Yea, they def. got the search bait goin. But these might be worth a shot! Thanks VW!!!
Thank u Boaz, got most of this, including lead solder (the non-lead does suck).
Do you have a good flux recommendation?
Are there different types of Kapton tape or is Kapton a brand name? Recommendations?
Thanks!!!
https://m.gearbest.com/soldering-supplies/pp_679483.html
Anyone see any reason I should not buy this? I’ve done some automotive soldering but nothing this small nor precise (and nothing very good because I don’t really know what I’m doing so it’s a lot of hit or miss).
But I’m wanting to start tinkering with some lights.
I’ve got some good quality snap on cutters, strippers and pliers and a good fluke multimeter (I’m a mechanic by trade). Anything else I would need to do some entry level mods ? Interested in doing some illuminated tail switches, driver/emitter swaps, spring bypasses. Nothing too crazy.
Cant answer about that Iron. But if it works it should be suitable. Tips look like the Hako type and if the same are readily available.
You will need Tweezers and a good magnifier to do those lighted tail SW Leds and resistors.
No clean flux pen, thin 63/37 Lead base rosin core solder.
Welcome, I think…
I hesitated on the files and they are gone.
Hope you got them Gray. No worries.
Don’t buy this. You can get the same item cheaper on Ali. 
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?minPrice=&maxPrice=23.13&isBigSale=n&isFreeShip=n&isNew=n&isFavorite=n&isMobileExclusive=n&isLocalReturn=n&shipCountry=PL&shipFromCountry=&shipCompanies=&SearchText=60W+Soldering+Iron+case&CatId=0&g=y&initiative_id=SB_20171217002737&isAffiliate=y&needQuery=y&isOnlyAffiliate=y&tc=main
Similar ones are cheaper still.
Yea, wasn’t me lol. They all come and go at some point or the other. Might come back at a better price for ya later VW!!! Ima have to chill on the purchases till the holidays are settled down. All these awesome sales at the tech/electonic sites have been killing me, and that doesnt take into account all the other hobbies and toys on my radar lol!!!
This is pretty much why i started this thread clovis. I got lots of tools and lots of experience in alot of areas but none in the electronics sector. The suggestions given by the helpful posters in the beginning of this thread is a solid place to start. The magnifying glass that was suggested is a good idea too. I recommend one that is a desk light type that you can look through while you work hands free! I think i paid ~$12 for mine on amazon but the LED tint is terrible for color rendering, but i use aux. lighting most of the time with mine. Im sure you can spend a bit more for one with better lights. Good luck
Just looked at international file set choices, found 2 interesting in the low price range. Which one looks like a better choice? Or maybe I should seek something better?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-set-High-Quality-140mm-Needle-Files-Jeweler-Diamond-Carving-Craft-Tool-Metal-Glass-Stone/32836759974.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.214.MERKaH&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_51102_10340_10341_10609_10541_10084_10083_10304_10307_10301_10610_10312_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10107_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=47acf218-355f-4048-b8b3-b38bffdf5716-36&algo_pvid=47acf218-355f-4048-b8b3-b38bffdf5716&transAbTest=ae803_4&rmStoreLevelAB=5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/JAKEMY-JM-FL1-1-5pcs-set-140-3mm-Diamond-Files-Round-Half-Round-Square-Flat-Jewelry/32826838017.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.75.k4mZdf&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_51102_10340_10341_10609_10541_10084_10083_10304_10307_10301_10610_10312_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10107_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=250aed04-39b7-42f3-a295-34ae4135837b-15&algo_pvid=250aed04-39b7-42f3-a295-34ae4135837b&transAbTest=ae803_4&rmStoreLevelAB=5
My personal opinion? Jakemy looks better qaulity to me and less course as well. That said the other (first) set comes with more files. For the price, i would prolly pick the first set so that i could experiment with different shapes to see what i used the most (if they work at all or don’t break). When i figured out the ones i needed, then i would buy better qaulity.
But who knows, these might be great and won’t need to upgrade. Let us know!!
It will be fine for beginning stuff. The only problem with pencil type irons is that they are one temperature. Fine for doing things like grounding a driver to the pill, or larger things. That will almost certainly be too much heat for soldering SMD LEDs to a lighted tailcap. Yes, it can be done, but it takes a skilled hand to use a lot of heat in a short amount of time.
With a soldering station that has adjustable heat, you can ‘work up’ to the point of the solder melting under the SMDs, and not overheat the devices nor board.
Frankly, I don’t expect to get enough experience to have something worth sharing aside from the obvious “The work/they barely work/they don’t work”. But maybe I’m wrong. Anyway, I’ll get the cheaper option.
I somewhat regret there are no different grit choices though…
I haven’t seen a file with selectable grit for less than $3/piece on Ali.
Just BTW these files:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/TAIWAN-Besdia-Diamond-Tapered-Hand-Files-Carborundum-Alloy-Files/32735422695.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.63.Z9Udtp&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_51102_10340_10341_10609_10541_10084_10083_10304_10307_10301_10610_10312_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10107_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68-9&algo_pvid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68&transAbTest=ae803_4&rmStoreLevelAB=5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Taiwan-Besdia-Diamond-Needle-Files-3-140MM-5-PCS-SET-Round-Half-round-Flat-Square-Triangle/32793007020.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.31.Z9Udtp&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_51102_10340_10341_10609_10541_10084_10083_10304_10307_10301_10610_10312_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10107_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68-4&algo_pvid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68&transAbTest=ae803_4&rmStoreLevelAB=5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/TAIWAN-Besdia-Diamond-Needle-Files-Carborundum-Alloy-Files-PF-10/32742508494.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.58.Z9Udtp&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_51102_10340_10341_10609_10541_10084_10083_10304_10307_10301_10610_10312_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10107_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68-8&algo_pvid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68&transAbTest=ae803_4&rmStoreLevelAB=5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/TAIWAN-Besdia-Diamond-Needle-Files-Carborundum-Alloy-Files-PF-10/32742508494.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.58.Z9Udtp&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_51102_10340_10341_10609_10541_10084_10083_10304_10307_10301_10610_10312_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10107_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68-8&algo_pvid=3af7f295-42db-44d4-891e-3f071ec16c68&transAbTest=ae803_4&rmStoreLevelAB=5
are nice because you can select grit. Not cheap though.
These have some interesting shapes too! But they is high$!!! Well, compared to the other Ali stuff!
I was kind of surprised to see people talking about files when I posted . I didn’t read thru the thread I just replied to the thread topic .I have no idea why anyone would need diamond files . i don’t know where my file set came from …in fact I have lost it somewhere in the mess but it has a dozen or so shapes to it and is probably a halfway decent set …but I don’t think it’s more than 15$ i snapped the end off one but don’t think I’ve ever really stressed any .Probably doing something dumb to snap a tip off of a triangle file
I am using Old cans of OLD rosin based flux …it works like a champ . and Kapton tape I believe is just like saying duct tape .Probably made by a 100 people ???
I wouldn’t say anybody “needs diamond” files. But i’ve switched from stones to diamonds for all my knife and tool sharpening kit and have several diamond files already. I just prefer the diamond files and thats what we started looking for lol! Its not so much the files snapping or anything but the diamond is a coating and cheaper brands tend to flake or wear off fast. The DMT stuff i have has seen ALOT of knives and it does just fine still. The Dremel is where its at if you want some serious metal removal!
I figured the kapton tape was just a name and everybody made it. I once used some flux out of one of my Dads old tool chests that had to be at least 20 years old, it worked fine for the headlights and switches i wired into my son’s Power Wheel Jeep.
I see I actually botched the last link. It was meant to show files with really interesting shapes (from the same maker):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Taiwan-Besdia-BF-90-Diamond-Bent-Files/32809903334.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.44.owLf9c&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_51102_10340_10341_10609_10541_10084_10083_10304_10307_10301_10610_10312_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10107_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=74d5fc3a-cb80-4e0e-8eca-706481b2cba4-6&algo_pvid=74d5fc3a-cb80-4e0e-8eca-706481b2cba4&transAbTest=ae803_4&rmStoreLevelAB=5
Just calculated: a full kit of every file in every grit would be nearly $200. Though maybe you could get a discount.
They seem qaulity but before spending that much i would need some reviews and im havin a hard time finding any. I’ll prolly get one of the cheaper sets too, then pick up some DMT files later. No cool shapes though, so i’ll check them out more before i buy the better ones. Like i said before though. Any one of those <$10 sets might turn out to be great!
Anyone know where i can get qaulity GITD o-rings that are a wee bit thicker than the ones that come with a Convoy S2+?
Kaidomain.com has the best selection of that stuff. Can’t say they have exactly what you are looking for though. They list measurements.
And FYI they have the best selection of tail cap covers too.