Comments on: Pulse soldering iron

By: me

me — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:28:42 +0000

I know most of you know this already but.
Soldering can be used for a lot besides electronics.You can repair glasses and jewelry.I like my soldering gun instead of the iron for anythiung big enough because it heats up so fast.I only use the iron for very small pieces .A propane torch can be used for bigger stuff .You can solder steel with the type of solder they use for car radiators.You have to have the right solder and flux for the right material.For a stronger bond you can move up to brazing ,which requires a hotter gas than propane ,like map gas. For anything stronger you can weld .I'm looking into modifying a 105 amp GM alternator to weld with it. If it works it will save a bunch.

By: DrFel

DrFel — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:19:57 +0000

I don’t see how it’s a hack or any sort of innovation.I had my first weller soldering gun when I was 10 and it still works fine. This might have been a breakthrough in the 1930′s but it’s just a dangerous thing to have around now.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:30:54 +0000

Bird603568,

Good point- and you are correct. Any fet input is bound to be extra sensitive to something like this. However, if you need to solder lugs onto #0 or 2/0 jumper cables, then something this thing comes in handy!

By: Wolf

Wolf — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:26:31 +0000

Up next, a matching defibrillator for when you inevitably slip with that thing.

On a separate note, reminds me of these:

http://www.afrigadget.com/2007/06/03/home-made-welding-machine/

By: TJhooker

TJhooker — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:54:20 +0000

Post apocalyptic electrical engineering at it’s finest.

By: atrain

atrain — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:32:33 +0000

zengar: I trust knob+tube better than what came after it. While the insulation may be paper, at least the wires were usually suspended. I’ve seen houses that were built after knob+tube era was over, but still with paper insulation. Difference is, if loose dry plaster and stuff is at the bottom of the wall where the old burnt wire is lying, better chance of that catching fire then a wire suspended in the air, wrapped in old burnt paper. Both are troublesome, but I think knob+tube has some advantages.

By: HeBD

HeBD — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:09:24 +0000

wow! a dim little light to help you see better.. i wonder what kind of dark little Soviet lab he works in?

cant say i understand exactly what the chip does in this circet. if 100hz is to high a frequence then he made some mistakes in his memtal arithmatic.

i dont see what the problem is with the ungrounded tip unless it gets shorted to 220v somehow. realy you could use this for working on live circets.
also 220v rectified and smoothed looks more like 310v.... i wonder what kind of paint he used? not anything they have in shops in australia!!

much better that the car building they had yesterday. were was the design download? i wanted to read about how the suspention system was engineered!

By: n00nen0se

n00nen0se — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:13:26 +0000

In Soviet Russia, iron solders YOU!

By: jeicrash

jeicrash — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:29:57 +0000

I’ll stick with butane soldering irons for now. But this is cheaper to do than the “DIY” Car kit from yesterday

By: Bird603568

Bird603568 — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:44:12 +0000

frodus, the point of a grounded iron is so that it doesnt build up a charge on the iron. the point of a grounded tip isnt so you dont get shocked or you spark on them its so the iron doesnt. and using an anti static band wont do shit for the iron since 99% of irons are plastic (insulator) handles. so unless you are holding it by the shaft its doesnt help the iron

By: strider_mt2k

strider_mt2k — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:31:37 +0000

Somebody send this guy a 9.00 soldering kit from Radio Shack before he burns the house down please!

By: chupa

chupa — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:38:57 +0000

best thing i ever did was chuck my radio shack fire starter and get an aoyue soldering station

By: Bird603568

Bird603568 — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:23:33 +0000

dave, ive been told by at a few people not to use the guns because they run current through the tips to heat them up. same thing with the cold heat POS. personally i use this http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=15140+TL which has a grounded tip so there shouldnt be any static and what not.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:20:58 +0000

Its really no different than this:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062752

Which has its uses. Note that anything you make and plug into an electrical outlet will be inherently dangerous without adequate testing. Use common sense.

By: sly

sly — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:48:15 +0000

don’t even need to use it… just build the thing for freaking out your friends by making your workbench look even more mad scientist… muhahahahahahaha!