Tools for the job?

[nickyb]

Hi there,

I';m thinking now of building my own quad, as RTF is out of my price range for what I want.

Either a Tarot T650 frame or a TBS discovery kit.

According to team black sheep, the disco'; is easy to put together etc. Is this true when compared with say a tarot?

Finally, what tools would members recommend. I know I need a solder iron, does anyone know what deals for a decent one, solder type and maybe even a small screwdriver kit.

I don';t want to spend the earth (the missus will find out on the credit card statements  )

Cheers

Nick

[Crispin]

A 30-40W soldering iron would do well for soldering the bullet connectors and, if you have one, the PDB.
I';ve just built a Tarot 910 and all I really needed was a screwdriver and a pair of long-nosed pliers.
Also a lucky bag of heatshrink from ebay to cover the bullet connectors and a lighter.

Practice with the soldering though - buy some strip board and solder with that. Too much heat on your PDB and you';ll lift the tracks and pretty much render the board useless. Too little and you';ll have dry joints and a potential crash.

[nickyb]

A 30-40W soldering iron would do well for soldering the bullet connectors and, if you have one, the PDB.
I';ve just built a Tarot 910 and all I really needed was a screwdriver and a pair of long-nosed pliers.
Also a lucky bag of heatshrink from ebay to cover the bullet connectors and a lighter.

Practice with the soldering though - buy some strip board and solder with that. Too much heat on your PDB and you';ll lift the tracks and pretty much render the board useless. Too little and you';ll have dry joints and a potential crash.

Thanks Crispin...I';ll look out for this iron and a few bits 

[shortwave]

Have a look at Cpc
http://cpc.farnell.com/tools-storage-handling

[flybywire]

Nick mate,  u need 3 hands for decent soldering, so ';helping hands'; tool off ebay is a must.  I wasted money with the wrong iron at start-out, then got a solder station from Maplin';s, well worth it, with different tips it';s probably the only iron you';ll ever buy, as temp is variable.
If you fudge yr joints, your first crash will cost more than the solder station!

If you want the best ';small tools';, I found Moody';s of USA from Don:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Knife-And-Tool-Store/Moody-Tools-/_i.html?_fsub=4173341016&_sid=94181836&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

JIS bits fit most cross heads, unlike Philips. 

Plus you need decent hex set as well!!

Sorry, CC maxed out.

[QuadBod]

No one seems to believe me when I say what an amazing quality screwdriver set this is for the price:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360657350104



It has a good range of straight, cross and hex bits, as well as torx and a few other security screw bits. Chrome Vanadium bits, and a magnetic bit holder.

I promise you won';t be disappointed.

[Hands0n]

I have one of those. Super value set. Fine for this kind of work. But easily damaged if used for heavier stuff. I keep mine in my "flight box" that I take to the field with me when flying.

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[alex2m]

I have a similar set from Lidl. The only limitation is that when you have to tighten small hex motor screws beside the legs of a DJI 450 arm (you';ll use those for the Discovery - el cheapo imitations have allegedly too much flex on them) you will need something long and thin.  And hex screwdrivers are expensive because ... they are only useful for putting together DJI kits.

I also have an iron from Maplin, one of those fixed power jobbies at 35 watts. My son convinced me to try his Dremel gas-powered iron and blowtorch and ... I haven';t given it back to him yet.  Powerful, precise, easy to adjust, cools when it needs to cool, no wire, little or no waiting time to heat up, no need for bulky station, excellent results from first bullet connector. The blowtorch is great for heat shrink, although on suggestion of a colleague who solders professionally (with the same iron) just a touch of the side of the iron and the residual heat from the solder joint will shrink the tube like a pro.

The Xtra Hand is a necessity too, try solder bullet connectors while holding them in your (or someone else';s) hand ... Everything moves. With the Xtra hand (I got mine cheap from Maplin, best tenner ever) you set up everything "dry" and then let gravity do it';s thing.  Don';t forget to insert the heat shrink before you solder ...

Now to the choice of frame: the T650 if I remember correctly is the carbon fibre quad? I looked at a similar one from Hobbyking, I loved the carbon fibre idea.  Then I started to think ... 4 esc, 1 FC, battery, pdb, maybe gps, certainly lights (to be able to tell the front from the back of the quad) , that will make for a lot of wires.  Unless you get one of those combo esc and you solder long wires to your motors, I don';t see how this can turn out a nice clean build.  Whereas a Discovery, the DJI arms will harbor your Esc neatly (my rc shop suggestion is to strap them from the wires, not from the esc board ... Less vibrations, less chances to damage the esc';s pcb) , you look at my quad today all the cables are out of airflow, while there is a nice breeze to keep the esc cool.  I will graduate to the Discovery (or other flying cat, Ov3rquad for example) once I have managed to tame the settings of my Multiwii.

One last thing: more than tools, cable ties seem to play a great part in my build.  There';s variable quality out there, make sure you get some that are flexible.  The cheap ones tent to be too stiff and are useless because they don';t hold snugly enough around things.  And if you find a good supply of m3 nylon screws, bolts and spacers in various lengths, then you';re sorted.

I also have a mini-drill ...


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[Crispin]

A near-free answer to the helping-hands thing is an elastic band and some pliers. The helping-hands I bought from maplin fell apart on me in a couple of weeks. Had to resolder the clips on. Even now I don';t often use them - long-nosed pliers and an elastic band work well. My postie keeps dropping them down our street so no short supply.

A friend has the £20 maplin 50W temp-controlled soldering station and it';s actually not bad for what you are paying. Interchangeable tips and heats very quickly.

[flybywire]

Ah yes, forgot the Dremmel! (well actually a clone from Aldi/Lidl c. £20 with tools). 
prop balancer of course (I bought a magnetic one off ebay I think).

[QuadBod]

Now to the choice of frame: the T650 if I remember correctly is the carbon fibre quad? I looked at a similar one from Hobbyking, I loved the carbon fibre idea.  Then I started to think ... 4 esc, 1 FC, battery, pdb, maybe gps, certainly lights (to be able to tell the front from the back of the quad) , that will make for a lot of wires.

I went through the same dilemma - really didn';t want a combo ESC, as otherwise if one part goes you have to replace the whole thing. In the end I went with the BumbleBee folding F550 quad (which despite its name is both stable and nimble), but which has ESC enclosures at the ends of the arms, so everything ends up nice and neat - ESCs in the enclosures, wiring down the CF tube. Have lights, too, and no surface wires. I really should post some pics.

[Col_M]

A small ratchet spanner is great for removing prop nuts quickly, my Halfords Pro socket set had three sizes and the smallest one is ideal.
Side cutters.
Loctite 222 (low strength).
I got 1.5 and 2mm Wiha hex screwdrivers, good quality made in Germany so shouldn';t round themselves off.


I';ll just say I don';t get on well at all with the blue Maplin 50W solder station, the tips are ropey and the screw collar that holds them in keeps on coming loose when hot. I';m probably just going to get a Weller station and be done with it.

[Crispin]

...screw collar that holds them in keeps on coming loose when hot.

Agreed. It also happened when I borrowed it.
Weller or Antex - can';t go wrong but then they';re not £20 Depends on frequency of use. My Antex gets daily use so it was worth it.

[Col_M]

Agreed. It also happened when I borrowed it.
Weller or Antex - can';t go wrong but then they';re not £20 Depends on frequency of use. My Antex gets daily use so it was worth it.

Yeah, I guess I was spoilt when I was taught to solder at British Aerospace with Weller stations, everything else feels inferior now. My wallet won';t be happy though

[flybywire]

I';ve had this one for couple of years, works beautifully as far as I can see, plenty of ';umf'; when required, so to speak
http://www.maplin.co.uk/60w-lcd-display-solder-station-218050

It comes with several bits, but TBH I  mostly use the ';flat'; bit that came in the handle, it handles any AWG I';ve thrown at it.

[nickyb]

Many thanks for all the forum member replies, I now know what tools for the job .

Cheers

Nick

:-)

[kilby]

I also have a dislike of the maplin soldering irons

I';m missing my old soldering iron, which still works but I can';t vary the temperature so it';s useless for the awful lead free crap.

Of course legally you can still use lead based solder for non commercial use but you can';t find anywhere that dares to sell it

[QuadBod]

I';m missing my old soldering iron, which still works but I can';t vary the temperature so it';s useless for the awful lead free crap.

Of course legally you can still use lead based solder for non commercial use but you can';t find anywhere that dares to sell it

Still using my trusty Antex XS, and thankfully have a large roll of lead solder!

[Col_M]

Of course legally you can still use lead based solder for non commercial use but you can';t find anywhere that dares to sell it

There are loads of places you can get lead solder 

RS
Amazon
Farnell
Soldering Shop

These are just some of the stores I found on the first page of google, there are hundreds more 

[kilby]

Every time I look it';s that ROHS crap now I';m going to end IP spending money

[Col_M]

Every time I look it';s that ROHS crap now I';m going to end IP spending money

::)
Happy soldering! 

[kilby]

It will be :)

[nickyb]

There are loads of places you can get lead solder 

RS
Amazon
Farnell
Soldering Shop

These are just some of the stores I found on the first page of google, there are hundreds more 

thanks. I love lead!

[pheasant_plucker]

Treat yourself to a really good iron. I wouldn';t buy anything but Antex. My X25 is nearly 40 years old and still as good as new. Make sure that you specify silicone cable. For a few quid more it makes life easier.

Gerry

[nickyb]

Treat yourself to a really good iron. I wouldn';t buy anything but Antex. My X25 is nearly 40 years old and still as good as new. Make sure that you specify silicone cable. For a few quid more it makes life easier.

Gerry

Sound advice Gerry, thanks.

[QuadBod]

I don';t think anyone mentioned a glue gun. For small jobs this thing does the job nicely:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hot-Melt-Electric-Mini-Glue-Gun-Hobby-Craft-Adhesive-with-33-Glue-Sticks-FREE-/170888262351

That one has two temperature settings, and comes with a ton of sticks, but they can be had for under £2.00 on ebay if you poke around.

You';ll also want some heat-shrink. A pack like this is best value (£3.99):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heat-Shrink-Tubing-7-x-1m-Black-Tube-Sleeving-Kit-Pack-/190337668430

But if you happen to have an Aldi near by, they have a 127 piece selection box this Thursday (17th):
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-17th-october/product-detail/ps/p/assortment-sets/

As well as craft knives, cutting mats, screwdriver sets, epoxy / superglue... Looks like they had needle files recently too. No cheaper than ebay, but handy if you';re passing an Aldi store.

[nickyb]

Thanks for the posts..defo heatshrink to hide all the exposed solder points etc.

I';ve also heard of liquid plastic, to paint over the solder points, to prevent moisture and corrosion!

Nick

[QuadBod]

I';ve also heard of liquid plastic, to paint over the solder points, to prevent moisture and corrosion!

Or your glue gun, which also adds some mechanical rigidity / strain relief - and possibly a bit easier to get off if you ever need to.

[flybywire]

Good timing with the Aldi heat shrink, just running out of the last lot