Stainless Steel Needle?

[Strike4]

I am about to recap a large number of boards the only tool I need is a stainless steel needle.

I looked for a dentist pick but can't find a place that sells them, any ideas? I'd prefer not to order online.

If not what sort of needles are stainless steel for sure and can be easily found locally?

[tj2]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

I use a standard sewing needle (for sewing by hand, not machine) and hold it in the handle of an X-acto knife. It works just fine. Just be sure that the needle is thicker than the capacitor leads you're going to be working with.

[i4004]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

i disliked the metal there...
but liked the wood...
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...icks#post46122
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...0&postcount=22

try that if you're tired of looking for needle.

[Bobdee]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

i disliked the metal there...
but liked the wood...
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...icks#post46122
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...0&postcount=22

try that if you're tired of looking for needle.

Good suggestion
That sounds like a good idea, I can see some advantages in that method, I am going to give that a try myself

[kaniki]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

What I do to clean the holes out enough to fit the cap through is RG59 coaxial cable. the center conductor is almost the perfect size. It is just a hair bigger then the leads, but small enough to fit through the hole to clean it out with no problems.. that or maybe try a sold piece of wire this is that size.. What i like about that is that there are no splinters that will be left behind, it is stiff enough to clean the hole out, but yet will bend if you kink or bend it a little so it does not damage the board.

[willawake]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

I use a standard sewing needle (for sewing by hand, not machine

me too. these are obtained from women for $0. i hold it in an electrical block ("chocolate block" http://flickr.com/photos/tudedude/3633464329/)

[i4004]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

>the center conductor is almost the perfect size

that should be wettable to solder(it's essentially copper on better cables, or copper plating on chinese..heh), and ergo not a very good candidate...
ie there's a lil difference between that and leads on capacitors...

needle is less wettable(i think it still sticks somewhat because contracting solder will "bite" to it), but wood is not wettable at all.

perhaps aluminum would work...dunno...

i wonder would those graphite leads for mechanical pencils work...hihi....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Me...out_051907.jpg
but inside the pencil, to have more strength...

[kaniki]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

actually, most RG59 cable is solid copper in the center as far as i am aware. It is the RG6 cable that you see a lot of copper clad (copper covered steel). as for the copper sticking, you use a little bit of an older piece that has that slight film like coloring which shows that it is not 100% clean and fresh copper color, then the solder does not stick. If is does at all, then it is so little that it pulls or slides right off.. but like i said, just good for opening the holes up. I have done that on many boards now and never a problem with getting the solder to stick when it comes to soldering the cap leads into place, but then again, the center piece is used just to push the little bit of solder out, you are not using it to solder anything into place.

[i4004]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

actually, most RG59 cable is solid copper in the center as far as i am aware. It is the RG6 cable that you see a lot of copper clad (copper covered steel). as for the copper sticking, you use a little bit of an older piece that has that slight film like coloring which shows that it is not 100% clean and fresh copper color, then the solder does not stick.

yes, you're right on both accounts: oxidized copper doesn't like solder, and indeed, rg6 is the type i was talking about...

[kaniki]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

thanks for the work.. i was trying to think of the work oxidized but for the life of me, i couldn't.. what can i say.. brain fart..

Rg6 has a center size of about 18 gauge which should be way too big to use.. RG59 has a center of about 22 gauge which is about the right size. because of the size of the center wire on a RG59 wire, it is mainly used for stuff like patch cables from things like the VCR/DVD player/DVR etc. to the TV and video surveillance and is mainly all copper because there is too little wire there to do a clad 0or coating effect and still work. RG6 has copper clad and solid copper center wires. the clad is basically a 22 gauge steel wire coated with copper until it gets to an outside diameter of about 18 gauge. Copper clad is cheaper to make and buy but still works fine for cable in houses so that is what is mainly installed in houses these days for cable and satellite TV. Just a little FYI for anyone that does not know..

[stj]

Re: Stainless Steel Needle?

medical needles are all stainless - go buy one from a body-piercing place.

or if you need a thin one ask a tatoo guy.