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Here's an idea I came up with for a 'one thumb' solder feeding attachment which is effectively a third hand which as you all know is very useful for the often fiddly job of holding the work in place when soldering wires, etc.
Very simply made - no machining required - just a few scrap pieces of brass and copper, etc.
I have uploaded a video of this on YouTube which you can see below:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwFou602tsM&t=3s
Quote:
Originally Posted by brianhw
Brilliant!
Interesting idea and looks useful for many instance where coarse soldering is acceptable.
Super idea!
Thanks,
Rick
It would be great for soldering the seams on a whiskey still LOL
Very creative, sir. I really like it!
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Thanks brianhw! We've added your Solder Feeding Attachment to our Miscellaneous category,
as well as to your builder page: brianhw's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:
<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-solder-feeding-attachment"> <img src="/uploads/204316/homemade-solder-feeding-attachment.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-solder-feeding-attachment">Solder Feeding Attachment</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/soldering'>soldering</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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I have done a lifetime of electronic soldering and have never seen anything like that. It looks very clever and useful. At first I wondered how the solder was being fed. Then I realized THUMB FEED. Wow!
You say un-fluxed solder, but I don't see why a flux core solder could not be used also. I think I have to build one or perhaps two or three of them. I may add a small spool so the solder does not run out so fast. And perhaps some kind of spring clamps so I can attach them and remove them as needed.
Great idea. As I said, I have a lot of experience with soldering and have never seen anything like it. You should get a patent. Really, before someone rips it off.
Paul, while his device is clever and very useful and one which I would make for myself, unfortunately it is no where near a new idea
I used to have a soldering iron that had a squeeze bulb attachment for de-soldering very handy but when that was not feasible I used a finely braided strip bought from Radio shack to use when removing solder from connections
Attachment 19487 Attachment 19488 Attachment 19489 Attachment 19490
Attachment 19491
Thanks, Paul, for a "thumbs up" on this one !
I only used a piece of non-fluxed solder at the time because it was all I had to hand - fluxed stuff would work even better as no flux would have to be applied directly to the work itself as I did for the video.
I like your idea of incorporating a small spool, which would be useful for longer soldering sessions, but I don't think you would encounter any problems with the spool unravelling by itself (unless you are an extremely fast solderer!).
I'd like to see your idea put into practice and if and when it is please do a post of it here.
p.s:- feel free to patent this idea if you think it could be patentable.
Even if it did tend to unravel, a small piece of spring steel arranged to put a drag on the spool would prevent bird-nestting as one sees on some types of fishing reels.Quote:
Originally Posted by brianhw
Frank,
What I think is so super about his idea is the simplicity of the thumb drive. None of the others seem to have that feature and that is why I think it would be capable of being patented.
Brian,
I do not want to steal or even borrow anyone's work so I politely decline your offer. But thanks for sharing.
Yes Paul patents are all about the application, or design and more over in how they are presented never cheap though. the last one submitted by a company I used to be associated with cost us over 10 K since the principal submitter was over 75 at the time the searches were greatly expedited and at a reduced cost Still patent attys. don't come cheap
