Jump to content

How many here can actually solder?


Deang

Recommended Posts

I can solder.......yea I got "mad" skills.....lol lol

Not really, but I can get the job done. I've done all kinds of soldering at my shop...fixed wires...opened up some relays and control units to fix cold solder joins....and on some cars I've pulled the backs off the alternator and replaced the brushes while still on the car...

So yea I can do what's needed to get the job done....

But would I re-build my x-over's.......No......I would send mine out to Bob, or Dean, or someone that does this work for a living......do I think I could do the re-build....yea I could......but to me it's about the time it would take me.....oh I know it wouldn't take hours and hours....

But what'll happen is.....I'll get them to the shop....there they would sit on my tool box and I would never get to em...cuz I'm working on stuff for my customers.....there's no "free" time at the shop....so they would just sit around and everytime I would look at them it would irritate me....So when I'm ready to have my x-over's rebuilt...I'm going to pull em out of the speakers....put em in a box....send them off....and when I get them back, just put em back in my speakers....

That to me is the easy way.....that's just me.....

MKP :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm weird about soldering, if you give me plenty of finely stranded wire on both ends, or a pc board, I can make a beautiful solder joint.

What sucks about crossovers is when you're taking a stranded flexible wire and joining it to a hard solid inductor wire. I'm not entirely sure what you're supposed to do to make that be pretty. The ones I do are butt ugly for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Then we have the other group; some knowledge, largely incomplete, with limited skill sets - but willing to learn.

 

I am in this "other" group, but where bolded, substitute the word "incomplete" with the word "incompetent."  :rolleyes:

 

Manuals with words and pictures don't really help this group much, but I think videos would. Opinions? [/quote

 

Videos are helpful, but not as much as GOOD instructions.

 

Instructions step-by-step WITH PICTURES are also extremely helpful, because you don't need to read an entire manual just to parse the few terms or symbols important to the project.

 

When selling a kit to a novice (you have to identify your target customer) an overlay of the component layout is also helpful.  Don't let the novice have to guess what kind of board to mount the components to.  Don't make them guess what size wire, how long to make the wire, or what size the board is.  Gear your instructions to the lowest common denominator.  Advanced customers can customize their own modifications.

 

Don't say "mount cross over board to the speaker."  DO SAY "take the four #8 1 1/2 inch screws and mount the board six inches from the bottom, four inches from the side."  Include helpful hints like "never mount the cross over network directly behind the woofer..." or whatever.

 

Don't Say "solder the ends together."  DO SAY "use a soldering pencil such as Parts-Express model #1234 with a tip temperature of 600 degrees.  Use a 70/30 silver solder such as Parts-Express #1234.  A one-pound spool will be enough to complete this kit.  //  TIP: You can also use solder that is 90/10, but never used solder which is 50/50.  The Weller soldering station PE #1234 is highly recommended...."  BE specific.

 

I think you have to be careful with instructions and videos because sometimes parts change due to updated designs, or components that are obsolete and not offered by a company anymore.  Component values have GOT to be up-to-date with the kit.  If you change resisters from a round one to a square one then change the picture, change the instructions, and understand your once-helpful video is now confusing and it will bring the process to a dead halt until questions are answered about why things look different.

 

The other caveat is sometimes people who have great skills in their craft may not be as good with crafting words in a logical order in technical writing.  They might skip a step because it is elementary to them, not realizing their target audience might not have the same detail of sequencing as someone who has done a task hundreds of times.

Edited by wvu80
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I continue to sell anything at all, it will be a completed network, built as a source for enjoyment. I'll then put it up for sale on AudioGoN and/or eBay. I might sell autoformers and coils, I haven't decided yet.

I asked the question, not because I want to sell kits, but because I was mostly curious why more people didn't just build their own. I was thinking about starting a build thread (or two or three or four), but not if the payback is a splitting headache. I figured the inability to solder would be the showstopper. Pictures for that don't work - a person needs to see it happening. My son, Ethan, wants to make guitar pedals, but he didn't know how to solder. I was able to teach him in about an hour - mostly by watching and listening to me. Once I turned the iron over to him, he was making some really nice connections in no time.

Absolutely agree about detailed instructions.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Then we have the other group; some knowledge, largely incomplete, with limited skill sets - but willing to learn.

 

I am in this "other" group, but where bolded, substitute the word "incomplete" with the word "incompetent."  :rolleyes:

 

Manuals with words and pictures don't really help this group much, but I think videos would. Opinions? [/quote

 

Videos are helpful, but not as much as GOOD instructions.

 

Instructions step-by-step WITH PICTURES are also extremely helpful, because you don't need to read an entire manual just to parse the few terms or symbols important to the project.

 

When selling a kit to a novice (you have to identify your target customer) an overlay of the component layout is also helpful.  Don't let the novice have to guess what kind of board to mount the components to.  Don't make them guess what size wire, how long to make the wire, or what size the board is.  Gear your instructions to the lowest common denominator.  Advanced customers can customize their own modifications.

 

Don't say "mount cross over board to the speaker."  DO SAY "take the four #8 1 1/2 inch screws and mount the board six inches from the bottom, four inches from the side."  Include helpful hints like "never mount the cross over network directly behind the woofer..." or whatever.

 

Don't Say "solder the ends together."  DO SAY "use a soldering pencil such as Parts-Express model #1234 with a tip temperature of 600 degrees.  Use a 70/30 silver solder such as Parts-Express #1234.  A one-pound spool will be enough to complete this kit.  //  TIP: You can also use solder that is 90/10, but never used solder which is 50/50.  The Weller soldering station PE #1234 is highly recommended...."  BE specific.

 

I think you have to be careful with instructions and videos because sometimes parts change due to updated designs, or components that are obsolete and not offered by a company anymore.  Component values have GOT to be up-to-date with the kit.  If you change resisters from a round one to a square one then change the picture, change the instructions, and understand your once-helpful video is now confusing and it will bring the process to a dead halt until questions are answered about why things look different.

 

The other caveat is sometimes people who have great skills in their craft may not be as good with crafting words in a logical order in technical writing.  They might skip a step because it is elementary to them, not realizing their target audience might not have the same detail of sequencing as someone who has done a task hundreds of times.

 

You can't say that specific stuff on every step. It will be repeated about 500 times for no reason. Heathkit had the best instructions.

JJK

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Before I began soldering every day I grab the business end of my iron to make sure I'm still among the living...

Are you serious or just kidding? :ph34r:  This is so confusing. :P

 

 

Once the scar tissue builds up it's not too bad...

Edited by Marvel
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Deang, I like your idea of build threads. Along with some technical discussion on how you figured out the design. Maybe some of us can learn something. I have populated and soldered circuit boards in the past, didn't have a clue what was going on in the circuits, wish I did. I have a basic understanding of some stuff but a lot of analog circuits are over my head.

So if you have some great crossover or whatever designs, feel free to share them.

 

BillWojo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mean in a confident manner - actually knowing why they're doing?

I can solder in a confident manner... just get the soldering iron hot, and use to melt the solder on the wires you are trying to solder.. Thats it. what is so hard about that. I am very confident. lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Before I began soldering every day I grab the business end of my iron to make sure I'm still among the living...

Are you serious or just kidding? :ph34r: This is so confusing. :P

Once the scar tissue builds up it's not too bad...

Yea I'm to the point wear I really have to smell the flesh burning before I realize that 850 degree tip is really hot....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...