Adam's original build of his soldering station: ruclips.net/video/8uGS11yuVyo/видео.html USB Soldering Iron: amzn.to/2T1wmxk Power Probe MT Micro Torch: amzn.to/30rgplV Wire Nuts: amzn.to/3840vAw Helping Hands Work Clip: amzn.to/3hrBB8n (Adam found them!) Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Tools: amzn.to/30ka77C Brass Sponge (for the soldering tip): amzn.to/2u2NEjb Wire Strippers: amzn.to/364gRaM Rubber Feet: amzn.to/2tYPpOF Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here.
My only concern is how close a soldering iron is to the can of butane. I’m sure it will be fine, but if you leave a battery in again… Shop is enough of a hazard
This is by far my favorite type of stuff from you, Adam. From the background, it looks like you need to find a hammer storage solution soon. I'm in the same boat with about 15 hammers, so sensitive to the subject.
I have no need to find a solution for storing my hammers: I only have one. But I would still love to see a "shop infrastructure build to store hammers" video! 👍
Here's an idea... mount the battery adaptor on the side such that when the battery is inserted, you can't hang it back on its hook. Then you'll always remember to remove the battery. Unless you forget to put the soldering station back where it belongs...
The sound design your editor is doing during the super speed sections is exquisite! Very underrated detail that makes these videos all the more enjoyable!
Getting within 0.030 in is impressive enough, but you were ACTUALLY within 0.015 of the center when you made the cut (since the difference between sides was 0.030 in). You never fail to amaze me! Thanks for the content!!!
Well calibrated eyes are a great thing to have. Growing up in and then working in traids for many years has calibrated my eyes. But after all these years, something has simple as perfectly halving a piece of bread still feels good.
The first build from Adam led me to purchase that model soldering iron which has been great for portable use, that being said the voltage range of that soldering iron is up to 24 volts, the dewalt battery is fully charged at 21 volts. if I were building something like this for myself i would open the battery adapter and remove the circuitry, go directly to the spring clips that make connection to the battery positive and negative, and wire in a lighted 24 volt toggle switch mounted up near the handle somewhere. The soldering iron also heats up faster at a higher voltage and has fast thermal recovery, it's probably not noticeable to some people but at 12 volts it takes about 40 seconds to reach 300C and at 24 volts it only takes about 11 seconds, that's enough incentive for me to use the highest voltage i can. Thanks Adam for everything you bring to the table, and all the parts chopped off when you're done.
1:22 Quess its already out there but you can revive/recover ”dead” DeWalt batteries. Voltage goes below certain level and charger won’t recognize it. Just boost it with other battery. Wire + to + and - to - for few moments and voila, now charger is charging
I was chuckling throughout at your mindless chattering and singing. I have done that since I was a kid, at the table doing homework, having a conversation with no one about nonsense. As a plumber, when I’m working (seemingly) alone, I’ll occasionally spark up a conversation with the pipes and tools. In short, love this channel.
I turned my buddy who works with trailer / automotive wiring all day on this idea. And he said to me the other day when doing my audio system how much this little tool has helped him in the last idk 2 years since i first showed him. We both have one, mine runs off Dewalt 20v, his makita, with a 3d printed adapter to power it up. even has a LED display for Amp and Volt readouts. Pretty neat to see at like 2 amps this thing goes from 300 degrees to 600 in like 3 seconds. And with a 5ah battery, i can literally solder for days on end. THANKS ADAM!
The original soldering station video was the one that really got me into this channel! This was a cathartic watch after so many years of learning. Also comforting to see that even the pros need to rebuild their work every once in awhile!
I remember you building v1 and felt the same but this v2 is proper! Well done! I love thee cnc tube touch, so nice! With you battery drain, you can just put a toggle switch on the + and - line.
I cannot stress how much I identify with Adam saying "I know how to complete a circuit and i know people who are experts, that's how I deal with electronics" It's also incredibly well timed as I'm having to bite the bullet and sort out my soldering situation and invest in a few bits! (Edit as i'm watching): Also the sacrificial chisel is a much, mines seen some action removing gearboxes, exhaust manifolds and more, just to break the seal
I'm always amazed at how the tools you have influence the way a DIYer thinks and how the projects evolve with every new tool. You make do with what you have and always improve when you get a new tool, like how you can use a piece of tubing, or you can machine a custom piece because you have a lathe. Watching this made me think about how i can do it without the tools Adam has, and problem solving is just as fun as building it. Adam said it best: it's a process, not a project :)
another one day build, another joyous day! i love watching you explain the design process and philosophy behind your shop infrastructure one of the most informative and wholesome parts of my day
I thought I had some criticism to offer but after you said " it needs to come over the top, like a roll of toilet paper", I was too proud of you to remember anything negative. Bravo.
I recently built a few portable soldering stations around the T12 soldering irons/stations. I started with a Quicko T12-942 station swapped the enclosure for a longer one and added a M18 battery adapter to the bottom. I also swapped the basic Hakko style pencil for the OSS T12-X one as it is more streamlined and has a much shorter tip to hand grip distance. To finish it off I made a really nice machine iron holder to mount on the side. AS it has a real power switch it will not run the battery down when it is off and the station has a settable low voltage cutoff which will prevent the battery from being over discharged in used. For storage and transportation I made a custom bent polycarbonate insert for a small bag to keep the station and all my accessories in perfect order. The final result is a compact kit that has everything needed for soldering, I couldn't be happier. With the largest tip (5.2mm chisel) it will solder a old school PL-259 and even lap splice up to 6 AWG with a bit of patience.
Hi Adam, for exactly that battery problem there is a custom firmware for the Ts100 that allows for setting automatic shut off at a certain input voltage. Check for TS100 Ralim
Don't think that'll work as iirc the adapter Adam's using supplies a constant 12v to the barrel jack. He'd have to get an adapter that directly connects to the battery. Maybe a good project for next year :p
I was going to suggest wiring in an LED so it was easy to spot when the battery had been left connected, or a physical switch, or cover both options with an illuminated switch, but the firmware sounds like it might be a simpler solution.
As a tool that holds the tools that help you make the things... this is great! I really enjoy how you engage in bettering not just your result but the various steps in the processes of your making and taking us along on that journey. Also interested in how you manage scraps and caul (to small to use too large to throw away) in the shop there... I semi-regularly have to cull my caul pile(s) and it's surprisingly hard!
really like that build adam it's a simple one but i like how you made a LOT better the second time it just goes to show that we have to try something, maybe fail but eventually well get to something pleasing. Thanks for sharing
Adam - save your pricey dewalt battery by adding a third helping hand but make it a USB powered LED light not a gripper: 1. Helps light up the soldering area 2. If you leave the battery on, it will be more visible when you go at night.
The open source PINECIL mini soldering iron is just like the TS100 clone you are using, but takes USB PD (power delivery) as an option to power it. You can use a Power Delivery power bank as the power source negating the requirement for a power tool battery and adapter, also any power bank will have a built in low voltage cutoff. Charges with USB too.
All power tool batteries should have low voltage cutoff. That’s an extremely basic protection feature. Edit: actually the ts100 is already designed to run off a battery pack. Set the low voltage limit in settings to 15v or higher (5 cells in series in 18v/20v power tool batteries at 3v per cell), so the ts100 doesn’t drain the battery below that level.
@Davadoff between the tool and associated battery there is low voltage protection, but most combinations actually put the cut-off in the tool, and one of the extra pins from the battery signals the shutdown. Since the tool already has full power switching in it, it is more cost and power efficient to use that switching that already exists, but it is not in the battery.
I love these types of videos. I love how over engineered everything is while still being practical. My only thought would be to use the spool as a hinge for the handle so that it’ll fold away and reveal the other tools.
I definitely felt that "freehand halfway" moment and then the double joy of eyeballing the difference. I get the same thrill when a guess is near perfect.
I love everything Adam does. Idea: Recess the container down into the empty space above the battery by cutting a hole so that the top of it sits flush with the platform its currently sitting on. It’ll be even more out of your way yet still accessible.
Hey Adam, The third hands / helping hands clamps look like "jewelry soldering third hand" or "welding third hand clamp", fairly easy to find in google image search with these search terms. Many versions are available, though most get quite pricey. An expensive version you can look for ist the GRS Third-Hand Attachment.
One thing, you might not want to wrap your solder around the tube that holds the iron. I'm not sure how warm that tube might get. It might be fine or it might melt the solder in the middle.
That's also something that came to my mind. If this is solder wire with a flux core this configuration will likely damage the flux core and make it less effective. Those tubes get hot enough to burn your fingers, but especially that high up it will probably not be enough to melt the wire, the evaporating flux might crack it though. Now that I think about it: I'm also a bit surprised at the complete lack of flux in Adam's setup. As Louis R. said: you can never have too much flux.
One of the things I like to do for projects like these is prototype one out of cardboard boxes and live with it for a while to see what works and what doesn't. Then finalize it out of the materials I want.
I love cardboard; glue together pieces if you need a stronger section, glues together like a charm. I make lots of little one-off projects out of cardboard that wind up never needing replacing.
i am an industrial maintenance tech in the US, we have a lot of foreign equipment, so i got a 6cm scale tattooed on the inside of my ring finger! its also useful during my foraging trips for identifying mushrooms and i breed and sell invertibrates so its a convenient way for me to convey scale of my critters.
Pass a tube through another flexy hose stack and then your solder wire dispenser could be placed and oriented in any position that might be useful for some reason. You could end the flexy hose in a nice aluminum tube or cone with a center hole. I woke up this morning thinking about making some sort of tool box for my soldering station. Never thought about making it rechargeable. It's awesome.
Adam dropping Young MC rhymes at 6:40 had me revisiting the classic track "Nonstop" - in which Young MC references both RoboCop and Ghostbusters... two franchises obviously beloved by Adam
I love your one day builds, especially when they are for your tools and storage. I especially like watching you problem solve as you go. It makes me try to think of ways or things I would tweak or change if I was building it and if it were me I would add something that could keep the soldering irons cable/lead neatly out of the way when not in use to stop it catching or getting in the way like a kind of hook or loop that it can be wrapped around or passed through etc. love how it makes my brain think thank you. 👍🏻💙
Adam, not sure if you only have dewalt, but in Milwaukee and ryobi batteries, the battery safety circuits are built in. They stop discharging when they reach critical levels. There are also cheap modules you can buy to insert in your circuit with a programmable low voltage cut off relay. Helpful when you don’t want to trash your batteries! Been there on my creations as well!
I just fot a starter soldering kit to modify my GBA, so this is fascinating! I never would have thought I could learn to tinker and do things like soldering without Adam 😂
Awesome build as always! One thing I have in my mobile soldering station is a pair of forceps that keep coming in handy when soldering in tight spots that I can’t get into with my helping hands. Not always ideal, but more often than not much better than pretty much anything else I have come up with so far.
I would love separate videos of Adam talking about tools, and comparing ones he's used to ones he's using right now. Pros/Cons kind of videos. All tools have there uses after all, no matter how short a life span. Even one time use ones.
I have picked up several tools you have shown on here, but by far, my most used has been the proxon dremels. I use them so much that i have bought 2 of the big bases, and 3 of the pencil dremels as well as 2 of the mini sanders. They are fantastic tools and have defenatly converted me from Dremel to Proxon.
I haven't looked at building a mobile soldering setup but I have been soldering more and more both at work and home, so I'll definitely need to build my own. One addition I might suggest would be to try and build a fan onto another arm to pull the fumes away as you work, possibly a computer fan powered by the battery.
That was such a great rebuild! The new version is very clearly an improvement over all the areas the original fell short. Also, your first order of retrieval methodology stood out in this video and has really inspired me to implement some of them based on how easy it was for you to find what you needed so quick. And I really have to invest in that Proxxon system!!!!!
Gerald Weinberg wrote a book called "Are your lights on?" to show how asking the right question can get people to make better decisions. His example was a mountain tunnel with a rest area at the end, where lots of service calls came from people not turning off their lights at the end of the tunnel and then parking for a while and draining their battery. A label on this with "Battery Installed?" might be a worthwhile addition.
One thing that I personally would absolutely add is a small fan with a little carbon filter at the back. Sucks all the smoke away. No more soldering fumes in the nose.
47:33 the soldering station resembles a bird! Excellent work as always Adam. You're an inspiration to many including me. Maybe I'll finally build my portable soldering station
Adam, those battery packs that it's been "killing" aren't necessarily trash. The BMS just won't allow them to be charged. Bypass the BMS and trickle charge the cells directly to bring them up to a voltage the BMS is happy with, and they will work again! I've saved several this way.
So nice. Press fit joints were so satisfying. I would’ve put the helping hands on the other side so you could easily access the soldering iron with your right hand while something was in the hands.
Not sure how I missed this video when it was originally released but I watched the original video and thought to make a soldering station for myself. Funny cuz just the other day I realized that I out grew it and needed to find a different solution which I did. I love making super custom holders and things such as this and I'm always inspired by your designs and ideas. :)
All the work taking it apart, you could just cut parts for a new one! Fun to just cobble things and come up with new useful things. I recently took and old led house light defuser from a dead lamp and formed a holder for in front of a flashlight. Used a plastic bottle to shrink a mating holder with a heat gun with the round defuser inside. fit snugly to the flashlight. When on it spreads the light making finding parts on the floor much easier. Fun and useful!
Tip for others attempting the same thing, some tool makers put the battery manager in the tool (Dewalt), while others put it in the battery (Ryobi), this is what makes the difference on whether a battery can be "drained until it destroys the battery" or not. Building something similar with Ryobi batteries, you don't need to worry that it will kill the battery completely (depending on the power adapter, it might still drain the battery if left plugged in, but at least it won't do damage to the battery if you forget).
Excellent build. The only change I would make is to put the helping hands on the other side (assuming you are right handed). That way when you're facing whatever is in the helping hands, you can pull out or put back the soldering iron without having to reach over the station.
Youll never lose a battery again!!! So actually, if you drain the battery, and won't charge, you can "jumpstart" the battery with a charged one! Saved me money over the years with my Snap-On batteries!
I hand sew handbags and earlier this year I made one for myself that as soon as it was finished, I was seeing all the things I should have done differently. I kept using it and every time I'd think about the things I would change if I remade it. Last month, I did just that, and my process was almost exactly the same as yours here. Taking it apart, deciding what to reuse, what to remove, etc. Although with noticeably less chisel and mallet action. 😂
attach the charging station to a foldable/hinged flap so that you would be forced to detach the battery to close it for storage. That way you will remove the battery before storing.
My pep peeve is something you mentioned. Wire an solder won’t cling together at times & lots of different compounds. It is Awesome to see spin heat welding at NASA A FRIEND DESTIN OF SMARTER EVERY DAY at you tube shared it I’m like 🤩 WOW
Yeah, I need to emulate this. I have pretty much the exact same setup but still no carrier for it. Just stuffed in a drawer that isn't convenient. This looks pretty fabulous!
Adding a feature that would only be used when storing the unit, such as a closing door or a cavity for the soldering iron or a spare parts drawer, that could not be used with the battery installed, would solve the issue of putting it away with the battery in it.
I would add a buzzer (powered from the main battery) to the hook that attaches it to the electronics cart. If you unplug the battery before putting it back it's silent, forget the battery and *BUZZZZ* there is your instant reminder you forgot the battery.
I've found that a pair of needle nose pliers, plus a set of diagonal cutters, are essential tools to have handy while soldering. You might want to add storage for such pliers to your soldering station.
The original was a top three favorite build from you, so much so that I immediately built one for myself! So glad you found the helping hand clips, a great alternative for people that want to find something quick and cheap are the Harbor Freight helping hands. They are super easy to modify and for 4ish bucks, you can't beat them!
My favorite one day build of all time. It's a really good example of always keeping your tools sharp and I learned lots of lessons I can apply to my craft of software engineering. I am delighted to watch this rebuild.
Adam's original build of his soldering station: ruclips.net/video/8uGS11yuVyo/видео.html
USB Soldering Iron: amzn.to/2T1wmxk
Power Probe MT Micro Torch: amzn.to/30rgplV
Wire Nuts: amzn.to/3840vAw
Helping Hands Work Clip: amzn.to/3hrBB8n (Adam found them!)
Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Tools: amzn.to/30ka77C
Brass Sponge (for the soldering tip): amzn.to/2u2NEjb
Wire Strippers: amzn.to/364gRaM
Rubber Feet: amzn.to/2tYPpOF
Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here.
Have you ever considered taking apart one of the DeWalt batteries that are bad to see what went wrong. It be interesting to watch
What is the nasa stickered glue bottle thing
those clamps are part of a spring clamp workholder from mcmaster carr. not sure if you can get just the clamps though. keep being you Adam :)
Did you review the original making of episode to see how it was put together or just dive in with the hammer and chisel?
My only concern is how close a soldering iron is to the can of butane. I’m sure it will be fine, but if you leave a battery in again… Shop is enough of a hazard
So elegant
This is by far my favorite type of stuff from you, Adam. From the background, it looks like you need to find a hammer storage solution soon. I'm in the same boat with about 15 hammers, so sensitive to the subject.
reminds me of the video "another brick in the wall"
I have no need to find a solution for storing my hammers: I only have one. But I would still love to see a "shop infrastructure build to store hammers" video! 👍
Every tool is a hammer...
the sacrificial chisel yesssss, i lost mine and it has caused bare annoyance
@@zrodger2296 even my wife has three. How will you ever earn your "Tools for Tools' sake" badge?
I enjoyed this journey
Nice to hear a snippet of 'Admiral Halsey' at 34:30. McCartney's always good for a bit of problem-solving.
The amount of precise pressfits in this build is another level of satisfying - that handle being able to carry the weight!
Love the fact that the whistles were completely understandable part of the description
If painted black it would look like one of these New Hope droids that would crawl throuh the Death Star's hallways.
Simply wonderful.
Rethinking and reevaluating our stuff, so that it fits our lives and needs better, is the way.
Hey Adam, I recently came across a video showing how to save and recharge the 20v batteries using a charged battery. It is SO flippin' easy!!!
Here's an idea... mount the battery adaptor on the side such that when the battery is inserted, you can't hang it back on its hook. Then you'll always remember to remove the battery. Unless you forget to put the soldering station back where it belongs...
The sound design your editor is doing during the super speed sections is exquisite! Very underrated detail that makes these videos all the more enjoyable!
Getting within 0.030 in is impressive enough, but you were ACTUALLY within 0.015 of the center when you made the cut (since the difference between sides was 0.030 in). You never fail to amaze me! Thanks for the content!!!
Carpenters would be impressed with the 1/64” accuracy. My tape measures had 32nd markings.
adams built in sound effects are always some of the best parts of the videos
Well calibrated eyes are a great thing to have. Growing up in and then working in traids for many years has calibrated my eyes. But after all these years, something has simple as perfectly halving a piece of bread still feels good.
Everytime I see those darn helping hands I just get frivolous with the feeling of defeat not finding them! Thanks so much for a link!
Hey neato, 33:16 is the same camera angle I always use when I film my drill press. Nice.
The first build from Adam led me to purchase that model soldering iron which has been great for portable use, that being said the voltage range of that soldering iron is up to 24 volts, the dewalt battery is fully charged at 21 volts. if I were building something like this for myself i would open the battery adapter and remove the circuitry, go directly to the spring clips that make connection to the battery positive and negative, and wire in a lighted 24 volt toggle switch mounted up near the handle somewhere.
The soldering iron also heats up faster at a higher voltage and has fast thermal recovery, it's probably not noticeable to some people but at 12 volts it takes about 40 seconds to reach 300C and at 24 volts it only takes about 11 seconds, that's enough incentive for me to use the highest voltage i can.
Thanks Adam for everything you bring to the table, and all the parts chopped off when you're done.
1:22 Quess its already out there but you can revive/recover ”dead” DeWalt batteries. Voltage goes below certain level and charger won’t recognize it. Just boost it with other battery. Wire + to + and - to - for few moments and voila, now charger is charging
I was chuckling throughout at your mindless chattering and singing. I have done that since I was a kid, at the table doing homework, having a conversation with no one about nonsense. As a plumber, when I’m working (seemingly) alone, I’ll occasionally spark up a conversation with the pipes and tools.
In short, love this channel.
Take a look at the Omnifixo magnetic helping hands. I got to try some a friend has, and I now have a set on order.
I turned my buddy who works with trailer / automotive wiring all day on this idea. And he said to me the other day when doing my audio system how much this little tool has helped him in the last idk 2 years since i first showed him. We both have one, mine runs off Dewalt 20v, his makita, with a 3d printed adapter to power it up. even has a LED display for Amp and Volt readouts. Pretty neat to see at like 2 amps this thing goes from 300 degrees to 600 in like 3 seconds. And with a 5ah battery, i can literally solder for days on end. THANKS ADAM!
The original soldering station video was the one that really got me into this channel! This was a cathartic watch after so many years of learning. Also comforting to see that even the pros need to rebuild their work every once in awhile!
The original build has been my favorite video of yours since you posted it. It has now been surpassed. Love this.
I built my own inspired by yours. I love it. Now you got me thinking about improvements.
Oh don't! Me too but I'm minus the woodworking tools ;)
That sequence at 17:50 is the Adam equivalent of the DVD logo hitting the exact corner of the screen
I was kinda surprised you didn't paint, stain, seal, or something the new build. Really fun to watch your thought process as always. Thanks Adam!
I remember you building v1 and felt the same but this v2 is proper! Well done! I love thee cnc tube touch, so nice!
With you battery drain, you can just put a toggle switch on the + and - line.
Sorry what I mean is + OR - line... But assume people knew what I meant :)
@@JLneonhug could toggle both + & - off just to be sure cuz redundancy is fun
Best content - ever.
Thanks for just being you Adam, If you are ever in Australia again, I will do my best to meet you!
I cannot stress how much I identify with Adam saying "I know how to complete a circuit and i know people who are experts, that's how I deal with electronics"
It's also incredibly well timed as I'm having to bite the bullet and sort out my soldering situation and invest in a few bits!
(Edit as i'm watching): Also the sacrificial chisel is a much, mines seen some action removing gearboxes, exhaust manifolds and more, just to break the seal
My god have I been watching tested long enough to see this be rebuilt?
I know I have been
I'm always amazed at how the tools you have influence the way a DIYer thinks and how the projects evolve with every new tool. You make do with what you have and always improve when you get a new tool, like how you can use a piece of tubing, or you can machine a custom piece because you have a lathe. Watching this made me think about how i can do it without the tools Adam has, and problem solving is just as fun as building it. Adam said it best: it's a process, not a project :)
Can we all agree that Adams workshop is the perfect makers workshop.
another one day build, another joyous day! i love watching you explain the design process and philosophy behind your shop infrastructure one of the most informative and wholesome parts of my day
I thought I had some criticism to offer but after you said " it needs to come over the top, like a roll of toilet paper", I was too proud of you to remember anything negative. Bravo.
I recently built a few portable soldering stations around the T12 soldering irons/stations. I started with a Quicko T12-942 station swapped the enclosure for a longer one and added a M18 battery adapter to the bottom. I also swapped the basic Hakko style pencil for the OSS T12-X one as it is more streamlined and has a much shorter tip to hand grip distance. To finish it off I made a really nice machine iron holder to mount on the side. AS it has a real power switch it will not run the battery down when it is off and the station has a settable low voltage cutoff which will prevent the battery from being over discharged in used.
For storage and transportation I made a custom bent polycarbonate insert for a small bag to keep the station and all my accessories in perfect order. The final result is a compact kit that has everything needed for soldering, I couldn't be happier. With the largest tip (5.2mm chisel) it will solder a old school PL-259 and even lap splice up to 6 AWG with a bit of patience.
I just realised I can't hear "scrapwood" without singing "scrapwood challenge, scrapwood challenge" in my head. Thank you, Pask Makes.
Hi Adam, for exactly that battery problem there is a custom firmware for the Ts100 that allows for setting automatic shut off at a certain input voltage. Check for TS100 Ralim
Don't think that'll work as iirc the adapter Adam's using supplies a constant 12v to the barrel jack. He'd have to get an adapter that directly connects to the battery. Maybe a good project for next year :p
I was going to suggest wiring in an LED so it was easy to spot when the battery had been left connected, or a physical switch, or cover both options with an illuminated switch, but the firmware sounds like it might be a simpler solution.
@@gillesbaudeweyns6802 maybe bust open the battery to usb adapter and wire in a switch
The portable soldering station 1.0 gave me the "ghost trap" vibe 😜
Lmao 🤣
Googling GRS brand soldering aid, GRS third hand or third hand jewelry (Brings up aliexpress versions) will bring up that style helping hand
Absolutely love content like this. Watching you going through problem solving and come out with a very impressive solution is beyond enjoyable.
As a tool that holds the tools that help you make the things... this is great! I really enjoy how you engage in bettering not just your result but the various steps in the processes of your making and taking us along on that journey. Also interested in how you manage scraps and caul (to small to use too large to throw away) in the shop there... I semi-regularly have to cull my caul pile(s) and it's surprisingly hard!
I love that the "hot Forstner bit on wood action" the camera was moved for was obscured by an elbow!🤣
same
really like that build adam it's a simple one but i like how you made a LOT better the second time it just goes to show that we have to try something, maybe fail but eventually well get to something pleasing. Thanks for sharing
Adam, you were only off by .015! The difference between the halves was .030, but the cut itself was only off .015! That's so cool!
Adam - save your pricey dewalt battery by adding a third helping hand but make it a USB powered LED light not a gripper:
1. Helps light up the soldering area
2. If you leave the battery on, it will be more visible when you go at night.
The open source PINECIL mini soldering iron is just like the TS100 clone you are using, but takes USB PD (power delivery) as an option to power it. You can use a Power Delivery power bank as the power source negating the requirement for a power tool battery and adapter, also any power bank will have a built in low voltage cutoff. Charges with USB too.
Or the TS-80P, i only use it with a powerbank
Dewalt just released a battery adapter with USB PD. That and a pinecil is my current soldering solution and it’s a absolute dream come true.
All power tool batteries should have low voltage cutoff. That’s an extremely basic protection feature.
Edit: actually the ts100 is already designed to run off a battery pack. Set the low voltage limit in settings to 15v or higher (5 cells in series in 18v/20v power tool batteries at 3v per cell), so the ts100 doesn’t drain the battery below that level.
@Davadoff between the tool and associated battery there is low voltage protection, but most combinations actually put the cut-off in the tool, and one of the extra pins from the battery signals the shutdown. Since the tool already has full power switching in it, it is more cost and power efficient to use that switching that already exists, but it is not in the battery.
He has a Pinecil there as well. You can see it on the bench at 2:00
I love these types of videos. I love how over engineered everything is while still being practical. My only thought would be to use the spool as a hinge for the handle so that it’ll fold away and reveal the other tools.
I definitely felt that "freehand halfway" moment and then the double joy of eyeballing the difference. I get the same thrill when a guess is near perfect.
I love everything Adam does.
Idea: Recess the container down into the empty space above the battery by cutting a hole so that the top of it sits flush with the platform its currently sitting on. It’ll be even more out of your way yet still accessible.
Hey Adam,
The third hands / helping hands clamps look like "jewelry soldering third hand" or "welding third hand clamp", fairly easy to find in google image search with these search terms.
Many versions are available, though most get quite pricey. An expensive version you can look for ist the GRS Third-Hand Attachment.
Dude, Adam whistles like a champ, I'm envious
One thing, you might not want to wrap your solder around the tube that holds the iron. I'm not sure how warm that tube might get. It might be fine or it might melt the solder in the middle.
That's also something that came to my mind. If this is solder wire with a flux core this configuration will likely damage the flux core and make it less effective. Those tubes get hot enough to burn your fingers, but especially that high up it will probably not be enough to melt the wire, the evaporating flux might crack it though.
Now that I think about it: I'm also a bit surprised at the complete lack of flux in Adam's setup. As Louis R. said: you can never have too much flux.
@@KonradTheWizzard a fan of board repair i see
@@KonradTheWizzard Louis R. sells flux; of course he says you can never have too much.
One of the things I like to do for projects like these is prototype one out of cardboard boxes and live with it for a while to see what works and what doesn't. Then finalize it out of the materials I want.
I love cardboard; glue together pieces if you need a stronger section, glues together like a charm. I make lots of little one-off projects out of cardboard that wind up never needing replacing.
@@gl15col i made lightweight shelves for a travel trailer like that.
Milwaukee m12 soldering iron. It is a 12v cordless soldering iron. Use one all the time. One of the best tools I have ever bought.
i am an industrial maintenance tech in the US, we have a lot of foreign equipment, so i got a 6cm scale tattooed on the inside of my ring finger!
its also useful during my foraging trips for identifying mushrooms and i breed and sell invertibrates so its a convenient way for me to convey scale of my critters.
Pass a tube through another flexy hose stack and then your solder wire dispenser could be placed and oriented in any position that might be useful for some reason. You could end the flexy hose in a nice aluminum tube or cone with a center hole. I woke up this morning thinking about making some sort of tool box for my soldering station. Never thought about making it rechargeable. It's awesome.
Adam dropping Young MC rhymes at 6:40 had me revisiting the classic track "Nonstop" - in which Young MC references both RoboCop and Ghostbusters... two franchises obviously beloved by Adam
Love watching the self talk through the process. I also talk myself through projects.
The amount of vicarious pleasure that I derived from this is astonishing.
Your drill has the same alarm sound that I never wanted my refrigerator to have
I love your one day builds, especially when they are for your tools and storage. I especially like watching you problem solve as you go. It makes me try to think of ways or things I would tweak or change if I was building it and if it were me I would add something that could keep the soldering irons cable/lead neatly out of the way when not in use to stop it catching or getting in the way like a kind of hook or loop that it can be wrapped around or passed through etc. love how it makes my brain think thank you. 👍🏻💙
Adam, not sure if you only have dewalt, but in Milwaukee and ryobi batteries, the battery safety circuits are built in. They stop discharging when they reach critical levels. There are also cheap modules you can buy to insert in your circuit with a programmable low voltage cut off relay. Helpful when you don’t want to trash your batteries! Been there on my creations as well!
I just fot a starter soldering kit to modify my GBA, so this is fascinating! I never would have thought I could learn to tinker and do things like soldering without Adam 😂
Awesome build as always! One thing I have in my mobile soldering station is a pair of forceps that keep coming in handy when soldering in tight spots that I can’t get into with my helping hands. Not always ideal, but more often than not much better than pretty much anything else I have come up with so far.
Such an improvement Adam! It is now an object with a personality. It didn’t have that quality before. Well done!
I would love separate videos of Adam talking about tools, and comparing ones he's used to ones he's using right now. Pros/Cons kind of videos. All tools have there uses after all, no matter how short a life span. Even one time use ones.
"It can come up and over like a roll of toilet paper"
I'm glad to see Adam understands the correct way to hang toilet paper.
I have picked up several tools you have shown on here, but by far, my most used has been the proxon dremels. I use them so much that i have bought 2 of the big bases, and 3 of the pencil dremels as well as 2 of the mini sanders. They are fantastic tools and have defenatly converted me from Dremel to Proxon.
I haven't looked at building a mobile soldering setup but I have been soldering more and more both at work and home, so I'll definitely need to build my own.
One addition I might suggest would be to try and build a fan onto another arm to pull the fumes away as you work, possibly a computer fan powered by the battery.
Bliss, absolute bliss. Loved the original build, really looking forward to this.
Loved the first build. Excited for this one
That was such a great rebuild! The new version is very clearly an improvement over all the areas the original fell short.
Also, your first order of retrieval methodology stood out in this video and has really inspired me to implement some of them based on how easy it was for you to find what you needed so quick. And I really have to invest in that Proxxon system!!!!!
Gerald Weinberg wrote a book called "Are your lights on?" to show how asking the right question can get people to make better decisions. His example was a mountain tunnel with a rest area at the end, where lots of service calls came from people not turning off their lights at the end of the tunnel and then parking for a while and draining their battery. A label on this with "Battery Installed?" might be a worthwhile addition.
One thing that I personally would absolutely add is a small fan with a little carbon filter at the back. Sucks all the smoke away. No more soldering fumes in the nose.
Loved the original build as well. I use mapp gas a ton so I have augmented my build based off of you original design to accommodate it
47:33 the soldering station resembles a bird!
Excellent work as always Adam. You're an inspiration to many including me. Maybe I'll finally build my portable soldering station
Adam, those battery packs that it's been "killing" aren't necessarily trash. The BMS just won't allow them to be charged. Bypass the BMS and trickle charge the cells directly to bring them up to a voltage the BMS is happy with, and they will work again! I've saved several this way.
So nice. Press fit joints were so satisfying.
I would’ve put the helping hands on the other side so you could easily access the soldering iron with your right hand while something was in the hands.
These kind of one day builds are like meditation.
Not sure how I missed this video when it was originally released but I watched the original video and thought to make a soldering station for myself. Funny cuz just the other day I realized that I out grew it and needed to find a different solution which I did. I love making super custom holders and things such as this and I'm always inspired by your designs and ideas. :)
All the work taking it apart, you could just cut parts for a new one! Fun to just cobble things and come up with new useful things. I recently took and old led house light defuser from a dead lamp and formed a holder for in front of a flashlight. Used a plastic bottle to shrink a mating holder with a heat gun with the round defuser inside. fit snugly to the flashlight. When on it spreads the light making finding parts on the floor much easier. Fun and useful!
Tip for others attempting the same thing, some tool makers put the battery manager in the tool (Dewalt), while others put it in the battery (Ryobi), this is what makes the difference on whether a battery can be "drained until it destroys the battery" or not. Building something similar with Ryobi batteries, you don't need to worry that it will kill the battery completely (depending on the power adapter, it might still drain the battery if left plugged in, but at least it won't do damage to the battery if you forget).
Excellent build. The only change I would make is to put the helping hands on the other side (assuming you are right handed). That way when you're facing whatever is in the helping hands, you can pull out or put back the soldering iron without having to reach over the station.
Glue brushes.. a nice new topic for this channel ( and other users ) and helping the environment. What is wrong with washing a brush?
Youll never lose a battery again!!! So actually, if you drain the battery, and won't charge, you can "jumpstart" the battery with a charged one! Saved me money over the years with my Snap-On batteries!
I hand sew handbags and earlier this year I made one for myself that as soon as it was finished, I was seeing all the things I should have done differently. I kept using it and every time I'd think about the things I would change if I remade it. Last month, I did just that, and my process was almost exactly the same as yours here. Taking it apart, deciding what to reuse, what to remove, etc. Although with noticeably less chisel and mallet action. 😂
This 70's TV detective music is fire!!!!
attach the charging station to a foldable/hinged flap so that you would be forced to detach the battery to close it for storage. That way you will remove the battery before storing.
My pep peeve is something you mentioned. Wire an solder won’t cling together at times & lots of different compounds. It is Awesome to see spin heat welding at NASA
A FRIEND DESTIN OF SMARTER EVERY DAY at you tube shared it
I’m like 🤩 WOW
Add a small blade you can cut the solder with? A place to sit the battery when it’s not plugged in, a small platform on the side maybe? Great project!
Yeah, I need to emulate this. I have pretty much the exact same setup but still no carrier for it. Just stuffed in a drawer that isn't convenient. This looks pretty fabulous!
I love how Adam will eyeball a cut better than I will ever make after measuring twice.
Adding a feature that would only be used when storing the unit, such as a closing door or a cavity for the soldering iron or a spare parts drawer, that could not be used with the battery installed, would solve the issue of putting it away with the battery in it.
I would add a buzzer (powered from the main battery) to the hook that attaches it to the electronics cart. If you unplug the battery before putting it back it's silent, forget the battery and *BUZZZZ* there is your instant reminder you forgot the battery.
I've found that a pair of needle nose pliers, plus a set of diagonal cutters, are essential tools to have handy while soldering. You might want to add storage for such pliers to your soldering station.
I just watched this all over again a few days ago, and now he's redoing it 🤣
I love the pinecil soldering iron. I use it all the time with the chisel tip.
The original was a top three favorite build from you, so much so that I immediately built one for myself! So glad you found the helping hand clips, a great alternative for people that want to find something quick and cheap are the Harbor Freight helping hands. They are super easy to modify and for 4ish bucks, you can't beat them!
I don't know when I picked it up but I've been addicted to tinning blocks. I probably got it at Quements lol. Cleans the tip very well for me.
My favorite one day build of all time. It's a really good example of always keeping your tools sharp and I learned lots of lessons I can apply to my craft of software engineering. I am delighted to watch this rebuild.
Thank you for the kind comment -- we'll pass along to Adam!