How to Improve Your Helping Soldering Device for Free

Last weekend I was looking for a device that help me to hold in the same position and help me to solder them with precision. I also wanted to do that soldering work in a good illuminated work space. I have found in my local Harbour Freight store a magnifying galss with two claps and two small leds that should do the job. When I got to the cashier I realized about a free flashlight coupon in the store. So I thought of mixing the two tools in one and thus have a better tool.

One I got home, I wonder about what batteriers uses the "helping device" as well as the free flashlight. Actually both used 3AAA so I could use the same battery deposit for the new lights around the magnifying glass. It was interesting to know about the led arrangement.

It was a very repetitive job, but someone has to make it... I wish I have had my helping device for this job but actually I was made it.... :)

It wasn't dificult, just using the desoldering braid and the tip of the solder for every single led.... 54 times :/

I drew the plastic piece that holds the magnigying glass in a sheet of paper and then planned here to drill. I divided the circunferencie for 27 spaces. Then I copied this draw to a contact sheet ("contact" is an adhesive plastic used to cover books) I stick it to the plastic piece, then drilled de holes with my dremel motor tool and then remove all the plastic.

This step was easy, just insert each led in its hole and glue it with epoxy glue. I did'n use krazy glue because it could damage the transparency of the leds.

In this step we will connect all the leds in parallel. In order to do this you need to arrange all the leds in a regular position where cahod is loking to the circunference center and the anode is looking outside the center. It is important because we are only to put a wire with no plastic insulance and theres no posibility to jump the wire over the next led.

Also BE SURE to solder the resistor properly at the end or the start of the connection. Remember that the resistor must be connected in series to the circuit.

Finally connect this circuit to the main swithch, the other two leds and the battery holder.

If you have followed all the steps in this tutorial you must have your new tool working properly.

This new tool cost you a few bucks and it is a helpful and bright third hand.

I hope you like this tutorial, please vote me.

For more info and contact, please visit my portfolio online: www.desig-nergy.com

Cheers.

Enrique Sifuentes