I have got the idea, too. Unfortunately, all the pumps are available here must be submersed into water for lubricating purposes - at least, the salesman told me. Any workabout? Regards, Imre On Fri, 31 Jan 2003, PicDude wrote: > Yep -- the $15 is no problem, just that I was looking for a way to slow down > and especially *control* the airflow. But I found out that there are small > aquarium valves available that would let me control the airflow anyway. So > air pump it is. > > Cheers, > -Neil. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: pic microcontroller discussion list > > [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of llile@SALTONUSA.COM > > Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 11:36 AM > > To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > > Subject: Re: [EE]: SMT soldering > > > > > > Axial fans have lousy pressure capability. THey are good at moving large > > volumes through low pressures. All that tubing represents a major > > pressure drop. You will get no measureable airflow with an axial fan, no > > matter how tightly you seal it up. Cough up $15 for an aquarium pump. > > > > -- Lawrence Lile > > Who used to design HVAC systems in a former life > > > > > > > > > > PicDude > > Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list > > 01/30/2003 05:53 PM > > Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list > > > > > > To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > > cc: > > Subject: Re: [EE]: SMT soldering > > > > > > So I'm thinking -- how about mounting a PC fan in a > > small plastic box (like a hobby electronic project > > enclosure), and running the tubing from there. The > > airflow can then be controlled by varying the > > voltage to the fan, and we wouldn't have to futz > > with the steel-wool etc. > > > > Cheers, > > -Neil. > > > > > > Johnathan Corgan scribbled: > > > > > > I've recently tried this with (very) limited success. The comment the > > > article makes about being sensitive to airflow is true; I've tried a > > > variety of flow "restrictors" (minced desoldering wick, steel wool, > > > etc.) and I still either get lots of cold (well, not hot enough) air, or > > > so little air that it can't heat up anything (except the tip of my > > > finger, ouch :) It's been able to melt bare solder placed directly in > > > front of the airflow, but not solder or solder paste applied to a > > > board/component. Still tinkering. > > > > > > A couple of things learned along the way--the air inlet tube is slightly > > > too big for standard aquarium pump tubing, so you have to go up a > > > size. Also, the tubing gets a little soft when heated so you have to be > > > careful not to jostle it or it will literally rip (I put on a strain > > > relief to the handle of the soldering iron). There's a warning about > > > turning off the iron and leaving the airflow on until it cools off to > > > avoid melting the tubing, but for me this hasn't been a problem. > > > > > > Incidentally, I've gotten the toaster oven method to work, at least in > > > principle, but need to figure out a more repeatable method for > > > controlling the temperature profile other than "ooh, it melted, better > > > shut it off now." :) > > > > > > -Johnathan, AE6HO > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > > email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > > > > > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > > --- > > [This E-mail scanned for viruses] > > > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.