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[ProBang2]

Sorry, but...

[VK5RC]

Dear Pat,
I think most of us here should both go to N/TE A (Nixie & Test Equipment-Aholic Anonymous)
" Hi my name's Robert and I am a Nixie gear-oholic"
I must admit to have branched out a little into thermionics, currently building a uTracer3+ (a thermionic curve tracer)
"Doctor does it get better?"


Robert

[Sbampato12]

Just because I'm lazy...

How much for that and where you bought it Sbampato12? I struggle with desoldering stuff, have been thinking about getting one of these. Is it good?

I've bought from a friend, used. I paid R$ 400,00. I didn't used yet. But I will before next week.

[Cubdriver]

Dear Pat,
I think most of us here should both go to N/TE A (Nixie & Test Equipment-Aholic Anonymous)
" Hi my name's Robert and I am a Nixie gear-oholic"
I must admit to have branched out a little into thermionics, currently building a uTracer3+ (a thermionic curve tracer)
"Doctor does it get better?"


Robert

Damn you, Robert - you're probably going to wind up costing me MORE money!!      

I've looked at the uTracer a few times after first seeing it a few years ago on audio forums I'm on, but I think at the time he didn't have a kit and I wasn't that ambitious.  This potentially changes things.  Keep me (us) posted on your progress and results - as a tube guy it's something that definitely piques my interest.

And no, it doesn't get any better - at least (in my experience) not so long as you continue reading forums like this, ARF, DIY Tube and DIY Audio, etc.  As soon as you clear one of your evilbuy search terms by getting whatever it is, someone posts something else that you look at and say "Cool!!  I want one of those!!" and you're off on the hunt once again.     Having old HP catalogs on hand to thumb through is not helpful, either, as I find they inspire searching as well.   

-Pat

[bitseeker]

Dear Pat,
I think most of us here should both go to N/TE A (Nixie & Test Equipment-Aholic Anonymous)
" Hi my name's Robert and I am a Nixie gear-oholic"

(snip)

Robert

Dear Pat & Robert. This is not so anonymous anymore.

Nevertheless, perhaps it should just be TEA. We all get it, with or without the nixies. (Although the nixies certainly exacerbate it.)

Damn you, Robert - you're probably going to wind up costing me MORE money!!      

So much for group therapy.

as a tube guy it's something that definitely piques my interest.

Thank you for using "piques" instead of "peaks" or "peeks".

As soon as you clear one of your evilbuy search terms by getting whatever it is

You clear them after acquisition? That must be where I'm going wrong.

[Cubdriver]

Dear Pat & Robert. This is not so anonymous anymore.

Nevertheless, perhaps it should just be TEA. We all get it, with or without the nixies. (Although the nixies certainly exacerbate it.)

Test Equipment Addicts?  Yeah, that works...     And the nixies are like the bacon bits or the cherry on top...

Damn you, Robert - you're probably going to wind up costing me MORE money!!      

So much for group therapy.

Yeah, huh?  More like group reinforcement or encouragement...  Kids do dumb things when they get into groups and get positive feedback started; adults do $$ things.   

Thank you for using "piques" instead of "peaks" or "peeks".

   People misusing words and phrases is one of those things that makes me grit my teeth when I read forum posts, so it's something that I try not to do in my own.  One of the others I frequently see that makes me want to bang my head on the table is 'to shay' or any of its many incorrect variants.  That and people using catastrophe 's' EVERY time the pluralize a word.    The apostrophe is for possession or a contraction, dammit!!!!   

As soon as you clear one of your evilbuy search terms by getting whatever it is

You clear them after acquisition? That must be where I'm going wrong.

Well....     Truth be told I actually usually only clear them when I go to add another and it tells me I can't because I have too many active searches.  At that point I'll go through and delete one or more of the ones for things I've gotten already, but that's about the only time the list gets any pruning.  The reminders that pop up are more likely to be only very briefly glanced at or sometimes outright ignored once I've gotten something I was on the hunt for, but they're still there...

-Pat

[bitseeker]

... and people using catastrophe 's' EVERY time the pluralize a word. 

Yes, it is a catastrophe.

Well....     Truth be told I actually usually only clear them when I go to add another and it tells me I can't because I have too many active searches.

LOL, you have that problem too? All signs of TEA. Oh, well.

[thisguy]

Sorry, but...

I wondered if anyone would notice that picture. Yes, the tip really was around 300C and the metal closest to the handle was still cool enough to hold. The thin part eventually did become a little uncomfortable, but I've never felt the metal that is right up against the handle become too hot.

[thisguy]

This just came.
I used a banggood coupon and got one of these plus an extra tip. For scale I put it next to some familiar objects in the last photo. My cheap Asus power adapter has a stiff, heavy cord that's a bit clunky, so I'm thinking of making something light and flexible from silicone wires when the 2.5mm plugs that I ordered come.

This works way better than my cheapo YiHua. It comes up to temp in under 10 sec with the power adapter I use, has configurable low temp standby and sleep timers, wakes from sleep when moved, etc.

Is it good to solder small electronics and wires? I've seen a few time ago that iron but I was affraid that it wasn't that good and ended using my good old uncontrolled mains connected iron...

Small electronics and wires are no problem. The toughest I've asked of it so far is soldering 16awg into big fat banana plug/jacks for test leads. It handled that much better than my Yahua did.

[McBryce]

Sorry, but...

I wondered if anyone would notice that picture. Yes, the tip really was around 300C and the metal closest to the handle was still cool enough to hold. The thin part eventually did become a little uncomfortable, but I've never felt the metal that is right up against the handle become too hot.

And there was me thinking that Chuck Norris was secretly a member of the forum. 

McBryce.

[Cubdriver]

Chuck Norris doesn't even need solder.  He just stares at the joint and the component LEADS fuse together.

-Pat

[Bud]

How is that spacenavigator? Checked pricing and its only 100e, thinking to get one, using altium with touchpad is pain in the arse..

Still learning so cant tell for sure yet, but certainly helps navigating schematic sheets, easy zoom/scroll. I have a feeling it may be of more value to CAD software rather than Altium, but as you said price is ok, so why not.

The more i use it with Altium the more i like it. With time it becomes natural and intuitive. I use it in 3D and 2D modes, even to scroll/zoom in Acrobat PDF reader. I think it is a great tool for a hundred bucks. 

I did make sure i have copies of the drivers for all platforms (PC/MAC/Linux), people seem to complain the manufacturer is known for making older drivers unavailable as they introduce new hardware.

[onesixright]

A TEK MDO3014! 

Very pleased with it!  

[VK5RC]

This is  a bit out of left field, but it does fit in with my restoration bent.
I bought a Carburetor Kit for my late father's (note apostrophe Pat HiHi) chainsaw, a 1961 McCulloch Model 1-52 (see below); the carbie is a Tillotson HL 63D and rebuild kits are still available. A fellow has even made a youtube how to rebuild an HL Tillotson - thank you very much
The Real reason I am not in more trouble, Pat and Bitseeker re TEA, is my shed/shack/lab is tiny 12m^2. 

[bitseeker]

Thank you for the proper use of the possessive form, Robert.

Regarding the lab, so as long as your stuff doesn't overflow the lab, you're golden.

[Cubdriver]

This is  a bit out of left field, but it does fit in with my restoration bent.
I bought a Carburetor Kit for my late father's (note apostrophe Pat HiHi)

 

chainsaw, a 1961 McCulloch Model 1-52 (see below); the carbie is a Tillotson HL 63D and rebuild kits are still available. A fellow has even made a youtube how to rebuild an HL Tillotson - thank you very much
The Real reason I am not in more trouble, Pat and Bitseeker re TEA, is my shed/shack/lab is tiny 12m^2. 

Go vertical!  And if going vertical reaches its (note lack of apostrophe  ) limit, then it's time to blow out a wall and go horizontal.   TEA is like the Borg - you will be assimilated! 
(or, to mix my SF franchises, come to the dark side!  We have cookies... [and nixies!]    )

-Pat

[bitseeker]

Go vertical!

12m^3 

[TerraHertz]

Regarding the lab, so as long as your stuff doesn't overflow the lab, you're golden.

It's useful to be able to squeeze yourself and a chair in there too.

[daqq]

A Zygo PIT interferometer (at least parts of it, will have to inspect further) and some support for it.

[edy]

An airsoft kit, just in case I want to let out my frustration on a piece of electronic equipment I can't repair! 

[Messtechniker]

1. A LED array to illuminate the floor under my workbench. See enclosed pic.
2. A telescopic stick with attached screw-on magnet to pick up pieces.
    Stick found in the junk box. Magnet (2 kg lifting capacity, believe it or not) bought separately.

Not bought, but saved from being scrapped:
3. An old red bath mat with worn out rubber backing.
   Don't ask. Yes, I know I'm growing old.

[daqq]

Yup, it's an interferometer. And it works - well, that is the laser tube lases, the optics seem OK, all in all a bargain  Now to figure out what to do with it 

[JoeN]

An airsoft kit, just in case I want to let out my frustration on a piece of electronic equipment I can't repair! 

I see your Airsoft and raise you a 12 gauge party pumper.

[TheSteve]

Keithley 160 DMM - $25.00 plus 20 for shipping. I love the red nixie's!

[bitseeker]

Cool! I haven't seen a 160 before, nor red nixies. Not a bad price either. Does it need any work? Looks pretty good.