annoying electronics building habbits

[mashersmasher]

so got any? i do in fact one of the worst i have is flinging excess solder on my iron in any direction. another one is where i work on something with the idea of just getting the basics done and i get into this zombie like state where i put the whole thing together in a mess of wires. the next day i can't figure out how to work it. another thing i do is use my teeth as a wire stripper/cutter for wires and solder.

 

[HiTech]

.... another thing i do is use my teeth as a wire stripper/cutter for wires and solder.

Can I become your dentist?

 

[Torben]

Yeah, this is really a bad idea. I used to install car stereos using my teeth as wire strippers; now I have little chips out of my front teeth.

In an even dumber move, I was attempting to loosen a nut on my drum hardware a few years back using my molars as a wrench. I snapped one of the peaks of a molar clean off. I carry a tool kit now.

Use tools. I used to be in the butter-knife-as-screwdriver and teeth-as-tools school but I've learned better.

As far as annoying electronics habits goes, I have a horrible tendency to either not finish one project because I get into another one, or else work one project to death while ignoring others.


Torben

 

[Pommie]

I guess that is why you are called Masher Smasher.

I used to strip wire with my teeth but I grew out of it. I now tend to be as neat as I can with prototypes and circuit boards but I still flick the solder everywhere and my work area is incredibly untidy.

Mike.

 

[Gayan Soyza]

Still my best cct wire stripper is my teeth.

Same here my work area also completely untidy.Electronics Workbench, Parts, Study books & computer all in my living room.Its too messy.Even I try to keep it tidy gets messy very soon.

But I more concentrate on the circuit.I really need a quality sexy circuit design.So I always building it nicely.

 

[3v0]

... another one is where i work on something with the idea of just getting the basics done and i get into this zombie like state where i put the whole thing together in a mess of wires. the next day i can't figure out how to work it...r.

That is one of the main reasons I make a PCB for most prototypes. With Eagle you have a schematic and a board with (to some degree) labels at every point in the construction. I have boards from my point to point days that I am nearly clueless about. But nearly every PCB has a rev number that I can tie back to a schematic and if the world is right a software project. Which is a nice segway to my bad.

I have a lot of unfinished projects. WIth the execption of the ones I make for my class there is no strong reason to finish them. Even when the electronics and software are finished they seldom end up in cases.

 

[rjvh]

so got any? i do in fact one of the worst i have is flinging excess solder on my iron in any direction

Guilty

Robert-Jan

 

[picbits]

I still flick the solder everywhere and my work area is incredibly untidy.

Don't do this when you are wearing shorts .......

 

[colin mac]

My teacher said hot solder landed on his eyeball once. That kinda scares me into being careful. I use a snips for stripping wire, but I should buy wire strippers.

 

[ericgibbs]

Don't do this when you are wearing shorts .......

If Mike did that he would probably get more problems 'down under' boom!, boom!

 

[gramo]

Not wetting that solder iron sponge nearly enough... Although I am getting better

 

[Pommie]

If Mike did that he would probably get more problems 'down under' boom!, boom!

LOL, as it happens, when I was a boy, I woke one morning and rushed downstairs in my pajamas as you do. I had an Airfix model that needed to be finished. You will not believe how much pain Airfix glue on sensitive areas can cause.

Mike.

 

[gerty]

Used to work with an engineer that stripped wire with his teeth. One day he stripped a 277v signal wire, while it was hot. Turned his tongue and some teeth black, that was the last wire he ever stripped like that.

 

[jpanhalt]

I can see his epitaph: Here lies a real live wire.

BTW, a crown for a broken tooth is about $800 in the US. Chipped teeth are less, but still cost more than a wire stripper.

John

 

[JimB]

A foolish thing, I only did once:

Fumbled and dropped a hot soldering iron, and quickly grabbed and caught it before it fell on the floor!

As I said, I only did it once, the pain was excruciating.

Ever since then, my view is "sod the carpet", let it drop and then pick it up at leasure.

JimB

 

[eblc1388]

Not wetting that solder iron sponge nearly enough... Although I am getting better

Plastic oiling bottle, filled with water, placed within reach. Works wonder.

 

[Hank Fletcher]

I instinctively moved my legs together (sitting down) to catch a multimeter lead I'd fumbled. I caught the lead, with my legs below the knee, so that the lead with my calves/shins formed a kind of "H." The force of me moving my legs together quickly like that drove the pointy bit right through my jeans and a good half inch or so into my leg.

I really didn't know what to do at first, and just sort of stared at my leg, with the jean leg nailed to it, thinking, "What did I possible imagine would go wrong if I just let the multimeter lead drop?" So I pulled the lead out of my leg, which made a kind of gross, squishy sound. Surprisingly, there wasn't really much blood and only a bit of a bruise.

 

[Gaston]

i use a soldering iron tip cleaner similar to this one. **broken link removed** it works very well for me

 

[killivolt]

Keeping work area Clean !

I'm obsessed with the little ends of plastic after stripping the wire. I don't know why or where I got that, I'm not tidy ?

I have to use my left hand to hold the solder Iron, I'm right handed ?

I stopped flinging the solder on the floor they won't let me get away with it at the University. I use those brass wool things and it works great you just jam the the tip into it. I like it because it stops the smoke from billowing.

I have to check all my connections 5 times ? 5th time is the charm I guess.

 

[Optikon]

A foolish thing, I only did once:

Fumbled and dropped a hot soldering iron, and quickly grabbed and caught it before it fell on the floor!

As I said, I only did it once, the pain was excruciating.

Ever since then, my view is "sod the carpet", let it drop and then pick it up at leasure.

JimB

I did that once but with MOLTEN peanut brittle right off the stove. Instinctive reaction to save the carpet.