Mailbag Monday 162

It's Monday again, and I can't let feeling a bit under the weather stop me from opening the mail.

Links:

100X Dental Micro Brush Disposable Materials Tooth Applicators Medium 2.0mm

5Pcs USB 3.1 Type C Male DIY Solder Plug Connector Socket Attached PC Board-f5

RP2040-Zero RP2040 for Raspberry Pi Microcontroller PICO Development Board Module Dual-core Cortex M0+ Processor 2MB Flash

15g 1Pc Solid Rosin Welding Soldering Flux High-purity Repair Durability

About that homemade flux idea:

-----

If you are OK with me getting a commission on your purchases, feel free to use my affiliate links:

Some other links to products may be affiliate links

#ElectronicsCreators
-----
This isn't the only way to do it.
It's probably not the best way to do it.
But it's how I did it.

[matambale]

Well you can certainly check off "need USB-C cables" from the list, wow. That was hilarious, and a thoughtful gift. Get well soon, Mr. O'Stuff.

[jazbell]

You could use those little brushes to transfer some resin to a contact to be soldered.

[anotherledfreak]

While under the weather you can laugh 😂 You'll be as right as rain in no time.

[johntickle]

Made diy flux from rosin. I use it in the crystal loose form. I think you have the same in that box. I crush some between 2 teaspoons till fine powder. and disolve in isopropyl alcohol 90/100 %. You make it so it flows from a syringe nicely. I make it in old plastic pill bottles lasts forever. Residue can be quite sticky but is easily cleans off with alcohol. after soldering. I bought 1/2 kilo of the stuff for cheap I think it was pine rosin but not sure smells like pine or eucalyptus or something. I will never run out of flux for at least 50 years LoL. Oh do not use with leadfree solder it tends to burn. Thanks for your video and helping my pilesofstuff collection.😎😎

[twinsen]

I used to coat DIY PCBs with rosin dissolved in alcohol. It makes pads solder easier and protects the rest of the board from oxidation.

[SinKillerJ]

Some viewer was clearly like, oh, you can't find a USB cable? Hold my beer. What a legend.

[thrnwggrs]

Those usb c boards usually use only one resistor for both cc1 and cc2 pins. This can become a problem when inserting a proper PD charger, as they might get powered in only one orientation..

[frankowalker]

Davey Tech has a great video on how to make flux. I made some myself, it works really well.

That's a lot of cables. LOL.

[markusallport]

Love the abundance of cables. Hope you feel better soon.

[retireeelectronics]

Tried the Resin with isoproponal works fine. Dirt cheap way of making flux and you can vary the concentration.

[notsurt]

Dipping the soldering iron right into the solid rosin works, but because it is solid rosin the excess goes rock hard once it's cooled on the PCB and is a real pain to clean off.

[bloodyl_uk]

Oh lawl, 10 x 1m charging cable, why that's 10m of cable, more than enough for your needs!

[greggsvintageworkshop]

Hope you feel better soon. I could tell by your voice and the liquid in the cup that you are under the weather. Even before you mentioned it!

[onecircuit-as]

I’d be very interested in the fluxology experience! Get well soon Mr Stuff. 😀👍

[gerufish]

I use the micro brushes to apply flux to solder pads.

[tonysheerness]

Hot lemon, you need a splash of white rum in it. A hot toddy,

[Steve_Coates]

The rosin idea does work, I use 15-1 IPA to rosin by weight for an eyedropper mix and 25-1 for needle bottle and drag soldering. I don't know the chemistry of it but it seems to work much better after a few weeks aging. I find it's particularly good for working on old oxidised boards possibly as it sits there longer rather than evaporating instantly

[SidneyCritic]

I tried the rosin block and IPA years ago, and it didn't go well - lol -.

[MiguelDeMarchena]

You can collect and use natural pine rosin to make your own flux and/or solder paste, the advantage is that is neutral non active so no corrosion and the fumes are not so toxic, just use isopropyl alcohol until you get the desired texture

[dwagner]

You should do a video on painting models (or something else train/model related)!