notice the 4 caps crammed in the corner with a ton of other components. I smeared flux all over the joints that correspond, so to not lose track of them when I go to desolder.
So....that's my trick!!
That is wise. I have heard of incorrect markings--that would totally bite!I like your idea. I do something similar but use a red felt pen to mark the solder joints. I also mark the top of the cap with a red dot after replacing it. That helps me remember that I’ve replaced that cap. For the existing cap I also pick an orientation point (typically the dial) and put a red mark pointing in the direction of the dial. That helps me just in case there is a mismarked screen print on the board and I’ll know for sure which end is positive/negative.
Carter
I keep 3 x 5 inch cards with test procedures printed on them. I know the prceedures but when I get tired It helps keep me straight.
Some proceedures were just cut and pasted from AK to the cards.
Great for novices.
View attachment 1226103
:Not sure if this has been listed as a individual tip, but I find it's quite important. Do you work all day at job, then work out, then clean up. eat dinner. Answer emails\phone calls\texts and then think you'll do a good job on some of this work?
Not me. My best "sessions" (as a hobbyist) happen first thing in the morning when I'm not having to work the job.
Seriously, for me, I turn out good work in the morning. Not so much after 16 hours of other stuff.
Summed up:
Do Not Work on equipment when tired.
:Not sure if this has been listed as a individual tip, but I find it's quite important. Do you work all day at job, then work out, then clean up. eat dinner. Answer emails\phone calls\texts and then think you'll do a good job on some of this work?
Not me. My best "sessions" (as a hobbyist) happen first thing in the morning when I'm not having to work the job.
Seriously, for me, I turn out good work in the morning. Not so much after 16 hours of other stuff.
Summed up:
Do Not Work on equipment when tired.