NZ, where to get cheap or free scrap PCBs and components for solder practice? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: samgab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 10:31:03 am
content: As per the title.I am a bit out of practice with soldering, and the course I'm doing has a practical assessment that includes soldering.I'd like to do some practise soldering, but I don't have any spare components or PCBs to practise on.Does anyone have any ideas where in Auckland I could go to beg for a few scrap PCBs to use for practice?As for components, I can just buy a few cheap resistors, LEDs etc.Thanks for any ideas.PS; What is that Auckland based company that Dave is using to produce his PCBs now? They might have a scrap bin I could fossic around in...

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 10:40:57 am
content: Oh thats an interesting idea, but don't you think it would be better off to waste the solder and the components on an actual project which you also get experience from by constructing the circuit itself and doing all the calculations.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 10:46:40 am
content: Try the tip, or any computer store, opportunity shop, they will have lots of broken stuff to practice on.It's worth practicing, I failed in a job interview once due to my soldering skills, or lack thereof.You can actually practice your de-soldering skills too, which is often more difficult.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:07:50 am
content: Just about to recycle a shoebox full of PCBs of all sorts of production runs. How many 100 do you want ? :-)You prefer S/Mount, through hole or both? PM me details and I can postpack you as many as you need.I'll chuck in a pile of excess stock resistors etc as well.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:27:03 am
content: Computer parts!Just ask any person you know who works on computers. They will have boxes of junk PC stuff, motherboards, cdroms, pci cards etc.You could skip the ultra tiny SMD and BGA stuff, but there is still plenty of through hole parts to practice on.It also takes some skill, as they are often 4+ layer pcbs.If you don't know anyone, i have a draw full of junk pcbs i recycle parts from and i'm in AucklandI've also got junk components lying around the place.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:27:45 am
content: Kerbside collections for old TVs, etc.Hamfests sometimes have old boards - both used and blank.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:32:32 am
content: I just checked thenzartwebsite.Depending on when you need the stuff by, there is a ham radio market day in Hamilton on the 11th of next month (3 weeks)QuoteI've been to their market days on and off since i was like 10 years old.It's not as good as it used to be, (damn it was awesome when i was young) but there is still junk/good stuff everywhere and most of it is cheap!You might even get lucky and find some working/cheap test equipment.Over the years i've got some awesome stuff for cheap from those market days.You will find cheap ($1-3) random circuit boards for Africa there.And towards the end of the day if they notice you looking at something with interest they will often just tell you to take it away for free.A lot of them bring stuff down to sell and don't want to take it homeThey also tend to box stuff up that hasn't sold and say $10 for the entire box towards the end of the day.hehe, i remember when i was young and would full the entire car boot up with electronic crap and i only spent like $30 doing it.20 Years or so ago, when NZ actually manufactured quite a bit of electronics, they had $5 boxes about 30cm x 30cm x 30cm full to the top with random surplus electronic components.

author: samgab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 12:01:10 pm
content: Wow, Saturday night, I go out, come home; and there are already heaps of cool ideas and suggestions. Especially digisys, thanks heaps, I'll PM you...Thanks all!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 01:56:54 pm
content: Quote from: samgab on July 21, 2012, 10:31:03 amhttp://www.pcbzone.net/http://www.circuitlabs.co.nz/Richard Brady is your man, tell him you are from the forum.The only issue may of course be company privacy on the designs...Dave.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 02:39:17 pm
content: I tend to rip a board off a hard drive or use an old video card. Partly it's for practice but also to make sure my gear is in good working order if I have a delicate job to do. Taking off a part and putting it back on in working condition is a good test of skill....mike

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 06:50:49 pm
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on July 21, 2012, 02:39:17 pmI thank god my dad was a database technician previously! No end of boards to desolder!Sadly, they are all gone but 3 or so now, still a boatload to rework!

author: samgab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 09:04:59 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 21, 2012, 01:56:54 pmThanks very much Dave.The industrial intellectual property concern occurred to me. That might be a problem. But possibly they may have some boards for which there aren't any issues like that, I dont know. But I'll give it a try, hey, they can only say no.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:10:12 am
content: I don't know why no has posted about mixture of different types of solder and results but I think it's quite important for you to know.Firstly, if you practice on scrap or existing electronics circuit boards, if it's from lately made device, it will most probably be ROHS. Which means on board there will be made with lead free solder. I am not going to talk about the different types of lead free solder which is in used in the industry because I am not an expert in that, I have only used a few myself.So when you work on these boards, you probably be using lead solder? Even if you used lead free, the contents might not match the solder on the boards unless you know what type solder was used for manufacturing. Unless you strip clean the parts of the existing solder, the result of your joints might not be shiny due to the mixture of the solder.Certain types of lead free solder also results in dull joints, even when used in a virgin production. This is normal. Some flux can cause dull joints as well. Clean off the flux with PCB cleaner, sometimes it helps to reveal the shiny joints. Working temperature and cooling period also affects the 'look' of lead free solder joint. Experiment with different types and work out your own 'professional' resulting joints. Flux is your friend, use them well.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:27:54 am
content: Yeah, you can get around that by using the areas of a PCB with unpopulated components.That way you can solder parts onto fresh pads using one type of solder.

author: samgab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 08:44:06 am
content: Thanks Nukie and others. Yes, I ideally wanted to practice using fresh solder pads and through-hole components to emulate what I'll be required to do in the practical assessments. Fortunately, digsys has very kindly offered to sent me some bits and pieces so I'll be able to solder to my hearts contentAfter a bit of practice I'll also buy one or two useful kits from Jaycar or MindKits so I can build something practical and useful whilst getting more practice.I already have a good soldering iron (FX888) and some fine 60/40 multicore solder.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 11:02:22 am
content: I think part of Nukie's point was that you should be using 63/37.It makes it easier to do good joints.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 05:40:45 pm
content: Interesting. I have some kester 63/37 0.4mm solder with flux code no clean RMA 245 and core 58 that appears shiny after soldering but some alcohol cleaning and it turns dull...

author: OndraSter
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:20:36 pm
content: I am using 60/38/2 (Sn/Pb/Cu) 0.5mm and it is great, it is made in Germany - Donau HS10 (can't find it on the internet anywhere), I paid about $12 for 100g spool in local electronics shop. I have soldered TQFP and even TSSOPs with it without using soldering wick. Soldering anything is now super easy compared to old 60/40 1mm.I have also found out that 60/39/1 costs half of that for the same amount

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2012, 12:40:22 am
content: The comment in my previous post was to point out that mixing different types of solder might result in dull joints so the person should not worry too much about it.Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on July 22, 2012, 11:02:22 amNo clean flux is reflecting light, not solder joint.Quote from: DaveXRT on July 22, 2012, 05:40:45 pm