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Modding So I made a steampunk soldering station...

Discussion in 'Modding' started by Nexxo, 7 Jan 2018.

  1. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Lovely. :D
     
  2. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    More work:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Assembly:

    [​IMG]

    Test fit:

    [​IMG]

    Next some sanding to finish the rough edges, and make the mounting hinge.
     
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  3. Xlog

    Xlog Minimodder

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    Excellent work so far, metal work is top notch as is the overall style, one thing I would add to the stand is a place for sponge and maybe another one for spare tips. The only let down is a choice of soldering pencil - there is really no point in going for non-cartridge based ones nowadays, especially if you building whole soldering station from scratch.
    Projects such as these make me really long for a lathe/mill.
     
  4. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Also lovely. (That's all I can say because a guy on a 2+ year hiatus of his own project can't prod you back to Ada without looking like a total goober.) :worried:
     
  5. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Regrettably the circuit was designed for an Antex TC50, which is a cheap but good quality reliable iron with a wide range of easily obtainable tips. It is almost like a cartridge unit; the heating element needs five contacts desoldering to swap out (why they didn't simply create a plug for it I'll never know. But yes, normally I'd go for a Hakko...

    The stand will have a sponge set in it. Another one for spare tips... good idea. May make one. :)

    Lathes and mills are awesome. Don't know how I coped without them.

    Well, I'll be getting back to her soon. Work has been demanding (I'm typing this in my "lunch break") and I hit a bit of a wall around the nixie tube circuit... but I've got it more or less worked out now.
     
  6. Xlog

    Xlog Minimodder

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    Cartridge does not mean swapable heating element, it means tip and heating element is a single swapable unit (Hakko T12, Chinese TS100 (a must have for pretty much everyone), JBC T245/T470). The pros are pretty much instant heating up, better heat transfer and a lot more precise temperature reading.
    Wouldn't call Antex tip range "wide" (at least from looking at their page), not then compared to weller/JBC/Hakko.
    As for electronics - there are tons of OS projects nowadays raging from arduino based ones, to this monstrosity.Though I can understand if you just wanted a working kit.
     
    Last edited: 27 Mar 2018
  7. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    The beauty of having a lathe is that I can make my own tips. In copper. :D

    But yes, although I'm comfortable with making my own PCBs and stuff, I was looking for something that is straightforward, has a toroid transformer, elegant controls and display (no fiddly up/down buttons --that was a deal breaker) and takes locally sourced components. It will do for now.

    Monstrosity looks nice. I like the way it recognises whatever is plugged into it. But I would have gone for a bigger display and a rotating temperature knob.
     
    Last edited: 27 Mar 2018
  8. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Understandable. I hit a similar wall with a USB3 double stack connector. I can't even SEE the pins, much less mill a board for them.
     
  9. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Today I have finally managed to finish the stand.

    Marking out:
    [​IMG]

    The cut out parts drilled and countersunk:
    [​IMG]

    Assembly drilling:
    [​IMG]

    And the pillar top shaped and drilled:
    [​IMG]

    Marking out some brass rod for the thumbwheels:
    [​IMG]

    And the thumb wheels turned and knurled:
    [​IMG]

    And the whole set complete (except for the feet):
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Not a bad result, if I say so myself. Learned a lot. :)
     
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  10. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    It's very pretty.

    Have you treated the metals to prevent tarnishing or is a tarnished look part of the endgame?
     
  11. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    I'm undecided. But I do have some lacquer which is a reproduction of the stuff they used to coat brass scientific instruments with back in Victorian times. A German paint company still makes it.
     
  12. RedFlames

    RedFlames ...is not a Belgian football team

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    Got a link for that? Know a few that might be interested in getting their hands on some...
     
  13. adidan

    adidan Guesswork is still work

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    Looks lovely. Smart bit of metalworking there.

    Just need to make a cover to replace the plastic on the iron now ;)
     
  14. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    RedFlames likes this.
  15. RedFlames

    RedFlames ...is not a Belgian football team

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  16. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Geen probleem!
     
  17. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Finally got a shot in proper daylight that shows the real colour of the LCD display:

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Good stuff. :D
    Is that a little kiln in the earlier post?
     
  19. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    It is my wife's enamelling kiln. I have to make a thermostat control for it. Will probably steampunk that too. :p
     

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