Basic Modification Tools Guide
This guide is for people who have no clue what they are doing, if you have the skill of soldering & electrical handling then this might teach something new.
Your basic tools and methods of use, this guide is written by Harry Munday an tinkerer who is cheep on cost high on quality standards.
The NASA Standard of Soldering
Beginner's Guide to Soldering Electronics
How to use a Digital Multi Meater (DMM):
Voltage Measurement & Basic Usage
Digital Field Scope
Digital Desktop Scope
Analog Benchtop Scope
Cables: Test Probes, BNC Test Probes, Alligator Clip Meater Probes and BNC Probes
The Digital Multimeter or DMM for short today the go to is anything 50 USD/GBP thats rated and tested True RMS but you will commonly hear the Fluke 101 range off the used market is an go to witch is true, however cheep hardware is very accurate.
Now if your like me then you want as much bang for buck and value for space of kit bag so today we have all in one units you really cant beat the OWON HDS2102S Ware to buy? Ebay / AliExpress / BangGood
Currently as its an
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100Mhz Duel Channel Oscilloscope (CAT II rated)
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Arbatray Waveform generator (50Ohm)
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CAT III rated True RMS Digital Multi Meater
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Incredibly bright LCD screen (Works under sunlight)
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2x 18650 rechargeable batterys (User Replaceble)
There is cheaper variants and sevreal brands making such scopes.
The only thing to note is you will need to get some 1MOhm to 50Ohm Device Feed Through Terminator adapters to use the scope probes fully with video RF but its 3 tools in one and key point is a screen that can be used under daylight and the ability to do what 3 dedicated devices would need to for VCR/CRT and general testing/building/repairing of electronics.
Warning: Soldering produces smoke from rosin flux being burned off, leaded or lead free solder its always the flux thats the real health risk, this can cause asmatic issues or death if enough is regulerly inhaled.
Recommendeation Please to take care to have windows open and high airflow but fume extractors or an full/half face respirator with ABEK2P3 filters or higher rated will also work fine for protecting the lungs.
Warning You will probably burn your self, so here's a trick of the trade.
If its a light tap immediately apply some thick moisturizer and stop what your doing this should heal within the hour.
If its an longer tap or a grab that's an 1st degree contact burn don't panic don't drop your iron on something flammable you have time, proceed as fast as possible place your burned extremity in water then wrap with clean-film/saran wrap if dropped on leg etc, then prepare superglue, remove extremity from water dry off with an towel and then super glue the affected area, this stops air reaction that leads to initial blistering and pain, maintain glue coat until protected blister pops and remove dead skin, if your burn is on a vain go to an hospital or call your emergency services equivalent.
The soldering Iron a simple and classic tool for repairing or and welding alloys to physically & electrically bind component's, today you have the generic hackko tip style irons and also you have the pocket portable ones.
Portable is seeming the way among practical hobbyists and also factory lines as this style offers hot-swap able tips and low unit costs.
PINECIL / EU Link / India Link / PINECIL Wiki
The PINECIL is a affordable and improved version of the wildly used TS100 at 1/4th the cost per unit.
USB-C PD Power PD25-PD65 or direct 12-21v DC input i.e. car & power tool battery's, laptop power bricks almost all standard DC supply's can work or be spliced to work as long as they have a 5.5mm type jack.
Grounding for sensitive component work (Screw Point) can also use shielding ground on PD mains power supply's if grounded.
Stock conical tip is good enough for VCR work!
Your whole soldering station kit fits into one EDC molle pouch!
In the early 2000's cheep was terrible, hence anyone you ask who has not used modern gear will urge you to get an higher end unit.
Today in the 2020's mains powered soldering irons or "hakko" clone style are decent and the tips cost nothing so thanks to this you can get a good mains power iron for 30USD/30GBP today but its at minimum recommended to get one that's solid metal base not plastic threaded holder and at least 90w with an oled temp display that tells you exact temperature not the ones with dials tempture control is critical.
Note: An solid base means when used under pressure or tension it wont fall apart due to bad plastic threading.
Note: Bad cheep irons are not grounded to earth on the tip, witch can cause issues with sensitive parts.
Example of a good "cheep" mains iron is the RHAEGON RJ2090 a 90W 100-240v iron using standard 900M Hakko type tips Official Site Direct Amazon: UK / USA
Braid: Simply Copper Laced with Flux allowing easy attractive flow of solder onto the copper away from the applied area.
Vacuum Irons or "De-soldering guns"
These are simply an small vacuum device with an hollow hot tip these range from crappy to somewhat decent.
KATSU Desoldering Rework Station 140W
These cost as low as 80~160USD if doing an lot of work worth the investment otherwise flux and braid works fine these are intended for thou-hole parts.
Temperature regulation is key 220c to 300c is the optimal soldering temperature for fresh solder with decent amounts of flux 360-480c is more useful for de-soldering thicker grounding pads, melting plastics, tining thick wires and so on your tip does matter.
With electronics higher heat can damage pads and strip them off an board thermal shunts are useful if you are working on non-replaceable parts, always remember Flux is your friend that helps solder flow and de-oxidise surfaces but should always be cleaned off after and a low quality flux on lead-free solder is a nightmare and will not make a good weld.
Below is a list of types of tips witch are standardised by name brand and widely avalible due to china clones.
NOTE Tips should always be tinned before storage.
The T18 type is common on almost all desktop staion and entry china irons its by far the most widly used removable tip system in the consumer world.
These are smaller versions of the longer Hakko T12/T15 series of tips witch can also be adapted these are around 6-11 USD/GBP each depending on seller.
Left: TS18 / Right: 900M
While its slightly less used then the T18 its still widly used for standard mains irons.
Hakko T12/T15 compatible with TS100 style irons with a Sleeve Adapter
Lead free is the modern standard and its quite hard to get leaded solder nowadays so lead free comes with issues of you need to use better flux and more heat, so its recommended to tray get 60/40 0.8-0.6mm leaded flux, always use external flux and tweezers when cables are involved and clean with 99.9% Isopropanol alcohol
An simple trick is to twist the end of the wire if stranded, then coat or dip in flux insert or wrap with tweezers then apply solder to the iron for initial and add extra until an solid weld is obtained.
Get your self an a 3rd arm, tension holding system or alligator clipper an 4-6 arm one with metal arms are recommended "Third Hand Soldering Tool" are there common name they also can come with magnifiers and lights.
Recommended Flux for Non-Leaded Solder: MG Chemicals 8341 No Clean Flux Its widely available globally and its Tub version is more use optimal over the syringes that can break too easily as its a liquid flux its very easy to handle on boards though.
During testing MG Chemicals 8342 version does not wet very well with non-leaded solder and will thicken/harden with time however works in a pinch for leaded solder.
Even if a flux product says ''No Clean'' its impractical to not clean it as it makes it harder to get at components and is not a replacement for conformal coating if you need physical insulation and protection.
De-soldering braid/wick: Generic Brand Works its just copper super wick is widely used due to it being pre-coated in flux.
Basic metal/ceramic Tweezers cheep sets widely available.
Take an flat head bit and Saw/File/Dremel the centre out making it into an 2 teeth.