And the scary job of the day was...

"SpamTrapSeeSig" wrote:-

I've had one of those for quite a while, perfect for soldering nipples on
cables.

Martin

 

Indeed it does. I've had a succession of gas soldering irons, but even
they're not big enough for things like earth straps & jump leads*, and
it's just right for them (the plumbing blowlamp is really too big).

Regards,

Simonm.

*probably anally retentive, but I've done it ever since I had a set that warmed
up at the cable-to-croc-clip joint when used. The trick is stopping the solder
from wicking along the cable too much, ditto earth straps.

 

A brief flash of utter rage is normal when biffed on the nose, but you
should have kept the impact driver and learned how to use it properly.
An assistant is invaluable in this instance - position them just right
and they get biffed on the nose, not you.

 

ah, yes, that was the other problem, shite-grade screws wherein the head
just isn't strong enough.

 

Mind, if you have a decent driver of the right pattern and size, they work
OK.

Used to have no end of trouble undoing screws on Japanese cash registers,
which were put in with loctite. They were phirrips #2. The boss kept
breaking screwdrivers on them. sometime I looked at the problem: #1 pozi
driver...

bought a decent #2 phillips, which actually fitted the slots, and they came
undone no trouble, nor did it break.

 

For some perverse reason, plasterboard "drywall" screws seem to be
Philips ("Phllips"? had always assumed 'twas the Dutch company). The
last lot I bought came with a screwdriver bit in the box, which lasted a
negative amount of time. Pozi don't seem to suffer the same fate,
although I do use diamond bits, which are the dog's and worth every
penny compared to trying to get cross-less screws out...

Regards,

Simonm.

 

I think that's why mine so rerely gets used, too.

That and the fact that the bikes I buy aren't *quite* so shite these
days.

 

*Envy*

 

I got one from Maplins. Very useful and neat little thing with a
soldering head and a flame head.

 

I've had several ...

What I use a lot is my old brace, which naturally takes hex screwdriver
bits, and it is possible, with leaning on it, to exert a phenomenal
torque. And it does not slip. It can't.

 

I got something very similar from B&Q, one of my fav little tools. Not
just an excellent gas soldering iron but the side vent is perfect for
tightening up shrinkwrap

 

Ah shrinkwrap. yes. Thanx good idea.

 

What a good idea, thanks. Not that I've got an old brace - but a raid
on the aged P's shed will remedy that.

 

I suppose I'd better warn that it is a terrifically good way of breaking
screws!

 

I can do that with the mains leccy drill. put too much power in and you can
shear the heads off.