Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,167
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,167
Woolworth??

I'm not going to admit to being old enough to remember that..
or the Ben Franklin nickel and dime stores .. wonder what you could get at a nickel and dime store these days? Half a guitar pick?


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193
Bob,
Do you have any S&H Greenstamps laying around?

James,
I use a standard Hakko 900 series soldering iron, but I use a variety of different tips with it, depending on the job that I'm doing. I can't speak to the cataract surgery, but I find that using the microscope gives me the best 3D ability, instead of using a flat screen. I just can't work that way, I've tried. It's near impossible...for me....to figure out where the tip of the iron is.

By the way, I only use the iron to put stuff on with, I use hot air to remove it. You have to be careful with that, too, or you'll burn right through the PCB. Where I used to work, we had a fancy Pace rework station, with all sorts of tips for all sorts of different kinds of chip packages, and the computer and stuff like that, and it was great for getting stuff off, but not so great for putting fine pitch DSPs back on. Had to do that by hand with an iron.

Gary


I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
CHIPQUIK

http://chipquik.com/

Excellent product for fast, non-invasive removal of all types of Surface Mount devices where you can see the solder points, even those with hundreds of connections. (not the ball type, though)

With CHIPQUIK you don't need a lot of those square and rectangular surface mount desoldering tips at all. The stuff works and works fast. Just get the kit and follow the included directions.

I love the stuff, for repairs, reworks -- and prototyping in SMD where we sometimes have to experiment with device values. All I need is the ChipQuik, my standard SMD iron tip and a bit of desoldering braid for cleanup. Great stuff.


--Mac

Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193
Personally Mac, I prefer and am used to working with hot air. For me, it works pretty nicely. Admittedly, you have to be careful, and there are those days that I blow off neighboring components, but those are usually easy to stick back on (resistors and caps).

However, I will keep this in mind. Maybe I could use it for some of the larger DSPs and stuff I work with.

Gary


I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
Off-Topic
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,820
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,820
Thanks for the good info, Mac and Gary. There were several SMC how-to videos linked-thru that chipquik link very interesting. They make it look 'too easy' though. Reminds me of the "how to weld aluminum with a propane torch' demo videos at this site--

http://www.durafix.com/

I haven't yet got around to trying that either, but somehow suspect it wouldn't go as smooth in my hands, as in the video. <g> One time there was a guy demoing e-bows at NAMM and he was playing it so easy and fluid I bought one. Subsequently neither I or my expert guitarist friends managed to ever get more than sporadic ugly honks out of it <g>. There is a knack to everything.

When I used to make a lot of one-off circuit boards, drilling the thru holes was the most annoying task, so it is easy to see how SMC might make it faster-easier once one got the knack.


James Chandler Jr
http://www.errnum.com/
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
I do no know why there is so much apprehension regarding SMT work, James.

*The smaller size is not a real problem, use magnifier if needed.

*Soldering/desoldering is actually much faster than thru-hole, consider that you do not have to turn the board over at all, looking for the footprint on the other side, for one thing.

*Pair of demagnetized tweezers comes in very handy for grabbing parts, whether putting them down for the first time or removing them.

As with any other soldering process, *practice* is the key. I recommend that you find any old PCB from any old thing that has SMT components on it and practice desoldering, soldering, etc. for a few minutes on that, start out with the chip resistors and chip capacitors, then move up to the 3-pin devices, then to the 8-pin.

It's a breeze.

Aluminum, I like to MIG weld, but there are times when I've had to do something out of the ordinary, such as that time we needed to solder a ground wire to an aluminum stick. There are special fluxes and solders for that trick, same rules apply, clean both surfaces bright and get in there and get out, solder follows the heat, etc. And again, it pays to practice on something else first before attempting to do the final job.


--Mac

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins

Join the conversation on our forum.

Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.

Reference this forum post for One-Stop Shopping of our Band-in-a-Box® 2025 Mac Videos — we’ll be adding more videos as they’re released!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.

If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 Italian Version is Here!

Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.

Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.

Band-in-a-Box 2025 - Italiano
RealBand 2025 - Italiano

Band-in-a-Box 2025 French Version is Here!

Bonjour à tous,

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music

Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:

BIAB 2025 - francisation
RealBand 2025 - francisation

Voilà, enjoy!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 German Version is Here!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!

Die deutsche Version Band-in-a-Box® 2025 für Windows ist ab sofort verfügbar!

Alle die bereits die englische Version von Band-in-a-Box und RealBand 2024 installiert haben, finden hier die Installationsdateien für das Sprachenupdate:

https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025.exe
https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025RB.exe

Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!

Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.

Stay up to date—get the latest update now!

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,317
Posts777,647
Members39,617
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Floyd17230, JerryL, kottke, kaleu, Claudio Paolini
39,616 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 149
zedd 107
DC Ron 103
rsdean 94
WaoBand 90
nonchai 85
Today's Birthdays
oublaj
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5