Organic flux (looks like washer-fluid) just sizzles away to nothing, no sticky gooey residue.
For paste I have this:
For liquid I have this:
The liquid is not very useful. Might as well use isopropyl alcohol to clean your work.
The paste leaves a sticky mess but it is very helpful in specific cases. You can dip a wire tip in it, put it on the edge of a spring or on just one part of a component to quickly melt solder. You have to go back with a brush and alcohol and clean up but it generally gets the job done if I even bother using flux at all.
For cleaning since you already have rosin core solder just use that to prep your iron tip. It’s cheap and does a good job after you apply and wipe it off a few times with brass sponge. Leave your iron tip with a bit of solder on it when you are done so it wont oxidize the good part. It’s like those cast iron grills or pans. If you clean them too much they rust. If you leave crap on them and clean only before you use it they stay pretty nice.
Since I still haven't figured out how to maintain a good connection using the wooden dowel yet, I will find some brass washers and try this. Thanks.
FWIW, my leads are approx 16 Ga multi-strand copper wire about nine inches long. The 21700 battery started at 3.99 volts measured by my voltmeter. Once charging commenced, the voltage on the Liii-500 display went quickly to 4.2 volts and charging ended. But the battery voltage was only increased to 4.02 volts. I believe the problem has been with the connection at the Lii-500 using the wooden dowel.
What kind of organic flux do you use? Does it have a shelf life? Thanks.
Thanks for the tip about the MG Chemicals 8341 No Clean Flux Paste that comes in the syringe. I may order it after I find some suitable brass washers. (But I am a little concerned about the 2 year shelf life.)
[quote=teacher] https://buymagnets.com/shop/2/Neodymium-Magnets/ [/quote]
I think I will order some smaller diameter neodymium magnets for a better fit on the battery. Thanks for the link.
This soldering iron kit is in a Lightening Deal until about 8:45 PM EDT. With the 10% coupon, the price ends up being $14.54. I didn't pay any tax.
What I like about this iron is:
- 80 watts
- A temperature readout
- Nice storage box
But in one of the pictures, the two included tips look a little strange (chisel shaped). I hope at least one of them ends up being pointed.
I haven’t got the foggiest idea. Where I worked waaaaaaay waaaaaaaay back, I used that flux and was amazed how well it worked, so asked if I could bring in a small bottle and take some home. They said sure, and I did. This was back when pint bottles of sody-pop were still glass, not plastic, to give you an idea how long ago. Came in gallon jugs, nothing fancy, so probably not horribly toxic or anything.
Used maybe a third to half of it (~16oz Tropicana OJ bottle, with the chunky metal top), as a little goes a looooooong way.
My uncle still calls it sodee-pop! 
He’s from Kansas City… kinda explains it lol
Anybody have any experience with Wissblue lights? Amazon has the Wissblue X2 with 18650 battery and charger, claimed 1600 lumens on lightning deal for about 13 bucks after coupon applied. Is it worth a shot?
https://www.amazon.com/WISSBLUE-Military-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Waterproof/dp/B07BDKT4B9?ref\_=Oct_LDealC_311n5_0_e36e95b1&pf_rd_p=65609f00-3b65-58a1-928f-35588d26980c&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=3180261&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=REPZYTQQZBJGC3JGNERT&pf_rd_r=REPZYTQQZBJGC3JGNERT&pf_rd_p=65609f00-3b65-58a1-928f-35588d26980c
Looks like an S2+ clone. Missing a bit of milling in the front and could be a slightly thinner tube but hard to tell.
The one thing I see is it looks like a cheap 1Amp single sided driver which would mean like ~400lm not 1600lm.
Looks like it’s just a Convoy S2 clone. The picture of the driver shows a nanjg ak-47, which I think is a 7135x3 driver. Nothing super bright or special. Cool white tint, probably crappy modes, I wouldn’t do it unless I wanted it for swapping parts out or something.
Use code NVEQNSNH and it knocks another $7.50 off, making it $5.46 to the door.
A S2 clone for $5.46, get it while you can, this one isn’t going to last long.
Well that changed my mind. In for 1
I thought it might, it changed mine too. :+1:
I got one too, I’ll reflash the driver with biscotti or babka and swap the LED to make it useful, I got the one with the magnet since I don’t already have an S2 with the magnet ring.
Sure am glad you guys are here. First I felt relieved to be talked out of buying this light. Then I felt the need to rush the order through with 13 minutes left in the deal. The coupon code made it kind of a no-brainer. Thanks once again. 
Yea, for $13 you can get the real Convoy version of this with a better driver and LED albeit with much slower shipping, but for like $5 that’s different.
Nailed the gray one.
Coupon gave $7.00, Code gave $8.75, total $4.21 + .25 tax = 4.46 shipped.
Thanks for the heads up everyone.
Shows up as $32 for me, no thanks.
So I just got it, the included driver is NOT the one you can see in the head in the photo on amazon, the amazon photo shows an a nangj Ak-47 driver. The included driver isn’t a 7135 based driver at all, so no reprogramming it. It’s pretty much an S2+ though, the parts are a little different than Simon’s but pretty close.
I thought the head was glued on, but it was just put on by a gorilla apparently. After much effort to get the head off, there’s no trace of glue on the threads.
I paid like $5.46 for this thing, that seems to be about what it’s worth. The LED is on one of those paper thin aluminum MCPCBs. It did include a pink wrapped 2600mah 18650 and a cheap usb charger. I doubt it’s a real samsung cell, but it’s sure trying to look like one.
Edit: Although the driver that came in the light isn’t what I expected, it does measure over 2 amps on the highest mode. So it’s got some potential at least. If SOS wasn’t in the normal rotation It’d be much better.
2.06A at tail with a sofirn battery.
Looks like SOS in mode group and strobe on dbl click. Had to get head off with a towel and 2 pliers. No glue just gorilla assembly or maybe Jason and I are wimps.
It sort of fits with E2L and convoy but the last thread if the head isn’t quite right. One way fits better than the other so YMMV.
Need to take it apart more but looks like decent retaining rings and stuff. If switch and pill is good then it will be worth.
Will test battery too. IR seems high but not terrible.