Useful or pointless idea - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: MFX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 10:34:29 pm
content: http://lifehacker.com/turn-a-mechanical-pencil-into-a-precision-solder-dispen-1682397770My view is pointless and nothing I've ever felt the need for but interested in other views, am I wrong?martin.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 10:37:53 pm
content: It looks utterly useless to me, but then, I'm a grump. My hands have always held solder just fine.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 10:42:19 pm
content: Neat idea. I like it.You can also turn a pencil (+ a T12 heater core) into a solder iron, temperature controlled as well.

author: voja
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 10:45:51 pm
content: I don't fint it useful. Seems like eating spaghetti through the straw.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 11:07:19 pm
content: If only I used the same amount of 0.5mm solder as graphite in mechanical pencil, that would be useful. Which is unrealistic.

author: MFX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2015, 12:04:39 am
content: Quote from: electr_peter on January 31, 2015, 11:07:19 pmTo be fair you feed it from the reel. I've got a PCB build job coming up so I may time it with and without the pencil just for fun, I suspect the pencil will be slightly slower.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2015, 05:39:59 am
content: Plastic ( or aluminium) tube that used to contain dissolving vitamin tablets ( or denture cleaning tabs for those old enough to have dentures) with the desiccant pack removed and with an appropriate hole in the top. Take a cheap plastic pen and place in drill chuck as mandrel. Eyeball the length of the tube and wind solder till it is almost not going to fit inside the tube. Pull out pen mandrel and place in tube, with the inner end fed out the hole. Handles nicely, easy to feed and convenient to use and store on a bench. You can use up a ladder as well with thicker solder and a solder gun or torch for wiring joins. You just use a few tubes for each solder size, and can easily mark lead free and 60/40 solder or for specialist solders with a label protected with clear magic tape or a shrink sleeve.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2015, 06:10:08 am
content: Not precise, but it holds lots of solder.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2015, 12:20:09 am
content: I like the floss box idea, just have to keep it far from the bathroom.What are the symptoms of lead poisoning? I used to know that before I got so irritable from the headaches and not sleeping at night.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 02, 2015, 12:56:57 am
content: Quote from: aargee on February 02, 2015, 12:20:09 amYou grow a 3rd arm out of your forehead. No, wait, that's radiation poisoning. I get headaches and not sleeping at night. Maybe I should stop licking the solder before applying it to the component.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2015, 01:57:08 pm
content: The general idea of a pen OTOH, I'm on board with.For this particular version however, I'm going with aas it won't dispense enough solder per click IMHO. Just seems like an exercise in frustration, particularly for PTH and larger SMD joints.Several DIY examples that might be of interest:Make Your Own Solder DispenserDIY soldering iron mounted solder dispenser(combine this with a Solder Buddy type of solution might be nice)Solder Buddy(I quite like this one)Couple of commercial products that might offer some inspiration for a DIY solution:Weller SD1000Ersa SR100Quote from: GreyWoolfe on February 02, 2015, 12:56:57 amBut that would take all the fun out of life.

author: MFX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2015, 09:49:58 pm
content: To humour myself I'll solder a batch of boards with and without this idea and time it.

author: MFX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2015, 05:53:03 pm
content: Quote from: MFX on February 02, 2015, 09:49:58 pmFailed at the first hurdle, couldn't even get 0.5mm solder to fit in a 0.5mm pen, might work with a 0.7mm one but couldn't find any in the shops.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2015, 06:34:49 pm
content: The amount dispensed per click with a mechanical pencil is so ridiculously insiginificant for soldering that I would see myself throwing this thing across the room (and taking my spool of solder with it) within about 10 seconds. 1mm per click is just laughable. It would need to dispense more like an inch (25mm) per click to have any hope of being useful.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 06:31:33 am
content: This came to mind:Edit: the solder dispenser is in the 2nd video.

author: Falcon69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 06:37:10 am
content: Hmm, it would be useful if you replaced the clicker with a switch and mounted a micro stepper motor on the end of it. That way, click it, the stepper motor feeds the solder into the pencil and out. If just using it with the clicker, seems to me you would be clicking ALOT of times just to get the needed solder on the chip.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 08:05:47 am
content: Quote from: Falcon69 on February 04, 2015, 06:37:10 amyou are not soldering too many joints, are you ?holding the solder wire bare hand is the fastest methodQuote from: voja on January 31, 2015, 10:45:51 pmyou nailed it to the cross