6. Batch "TA" 1S or 2S Bistro HD OTSM/NarsilM drivers 15-47.5mm size fit, S2+, C8, H03, MF01, MT03, Q8 Clicky or E-switch

Thanks, I don’t have a hot air tool, I have many soldering irons, 25w, 30w, 60w, 300w and guns100/140/250w, I also have several small torches and a large heat gun.

But I’ve been looking for a while at a rework Stations w/hot Air , this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-in-1-Soldering-Iron-Rework-Stations-SMD-Hot-Air-Gun-Desoldering-Welder-862D/162292444459?epid=922000661&hash=item25c9622d2b:g:O5QAAOSww3tY8YYK
If that’s what I need for this then it will be an excuse to get it sooner.

I don’t currently have soldering paste, I have lots of solder 40/60 incl. kester “44”

I also don’t currently have flux, I was planning to get one of these for soldering:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30ml-1oz-NEEDLE-TIP-BOTTLE-KESTER-186-ROSIN-NO-CLEAN-FLUX-FOR-XBOX-360-REFLOW/141250481358?epid=1131457413&hash=item20e32f4cce:g:zikAAOxy0x1TRHc8

And someone recommended this for reflow, (but it’s pretty expensive) SMD291AX50T3 Chip Quik Inc. | Soldering, Desoldering, Rework Products | DigiKey

63/37 paste:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017RSZFQQ/

63/37 wire:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072JQ1JH4/

You can do it without solder paste.
You should be able to take some of your solder wire and make a coil from it. Depending on its diameter will determine the number of coils you need. Then set it on the driver and put the brass ring on top. Then just use one of your small torches to heat the ring, not the driver. When it gets hot enough, the ring will drop down flush to the driver and you’ll see the liquid solder come out the side. Just make sure it’s perfectly centered before you take the heat away. That should do it. Then you can dab it with a damp cloth to cool it down a bit faster if you want. That’s optional.

You can probably use one of your irons to heat up the ring, but you run into a small problem. In order to get good heat transfer from the iron to the ring means that you’re going to get liquid solder on the top of the ring where the batteries rotate. So after the ring is soldered you’re going to have to clean up the extra solder or else the batteries will rub across it. This kind of pain in the butt extra step can be avoided if you use a torch.

Adding a little extra flux always seems to help, but you could probably get by without it. I like the felt tip style applicators over the bottles because you have a little more control over the amount that comes out and how it’s spread around.

I can’t really comment on most of the stuff you listed because I’m not really familiar with it. That 862D+ soldering station looks pretty good. I’ve got a 995D myself. It seems all right.

Thanks! This helps a lot in case I don’t get the rework station before doing the ring swap. I suppose I’d use the thicker wire (.062) instead of the .031?

I think I’d prefer to use an iron over the torch if that’s possible.
If I use one of my Weller guns I have many new tips that are un-tinned, so there wouldn’t be solder getting on top the ring, if that’s what you meant.
I guess for this I’d need to use the higher wattage 100-140w or 250w?

I also have this “American Beauty” 300w, it has a huge chisel tip, also un-tinned, but it might be overkill (Max tip temp 1000 Degrees):
https://www.amazon.com/American-Beauty-3178-300-Heavy-Duty-Soldering/dp/B007S20CMY?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffsb-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B007S20CMY
These are used for soldering copper roofing and gutters, I’m planning on selling it and using some of the proceeds to buy the rework station.

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The felt tip flux sounds like a good idea, didn’t know about those, I think these are the ones:

https://www.amazon.com/SRA-Soldering-Products-PEN_RMA-99-20/dp/B008OC3VMU/ref=wl_mb_wl_huc_mrai_2_dp?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B008OC3VMU&pd_rd_r=RHEPRJBRAEQQG803KWBS&pd_rd_w=9Vmu1&pd_rd_wg=UXln1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YL1D3US/ref=psdc_8107037011_t2_B008OC3VMU

Thanks, I’ll keep that paste in mind, for this ring swap I may use the wire as JasonWW described.

Is there a reason you linked that specific wire (63/37)? I already have lots of 40/60 wire solder, about 4-5 small rolls and a 1 pound spool of kester 44 / .031

I’ve been using the 60/40 without any problem, seems like there wouldn’t be much difference between 63/37 and 60/40?

That is fine too. I initially used lead free mix and its so much harder to work with for a novice like me. When i switched to leaded solder it made a huge difference

Beamo, certainly try the irons first if you gave some that are untinned. It’s hard to get heat transfer through an untinned tip, but since you have so much power it might work.

I’ve got this #312 pen and it works great. I really don’t know much about all these different flux formulas and such. What you linked to might be fine as well. All I can say is that adding a little extra flux makes a huge difference in getting really nice soldered joints. :slight_smile:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008OC0E5M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525787538&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=%23312+flux+pen&dpPl=1&dpID=31u2-ijUmFL&ref=plSrch

I did a few times brass ring transfer

clamp the driver inside a vise

add paste or solder wire on the driver, even adding solder with solder iron works

Place the ring on it

Heat up the whole driver with 2000W heat gun on low ait flow setting

heat up till solder melts, yes it will melt on both sides, but the parts stick to the driver if you dont mode or drop it rapidly

center brass ring and let it cool slowly

contactcr - Jason, thanks for the additional info.

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Lexel, for this it sounds like you used before the large heat gun (2000W) like I have, instead of the small reflow hot air station.

I also found this nozzle set, maybe this would make it easier to direct the heat on the ring, more like the small reflow gun.

https://www.amazon.com/Vipeco-Nozzle-Welding-Resistant-Soldering/dp/B07CR2QH7Q?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffsb-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07CR2QH7Q

if you fear the other side components to fall off I could make a driver with heat activated reflow glue

Yes that would be great thanks! (reflow glue) sounds like a good idea for this just in case.

Also what is the best way to remove the copper around the center hole I’ll need to make? X-Acto knife? Or maybe some type of Dremel bit?

I think Lexels big heat gun technique is pretty advanced and not what I would recommend for the first time. Maybe it would be good as a last resort if your big irons or small torches couldn’t get it hot enough to melt the solder.

There’s really no need in heating the entire driver because as soon as the solder liquefies, that thin copper layer on the driver is going to almost instantly get up to the proper temperature.

Ok, yeah that does make sense, but I wonder if I should have him build one with the glue anyhow, just in case.

I would have to imagine the 250w or 300w iron would get it plenty hot pretty quick, I’ll try that for removing the ring from the old board and see how quickly it de-solders it.

I think I’d be more comfortable using an iron than the torch, but I did have a thought of pre heating the ring with the torch immediately before I set it on the board, then rest the iron on it, just to help get it up to temp quickly.

There is a possibility I’d get the reflow station before I attempt this, I assume the reason hot air is best is because it can more quickly heat up a larger area or component like this? And with that small air gun there wouldn’t be the risk of de-soldering any topside components?

I could remove the center copper with a flat drill press sinking tool

Plus use glue on all SMD parts on your driver

That would be great, thanks! (sent pm with size info)

I hope the (+) battery ring on my existing driver is actually soldered on and not part of the board or something.

as requested with cables and i also found 2 insulating washers

Wow, you’re awesome! Thanks for posting these photos! It’s nice to be able to enlarge them, I’m stoked about this driver!

So the wires are 0.75mm² ? I looked up the conversion to AWG and it looks like that’s equivalent to 18ga. (which is good I wouldn’t want anything bigger)

Just to confirm: ramping max at about 80% is current regulated/mixed, double click turbo is 100% direct drive ?

For the UI:

It’s NarsilM v1.2, correct? What is “GT” v1.2 ?

Are these links correct for this?:

Also is there an active shortcut to toggle between ramping and mode set? or do you need to go into config to change it?

I super want to do this to my MF01 but have no clue in terms of where to start as I’m super new to modding. I have access to incredibly skilled solder persons at work and I’m mechanically inclined but other than that what would I need to be looking at?

First step is to identify if its v1 or v2
Then if its not glued, or glued

V1 and V2 mod discussed here

Lexel how did you open a glued MF01? I managed to open the MF02 but my MF01 is very tough. I heated it with a hot air gun but everything is just slipping on the bezel.