CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

Here's another little gem. This is from a friends 9500LC. He paid $10K for his machine 5 years ago from a dealer (no it's not Curt or TIM) Very Happy

and it was before I met him. Anyway, at some point someone had attempted to do the anamorphic mod, I guess the board still worked afterwords but it's a miracle really. Look at the 2 left side resistors, plating completely stripped out. then the back was bridged with all kinds of jumpers to re-create a circuit. If this is how you do things then please give your Soldering Iron to someone else Laughing

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Idiots!!!

Athanasios

CIR Engineering · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

That's what you call a hacked board for sure. But if you think that's bad, try working on pinball and arcade games. Practically every one you open has extensive "repair" damage.

This kind of thing happens with too much heat on the iron, and when people try to remove solder from the pad by using a drill instead of a solder removal tool, or when they use too much force and not enough heat. I regularly am asked to fix boards by folks who have done this sort of thing. You should hear the stories I get! I shouldn't complain really because I like doing the repairs. Someone mails me a board, I take it to the shop, and I don't even have to put my shoes on that day Wink

craigr

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject:

Look, there are days when I just can't find my soldering iron and solder, and have to resort to a soldering gun and acid solder, OK?

Give a tech a break!

Very Happy

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

"repair damage" that's funny Laughing

too much heat and drill bit for sure on this one. Look at U-701 next the R704, they even cooked the pins on it.

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Yeah, the squeeze mod was the first circuit-board soldering I'd done in years, and it didn't come out pretty. But even mine looks like a pro job compared to this hack! And I was smart enough not to drill out the thru-hole... Laughing

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Chip is going to get all upset that people are teasing about how only idiots use a drill to clean out a through hole....THATS how He does it!!! Oh well he doesn't know any better he has an Ampro for gods sake!!! Very Happy

CIR Engineering · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject:

Sorry Chip Thumbs Up

craigr

cmjohnson · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 5180 Location: Buried under G90s

This stuff is easy to do right, if you bother to (a) get a little training in good soldering techniques and (b) invest in a GOOD iron.

I'm pretty good at soldering and desoldering. Even the toughest jobs with tiny holes and large ground planes can be done with patience
and the right tools. I can't remember the last time I lifted a pad.

Sometimes I use a temperature controlled heat gun when the part is too big or there's too much heat sinking plating in the area to handle
with an iron. With this method I've been able to remove parts without damaging the board that other techs say can't BE removed without
damaging the board.

Yeah, to clear solder from very small holes, I HAVE used a drill bit. But note I said drill BIT, not DRILL. I use a very small drill bit
against the filled hole, and just use my fingers to spin it gently in the hole. The bit is smaller than the hole and goes right through the
solder plug without damaging anything else. Then I wick away the rest.

I've seen people clip off part leads and tie other parts to them and solder over the connection because they were paranoid about doing
damage to the board. Fuffle, I say! Learn to solder right, use good tools, and you'll have no problem pulling the part out right
and not harming the pads!

CJ

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:52 am Post subject:

I do it like this (I described this in a Barco thread somewhere)

1) Snip component leads from the top of the board, leaving as much exposed lead as possible
2) Heat pad on bottom, while tugging on the lead from the top, pulling it through the board
OR
Heat pad on bottom, push lead from top to bottom, so the lead now sticks out the bottom off the PC pad. THen, grab the still soldered lead from the bottom, reheat the pad, and pull the lead free.

Once the lead is out of the board, use solder wick or a sucker to clear the hole. If it won't clear, heat the pad, and use a fine nozzle on an air compressor hose to blow the hole free.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:53 am Post subject:

stefuel · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject:

I don't know where the idea that I was using a power drill to prep a board came from. This is what I use.
Assumption is the mother of all f-ups.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

stefuel · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject:

Technically speaking, what I am using IS a drill. It's just not powered. In the handle is a compartment that holds about a dozen tiny drill bits and a tiny center punch. What did you think I was using, a half inch drive hammer drill? Laughing

I started using that devise when I repairing HVAC circuit boards with relays packed on and through hole parts in very hard to reach places. It was not long before I realized that I was spending less than half the time using the drill vs trying to wick the stuff out.
So OK, have your laugh. It works for me. No over heated boards or splatter to deal with. The whole is the perfect size for the parts and ultra quick re-solder. AND the final result looks like it came out of a machine. Razz

I'm all finished while Curt's still blowing and sucking. Laughing

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject:

Bull, unscrew the handle and out pops an AAA battery. Very Happy

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Chip did you forget the battery ? Wink

zGman · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 599

Actually the tool Chip is using is very handy, and
can be found at welding supply shops - they are
used for cleaning gas torch tips....I have had one
for years - and no battery....!
G

Sparky015 · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject:

Repair nightmares! You have to give the guy some props of having the intelligence to being able to recreate the circuit and using RTV to properly tack the wire in place. I've seen worse, as I'm sure a lot of you have as well. He could have used buss wire for his repair...

stefuel · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:13 am Post subject: