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Scary Snake Radio "Setting Up" President Lincoln II V3

PoDuck said:
Again, there is nothing wrong with cleaning electronics with water. I use water on surface mount boards all the time in the ultra sonic bath, and that is something I do multiple times a week. All surface mount boards get the bath in my shop after I have done anything with a surface mount chip, because it is too easy to have debris get between pins on those boards, and flux has a habit of being a little sticky. Any board I find, surface mount or otherwise, with more than just dust on it, such as a spilled drink, or insect droppings, I will wash, whether or not it is surface mount. Washing radios is not a reason, in itself, to not like the guy's practices. I would say that there are situations where a technician refusing to wash electronics would show they are not a very good technician.

On the other hand, I ran across a President Washington video of Tim's last night, where it was a little dusty, and he told the customer a wash was needed, and that it would be an extra cost. I saw no reason it was necessary on that particular radio. A vacuum and a light brush should have gotten that board as clean as needed. There was nothing on the board that needed solvents at all.

In that video, I watched him change out poly caps and tantalums that were just fine, he changed out every pot, regardless of whether or not it worked, and several other parts that were unnecessary, such as wires. He also makes a point that he is using $100/lb. solder, which is meaningless.

That guy either has the dumbest and richest customers in the world, and/or he doesn't charge what he should for his time. He spent over 16 hours on that radio, which in my shop, 16 hours worth of work would be around $1000, if I have a less skilled employee do it, and $1600 if I do it, and that's not including parts.

I don't have to speak to whether or not he gets the job done when it comes to repair. Every single thing he did to that radio could have been the right thing to do if cost were not an option. In reality though, even if the customer just demanded it be done, regardless of the cost, that customer should be counseled against going to such extreme measures, because that radio will never be worth the money he puts into it.

So, no matter if his radios sound the best in the world, I couldn't endorse going to the extreme measures he does. It just isn't worth it.
Click to expand...
Snake Oil uses "The Walmart Special " aka Purple Power aka degreaser.
 
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kaos513 said:
Drinking wayer

Snake Oil uses "The Walmart Special " aka Purple Power aka degreaser.
Click to expand...

REALLY?

I just glanced at the MSDS for that stuff.
That is in no way good for electronics.

No wonder he is replacing transformers after a few days.
The stuff is corrosive to certain metals.
 
I didn't notice what he was using. He would be better off with very diluted dish soap.
 
That's scary stuff.

What I hope is that now that he is alerted to this being a bad idea that he changes his methods.
 
kaos513 said:
He does take off the transformers and lets the switches hang sometimes
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He didn't take any off in the video I saw.
They were all there.

The AC transformer, yes, that was removed.
I am talking about all of the RF transformers and variable inductors.
Those things can't be soaked down like that with corrosive chemicals.
It will eventually dry out but the time it will take and leaving corrosive compounds behind to boot.
 
PoDuck said:
I use water on surface mount boards all the time in the ultra sonic bath, and that is something I do multiple times a week. All surface mount boards get the bath in my shop after I have done anything with a surface mount chip, because it is too easy to have debris get between pins on those boards, and flux has a habit of being a little sticky.
Click to expand...
Flux residues should always be removed with a suitable solvent, e.g. Tickopur TR 14, it was specially developed for ultrasonic baths and cleans very quickly and thoroughly (10%, 30-180 s, 60-70°C). However, only distilled water should be used.
PoDuck said:
A vacuum and a light brush should have gotten that board as clean as needed.
Click to expand...
That wouldn't be the best way. Dust is removed faster and more thoroughly with compressed air, a suction device with air filter should be used.
 
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In boards with thick dust, I've found that it is rare that compressed air alone gets all the dust off, and I end up using a brush and a vacuum in the end anyway, and I save no time by blowing it off first.
 
Riverman71 said:
Jon,

You'll always be high on my list because you are the only member who graciously participated in my Random Act of Kindness thread and took the time and effort to help a fellow member. I admire you for that.

It's me who has destroyed the thread.

Jim
Click to expand...
thanks bro that means a lot. i try not to show personal grunges on this forum. the snake bit me long ago. when he first started doing so called repairs
 
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