[time-nuts] Soldering small stuff...

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I do on a daily basis. 

Steve
WB0DBS



> On Apr 26, 2020, at 12:10 PM, Richard Solomon <dickw1ksz at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> What about us folks that wear glasses ?
> Can you use the OptiVisor with eyeglasses ?
> 
> Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ
> 
>> On Sat, Apr 25, 2020 at 11:28 PM Charles Steinmetz <csteinmetz at yandex.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Burt wrote:
>> 
>>> I have an AM-SCOPE 7-35 magnification stereo microscope. I also have an
>>> OptiVisor with a 5x stereo lens that my son gave me about 10 years ago.
>>> As nice as the microscope is, I generally wind up using the OptiVisor.
>> 
>> Optics:
>> OptiVisors are *great*.  But there are lots of poor-quality imitations
>> out there.  Accept no substitutes!  Buy Genuine Donegan OptiVisors
>> *only*, with "DA-" series glass lens plates (blue lens frames) -- *not*
>> the "LX" series with acrylic lenses in clear lens frames.
>> 
>> The one drawback of OptiVisors is that if you want higher power you have
>> to settle for reduced working distance.  At some point, I don't really
>> want my face that close to the hot iron and solder vapors.  For
>> soldering, I find the DA-5 lens plate (2.5x at 8" working distance) is
>> my practical limit.  A good stereo microscope (with reduced-power barlow
>> lens) solves this problem.
>> 
>> BTW: Even 7x is *way* too much power for comfortable use as a soldering
>> magnifier, IMO. You might want to try a 0.2x to 0.3x Barlow lens, such
>> as the AmScope model SM03, which could make the experience much nicer.
>> And possibly some lower-power eyepieces.
>> 
>> So:  How about a wearable version of the stereo microscope (best of both
>> worlds)?
>> 
>> Those are called "surgical loupes."  And they are a pure joy to use.
>> Once you try a pair of properly fitted and collimated surgical loupes,
>> you will never go back to anything else for soldering small parts.
>> 
>> However: surgical loupes are moderately to very expensive, and it's hard
>> to economize by buying used because they really need to be fitted and
>> adjusted by an optician who knows what (s)he is doing or you may have
>> eyestrain using them.  If you are optically knowledgeable and can figure
>> out the misalignments for yourself (say, if you have sucessfully
>> collimated a few pairs of binoculars), it is possible to self-fit them.
>>  *Note* that the collimation problem arises with stereo microscopes as
>> well -- many of the old venerable models you find used (B&L, AO) are
>> badly out of alignment.
>> 
>> Soldering:
>> Finally, there is no need to flood IC pins with so much solder that you
>> need solder braid to remove it.  The secrets are (1) use the right iron
>> tip (a flat or slightly concave bevel tip is one of the best, but a
>> spade will work); (2) keep the tip surgically clean; (3) keep the tip at
>> the right temperature; and (4) use quality solder with plenty of flux.
>> To see it done right (in less than 3-1/2 minutes), watch:
>> 
>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uiroWBkdFY>
>> 
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> 
>> Charles
>> 
>> 
>> 
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