shop and tool tips & tricks

[bean]

Time permitting...I often paint my boards as well. I think it adds a nice touch!

Here's one of my latest works. 

What is your technique for doing this? Especially the white lettering?

Ancient technique. Fo-toh-shoppe.

[vigilante397]

Aaaaaannnnnd challenge accepted. Stay tuned for my next board. I ran out of ferric last week (I use way too much ) and don't get paid until next week, but I kid you not, I will make this happen.

[Jdansti]

>I ran out of ferric last week (I use way too much>

Next time try warming a few tablespoons and using a sponge to apply it. You can also put a couple of tablespoons in a ziplock baggie, soak it in hot water for a few minutes, and then rub the board through the baggie with your fingers. Wear latex gloves with both techniques.

[armdnrdy]

I ran out of ferric last week (I use way too much )

Are you hitting the Ferric Chloride again Nathan? 

[vigilante397]

Are you hitting the Ferric Chloride again Nathan? 

I'm trying to cut back, but it's still a very serious problem 

Next time try warming a few tablespoons and using a sponge to apply it. You can also put a couple of tablespoons in a ziplock baggie, soak it in hot water for a few minutes, and then rub the board through the baggie with your fingers. Wear latex gloves with both techniques.

I have noticed warming it speeds up the etch, and I've also found the sponge method helps me ration my ferric, but I guess I get impatient, or when I have multiple boards to etch in one sitting I assure myself I need way too much. 

Hi, my name is Nathan, I started getting into etching about 4 months ago and have gone through 2 full bottles of ferric 

The first step is acceptance...

[deadastronaut]

hello nathan...i'm a ferricholic.

[italianguy63]

We had some prior talk about PatCo thermal wire strippers in some other thread.  I have been watching, and some just showed up at a "better" price on FleaBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261540528336?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT#ht_695wt_1124

MC

[armdnrdy]

We had some prior talk about PatCo thermal wire strippers in some other thread.  I have been watching, and some just showed up at a "better" price on FleaBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261540528336?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT#ht_695wt_1124

MC

That is funny...the "seller" Marvac is my local electronics store in Costa Mesa, California.

http://www.marvac.com/locations.aspx

They have a few more stores up in Santa Barbra and Sacramento.

I had no idea that they sold things on Ebay. I guess whatever it takes to survive this stagnant economy.  

[PRR]

> no idea that they sold things on Ebay.

I got some thermo-switches eBay. When they came I realized they were from GreenBrook Electronics, an old-line cinder-block electronics shop in NJ. I've shopped there, but not in 30 years.

[anotherjim]

Afraid of big drills? Not got one? On holiday?
You need a TAPERED REAMER...

Very useful even if you are equipped with the right drills. You can slip a washer from whatever the hole is for over it to stop you cutting it too big. But you can cut the holes all the way with this, together with a Vero strip cutter (drill in handle) to get the hole started, without any power. Strengthen your wrists too

[deadastronaut]

^ yep i have one of those too...a must have tool for sure. 

[duck_arse]

well, I'll be, I never thought of that washer-on-the-reamer trick. nice one. as for the wrist strengthening, I have other methods.




typing.

[deadastronaut]

+1 on the washer idea...

[vigilante397]

Afraid of big drills? Not got one? On holiday?
You need a TAPERED REAMER...

Very useful even if you are equipped with the right drills. You can slip a washer from whatever the hole is for over it to stop you cutting it too big. But you can cut the holes all the way with this, together with a Vero strip cutter (drill in handle) to get the hole started, without any power. Strengthen your wrists too

I'm not afraid of big drills, I've got one, and I almost never get time for holiday

But I still need one of these.

[Noise-O-Matic]

I don't know if it's been mentioned but...
Bulldog clips, bulldog clips everywhere!
Usually better than my helping hands (screw/nail 'em to a block of wood or your bench), they also make good heatsinks when soldering sensitive components.

The other type are handy too... The type with removable wire handles, you know these...
http://www.dorothymcghie.com/clip.jpg
Binder clips.
They are pretty useful as cable catchers... If you clip them to the end of your desk you can pop the wings off and put cables through them... Good for taking the weight off long heavy cable that would otherwise pull my helping hands to the floor... Or just to stop me having to bend down when I inevitably knock something off the desk!

It's provably been said but my unibit is a lifesaver for drilling boxes!

[duck_arse]

^ ++1 on the foldback (bulldog) clips. on the wooden block, they are good for holding boards while solder-sucking (elastic bands around the block = non skid). I have a piece of vinyl flooring, folded over, as jaw-guards? lips? it fills the un-even bite of the bulldog, holds things better.

[deadastronaut]

ok, useless for soldering etc, but what a babe tool .....

[seedlings]

ok, useless for soldering etc, but what a babe tool .....

That's one of those european lawsuit era copies. 



CHAD

[duck_arse]

ok, useless for soldering etc, but what a babe tool .....

That's one of those european lawsuit era copies.  



CHAD

meanwhile, down under .......



[edit: ] sorry, this is supposed to be tools, isn't? just imagine the above EK is a ute. fixxed.

[greaser_au]

hmmm... makes the red things look like they should be being pulled by a horse, huh...

david