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I didn't see many a thread in regards to this and seeing as how there are a lot of non functioning solders it'd be grand practice to learn soldering.

So I got kit the other day in the mail (for some reason every time I get parts I giggle like a school girl) opened it up and in dread I stared at the project before me. Many pieces. Many tiny little bastard that my long sausage fingers would have to handle.

f*** it. Bought a decent soldering iron, watched a few youtube how tos on soldering and started. So far not bad.
Im taking a break because I need to get a heat gun to heat the shrink tubing for the standup....uh....thingies....yes...

At any rate ill be snapping pics of my progress as I plan on actually blasting thru this project in the next few days while I wait for parts to come for my pack. Its a good diversion and a new skill to be learned.

Any pointers are welcome. Thanks in advance lads!

While I shoulf have earlier and forgot...here's an early snapshot of my progress.

Doug's kit is awesome and lots of fun to make. I took a few photos in my uniform thread but not a step by step at all. Doug's instructions are great. It looks intimidating at first but it goes together smooth. The only part that I had trouble with is the gold posts with the black spacer things. I couldn't get them off once they were soldered so I did take my dremel to it because they are under the fake chips an you can't see it. It does make a tone of gold dust that is hard to get off the board but I just call that weathering. You can't tell unless you know to look for it.

And good on ya with the heat gun. I had tried with a hair dryer and that didn't work well and a lighter just burns it.

When you get to the Nixie tubes, that crazy glue that is the gel type is excellent! I took a box and used a pen to poke holes big enough to hold the tubes upside down while the led glue dried. I have to run into a meeting. I'll post more of my thoughts a bit later.

I also used a pair of clippers to cut of the extra length on the back and also used a small file on them after on the non working parts.

I think that is all I can recall for now. By then end of it you'll be a soldering pro! When I start my second gizmo, I bet I'll be done in half the time.

This happened today:





And now I drink before Nixie tube hell.

See? Wasn't lying, was I?.....

Nice job! Any trouble with the gold pieces under the 'Sanyo' pieces?

Lots. I trimmed some back and had others that werent flat. The chip goes over em... im not complaining

I been blasting away at the heat shrink on the nixie tubes and gelling the leds to them. Pictures to come after I smoke and have another beer.

More updates today.




To bed. My back is KILLING me

You're flying through that! Are you not going to paint your shelf?

I will later. Its removable plus nowhere to paint st the moment.

Great progress. I just realized I should really get myself one of those fancy alligator clip soldering holder thingamabobs.

Morydees wrote:Great progress. I just realized I should really get myself one of those fancy alligator clip soldering holder thingamabobs.

If I can make a single recommendation for it? Get one thing with rubber coating. Shit scratched my circuit board a bit

I made a small video. NSFW!!!!



Ignore the buzz - phone was on silent and blowing up at the exact moment I was recording.

Annnnnd sorry for the vulgarity....no Im not.

Hoot wrote:Annnnnd sorry for the vulgarity....no Im not.

Hahaha, no you're not.

So the bitch is done. Total build time: 1.5 days.




I know the error box is not mounted but I am waiting until better weather to paint since its cold as balls here.

Enjoy.

This was a fun build. Mind you... I could understand why the Chinese are great at circuitry. Im far too tall. Now for a muscle relaxer and a beer.

Hoot wrote:

Morydees wrote:Great progress. I just realized I should really get myself one of those fancy alligator clip soldering holder thingamabobs.

If I can make a single recommendation for it? Get one thing with rubber coating. Shit scratched my circuit board a bit

It seems those are incredibly hard to find though so I may just get some soft rubber and make my own ends or something. Either way, that's great to know ahead of time. Thanks and good work on yours!

Too bad I couldn't plastidip em. Lol

What about some felt with the sticker on the other side?

I didn't use one when I made mine. I didn't want to pay $30 for one from Radio Shack (The Source in Canada). That's $30 in pack parts I can buy!

I bought the one from the source.

To quote the guardian in Indiana Jones and the last crusade:

"He chose unwisely.."

Hey, what about scrap cut off pieces of the tubing from the pack? Does that fit over the clips?

Potentially. Haven't tried/too lazy to go to garage to acquire.

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PssdffJay wrote:Hey, what about scrap cut off pieces of the tubing from the pack? Does that fit over the clips?

Close to what I was planning.I was going to get this one off Amazon for $7 and use heat shrink tubing to make some padding. Maybe a few different sizes, layered, to accommodate the clip's increasing diameter.

Actually....I bought that....for $30....here..

Welp, off to go drink. Thats alot for making me see that price. FML

Doh, sorry bud! If it makes you feel any better, it resulted in a great looking gizmo.

PssdffJay wrote:Hey, what about scrap cut off pieces of the tubing from the pack? Does that fit over the clips?

On mine (I got it from harbor freight), I just slipped some heat shrink tubing over the jaws, problem solved.

Wharin wrote:

PssdffJay wrote:Hey, what about scrap cut off pieces of the tubing from the pack? Does that fit over the clips?

On mine (I got it from harbor freight), I just slipped some heat shrink tubing over the jaws, problem solved.

I thought about that...after...I ....was done. Dammit