Is my amp dead for good?

[byacey]

When the phone rings, a qualified tech rarely answers the soldering iron...

When I was a kid, I had a hand-me-down 45W iron, without a stand. Because of the weight of the cord, it flipped around on me while resting on the table. When I grabbed the wrong end, it was a definite eye opener, and a good lesson never forgotten or repeated.

 

[beans-on-toast]

That reminds me, I don’t remember that there were proper soldering iron stands when I was a kid. Irons looked like the one below, a step above putting an iron in the fire. Stands like the type used today were such a simple invention and yet very useful.

I once had an iron fall off the bench and take a nose dive into my leg. That smarted and left a scar that I still have.

 

[byacey]

That reminds me, I don’t remember that there were proper soldering iron stands when I was a kid. Irons looked like the one below, a step above putting an iron in the fire. Stands like used today were such a simple invention and yet very useful.

I once had an iron fall off the bench and take a nose dive into my leg. That smarted and left a scar that I still have.

View attachment 2868294

My dad took an electronics correspondence course when he was a teenager from the National Radio Institute, if I recall correctly. As part of the course, they sent him out a soldering iron exactly like that. It's comical to think about using such an iron for PCB work nowadays, but for 1950's tube gear, it fit the need.

 

[packrat]

My dad took an electronics correspondence course when he was a teenager from the National Radio Institute, if I recall correctly. As part of the course, they sent him out a soldering iron exactly like that. It's comical to think about using such an iron for PCB work nowadays, but for 1950's tube gear, it fit the need.

That’s right. These days we use toaster overs and frypans.

B>

 

[mcnach]

When I was a kid, I had a hand-me-down 45W iron, without a stand. Because of the weight of the cord, it flipped around on me while resting on the table. When I grabbed the wrong end, it was a definite eye opener, and a good lesson never forgotten or repeated.

ha! same here... it was a few years before I had a nice soldering station, but that incident made me be very methodical about having a good stable resting place for the iron, and the table free of clutter.

Ugh... I can still feel it... The odd sensation when you realise something is wrong but it's just 'uncomfortable' and not painful yet... then it hits you... you drop it... and the pain gets stronger and stronger even if you're no longer touching it... And the smell of the carpet I just burnt.

 

[agedhorse]

I worked with a tech that used to work in light weight nylon type (parachute kind of material) shorts... cocky SOB who would not follow the rules and always skirting the borders of reasonable... until the day he dropped the soldering iron into his crotch while balancing an amp he was working on with his other hand. That soldering iron melted through those shorts in no time, hit his junk while he struggled to free himself from both the iron AND the amp. He fell backwards off his stool, amp AND soldering station came down on top of him and the iron continued to burn while he freed himself from the mess. He got pretty seriously hurt, had to go to the emergency room because in the end he got a concussion when he hit the floor, and got a nasty gash from the amp on top of him. Then there were the burns... they had to give him a local (with a needle) in order to remove the burned skin and melted nylon embedded you know where. He wasn't sure which of the injuries was the most serious but with out a doubt the melted nylon was the most painful.

 

[mcnach]

I worked with a tech that used to work in light weight nylon type (parachute kind of material) shorts... cocky SOB who would not follow the rules and always skirting the borders of reasonable... until the day he dropped the soldering iron into his crotch while balancing an amp he was working on with his other hand. That soldering iron melted through those shorts in no time, hit his junk while he struggled to free himself from both the iron AND the amp. He fell backwards off his stool, amp AND soldering station came down on top of him and the iron continued to burn while he freed himself from the mess. He got pretty seriously hurt, had to go to the emergency room because in the end he got a concussion when he hit the floor, and got a nasty gash from the amp on top of him. Then there were the burns... they had to give him a local (with a needle) in order to remove the burned skin and melted nylon embedded you know where. He wasn't sure which of the injuries was the most serious but with out a doubt the melted nylon was the most painful.

You put me in an uncomfortable position.
Part of my face wants to laugh, but mostly I am cringing and crossing my legs tightly. I think the hairs on my arms are trying to stand up too...

 

[CryingBass]

Don’t try this at home kids!

 

[agedhorse]

You put me in an uncomfortable position.
Part of my face wants to laugh, but mostly I am cringing and crossing my legs tightly. I think the hairs on my arms are trying to stand up too...

It was really messed up. If the guy hadn't been such a dick it wouldn't have been nearly as funny.

 

[Passinwind]

It was really messed up. If the guy hadn't been such a dick it wouldn't have been nearly as funny.

I hate when that happens.

 

[DrummerwStrings]

ubt the melted nylon was the most painful

Emergency Responder Pro Tip: if you're in a fire, or in a situation where there may be fire, take off any panty hose pronto.

 

[charlie monroe]

Emergency Responder Pro Tip: if you're in a fire, or in a situation where there may be fire, take off any panty hose pronto.

You can take my panty hose from my cold dead hands...

 

[BadExample]

I worked with a tech that used to work in light weight nylon type (parachute kind of material) shorts... cocky SOB who would not follow the rules and always skirting the borders of reasonable... until the day he dropped the soldering iron into his crotch while balancing an amp he was working on with his other hand. That soldering iron melted through those shorts in no time, hit his junk while he struggled to free himself from both the iron AND the amp. He fell backwards off his stool, amp AND soldering station came down on top of him and the iron continued to burn while he freed himself from the mess. He got pretty seriously hurt, had to go to the emergency room because in the end he got a concussion when he hit the floor, and got a nasty gash from the amp on top of him. Then there were the burns... they had to give him a local (with a needle) in order to remove the burned skin and melted nylon embedded you know where. He wasn't sure which of the injuries was the most serious but with out a doubt the melted nylon was the most painful.

Whoooooooo, I bet he walked like an overworked cowboy for a while.

 

[BassmanPaul]

I once had an iron fall off the bench and take a nose dive into my leg. That smarted and left a scar that I still have.

Clumsy bugger!!

Anyone who uses a soldering iron regularly ends up holding the wrong end every so often.

 

[byacey]

The Weller and Hako soldering stations pretty much minimize solder slingers grabbing the wrong end. It's easier to put the iron back in it's holder stand than to balance it on the bench

 

[beans-on-toast]

Modern irons are generally lighter weight and safer as a result.

I use a 100W iron with a large screwdriver tip for when I have to solder a can capacitor to a chassis, a Weller W100PG. Temperature is controlled by the tip, 600 degrees F, 700F, or 800F.

This is the tool of choice for people that do stained glass work.

 

[basscapes]

I worked with a tech that used to work in light weight nylon type (parachute kind of material) shorts... cocky SOB who would not follow the rules and always skirting the borders of reasonable... until the day he dropped the soldering iron into his crotch while balancing an amp he was working on with his other hand. That soldering iron melted through those shorts in no time, hit his junk while he struggled to free himself from both the iron AND the amp. He fell backwards off his stool, amp AND soldering station came down on top of him and the iron continued to burn while he freed himself from the mess. He got pretty seriously hurt, had to go to the emergency room because in the end he got a concussion when he hit the floor, and got a nasty gash from the amp on top of him. Then there were the burns... they had to give him a local (with a needle) in order to remove the burned skin and melted nylon embedded you know where. He wasn't sure which of the injuries was the most serious but with out a doubt the melted nylon was the most painful.

And it is for that very reason I to this day wear cargo pants, anti-stat jacket and steel-toed shoes/boots! As you know- always have a way out (fire exit), know where the lockout(s) are, and ALWAYS keep the Variac within arm's reach!

The clothing won't protect me very much if an iron is going through it, but at least it will buy me a few extra seconds I would not have had! Can't say how many times some gear/tool has landed on my shoes either! Glad to have a ten fingers and all ten toes still attached and functioning (as well as my junk!).

BTW, I feel for the guy, but I'm sure he had it coming, based on your description! Ouch!

 

[byacey]

And it is for that very reason I to this day wear cargo pants, anti-stat jacket and steel-toed shoes/boots! As you know- always have a way out (fire exit), know where the lockout(s) are, and ALWAYS keep the Variac within arm's reach!

The clothing won't protect me very much if an iron is going through it, but at least it will buy me a few extra seconds I would not have had! Can't say how many times some gear/tool has landed on my shoes either! Glad to have a ten fingers and all ten toes still attached and functioning (as well as my junk!).

BTW, I feel for the guy, but I'm sure he had it coming, based on your description! Ouch!

Plain old denim blue jeans are good work pants; solder spatter won't melt through them, the material is heavy enough to offer some protection against falling tools, and even a hot iron for short durations.

In fact, in a pinch I've even cleaned my iron tip on the bottom of my pants cuff.

 

[basscapes]

Plain old denim blue jeans are good work pants; solder spatter won't melt through them, the material is heavy enough to offer some protection against falling tools, and even a hot iron for short durations.

In fact, in a pinch I've even cleaned my iron tip on the bottom of my pants cuff.

Done that too (used jeans to clean the iron)! I've got these weird cargo work pants from Mark's Work Warehouse (a great Canadian supply store!), that look like a cross between something a security guard and an EMT would wear! I swear, I've dropped solder on them and they just don't melt! Spilled JP-8 (jet fuel- NASTY STUFF) on them too. Still surviving! One pair, even after many washes, still has solder imbedded in the fabric (irony to the O.P., it's right on the crotch, just below the zipper! LOL)...

 

[abarson]

The Derail-O-Meter is off the charts for this thread!