[Victor]’s nifty tool the Solder Scroll is a handheld device that lets one feed solder out simply by turning something a little like a scroll wheel. It looks like an intuitive and comfortable design that can adapt to a wide variety of solder thicknesses, and is entirely 3D printed.
One part we particularly like is the feed system. One rolls a wheel which feeds solder out using a mechanism a lot like extrusion gears in many 3D printer hot ends. Both wheels have ridged surfaces that grip and feed the solder; their gears mesh with one another so that moving one moves both in unison.
Solder feed tools like this have seen all kinds of interesting designs, because while the problem is the same for everyone, there are all kinds of different ways to go about addressing it. We love this one, and we have seen many other takes that range from a powered, glove-mounted unit to an extremely simple tool with no moving parts. We’ve even seen a method of hacking a mechanical pencil into a new role as a solder feeder.
I dont get it, what is wrong with the old fashioned way?
To solder is like welding, its an art and craft.
I assume you do a lot of forge welding then, like they did in the iron age
Bravo 👏 I have been in the electronics business for close to 50 years. I always wrap the solder around two fingers a few times and make a loop, then I have a small manageable bit to use comfortably. I admire your comment that it is a learned craft, like keeping the iron tip clean and tinned and a wet sponge 🧽 to clean between jobs! 😉
Don’t worry, no one is going to come and take your childhood away.
Some people struggle to hold small things, this can make it easier for them. Conspiracy over.
🤣🤣🤣 Well said… well said indeed.
Interesting, however solder should be fed directly off the roll to avoid kinking or otherwise interfering with the liquid flux core.
Interesting. This is the first I’ve heard of this in the half century I’ve been soldering.
I also wonder where I can get solder with a liquid flux core. I’ve never seen that either.
Haters be damned, this is really cool.
This is just a toy for the ones that never touched a shouldering iron.
Now I envision bazooka sized, shoulder mounted soldering irons 🤔
Thanks!
I was wondering how that would look!
B^)
Hold the solder with your teeth.
J/k
Apply flux with Kegel muscles.
🤔🤯😂
🤣😭👍
This actually looks really handy, I’ll give it a try
Posted 20 days too late. All thats missing is one of those “Has this ever happened to you” TV infomercials to go with it full of people struggling to hold solder.
God forbid somebody use $0.40 of filament to find out if they like it themselves, lol.
A solution that no one asked for to a problem that never existed.
That may be true if you took the average persons need to solder and thus having problems feeding lead (which rounds down to 0.0 => “no one” and non existent problem), and while you may be conservative and never consider anything a problem because “they could do this in the old days”, this attitude is not universal.
Different kinds of utility, maybe accessibility or facilitative for limited mobility or missing digits
“I don’t want it so therefore NOBODY wants it”. That’s a bit narcissistic, isn’t it?
This is great. I can see this being a safer for those of us that have to solder on anything with live voltage like voltage taps on a lithium battery. No exposed conductive bits to cause sparkles.
Sounds like a great idea except I’d need a half dozen different ones for various size solder wires. I have a very similar design device for feeding desolder wick, with a built-in cutter, that I find incredibly useful despite over 40 years of soldering electronics.
That’s what the third adjustment ring is for, to adjust for different diameter solder.
The ring to ruler them all.
Such a wonderful idea! Maybe add a coin cell and a bright white led light? Lots of possibilities here.
Wait. This takes a whole extra hand to feed solder, while I rarely have too many hands. I think if anything I want some sort of different device, one I wouldn’t need to hold.
Hard to believe that nobody understands the utility of a solder dispensing tool like this:
When you have to solder A LOT of things in succession, having to pause to re-feed the solder with your hands and pulling more slack off the roll takes up a significant amount of time.
This fixes that.
That’s the point, I totally agree. When doing large volumes, optimizing the process is mandatory.
I solder more than 2000 electronic modules per year, and having to unfold the solder roll takes a serious proportion of time, considering that you loose time mainly switching between holding the solder iron and PCB to unfold the solder roll.
I estimated that unrolling the solder wire takes around 6 seconds per module, so it makes 3 hours and 20 minutes per year, so this kind of device is clearly a good idea for me.
I found this project that could also be satisfying for my needs:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4867145
I think that other persons will like is as well :)
How long does it take to unspool solder from a big spool and spool it onto the tiny spool on this thing, and how often do you have to do that?.
I hear octopuses giggle…
When you sit in front of a solder bench all day like I do, that gadget sounds cool….Id try it.
This could be great for jewelers who prefer wire solder as well, especially when soldering a bunch of links for a chain. It might be helpful to have a metal collet though with an open flame instead of a soldering iron.
Has anyone tried to use a mechanical pencil, cut a hole on the side and feed solder through it? 0.5mm is almost 0.020″ solder, might also work for 0.015″ solder.
That’s said, I’m not sold on the idea for what I do. I rework smd all the time down to 0402 and dfn packages, and I find it useful to feel the solder give as it melts. Holding the 0.010″ solder with my fingers provides consistent feedback when I have to rework a few pins and I can put the same amount of solder on every pin. Maybe this tool provides some feedback in the wrist, but I don’t believe that to be as good. For large parts I use thicker solder and this could be useful.
Sorry I just dont get it. I have using solder since mid 70’s and still to this day solder full boards about 2-3 times a week for hours on end in a session. My solder is in a solder roll holder, and I have never had issue and this device looks more like hinderance to me. But then everyone is not me, some may find a use for it, and thats great, but to me, looks like solution in search of a problem, after all you are still holding the solder with your fingers and manipulating it with your fingers
I wouldn’t use this with solder but with magnet wire like those old school prototype pens.