@TomKeddie’s solder paste dispenser made SMD so easy and quick ( See Bus Pirate 3.6 Build ) when compared to hand soldering that I want to get a permanent one for the space. The total cost, estimated at ~$140 CDN after shipping/taxes/exchange/etc., is too much for me to do on my own.
If you are interested in donating funds towards the purchase, please reply ( or if you want to stay anonymous, you can PM me).
I’m in for $30
Thanks!
Stretch Goals:
funds for a reflow toaster oven dedicated to the space
funds for a compressed air storage system so the compressor does not have to be run during busy times
I might be heading to China in June/July and thus able to buy one there. Sorry I can’t donate mine, I’m doing larger board runs all the time and it speed things up as you can see.
Keep in mind that to use this you need to have the air compressor hooked up. This means it needs to be powered up and it makes a fair bit of noise. It also needs to be disconnected and drained after use. Not saying this isn’t a great idea but using it is not just a matter of plugging it into the outlet.
I have a used toaster I can donate to the cause. We would need other components such as a temperature controller/timer combo, thermocouples, insulation, etc. All of it is available in the form of a kit. @packetbob bought a kit for his oven, Bob where did you get yours and how do you like it compared to others you might have considered?
There was a toaster at the bunker labelled for the purpose it might have been dumped. Honestly, things that have been used for food are not great things to have at the space. I bought mine new for under $US25, it’s a lot cleaner.
The VHS toaster labelled NOT FOR FOOD is on the top shelf, above the
soldering stations / where the Zip Tie bin is.
I haven’t ever seen it actually used, so it would be nice if someone pulled
it out and either assessed the viability of hacking it, or made a case as
to why it is unsuitable and three-week-bin-worthy.