FInally. Bought a Gaussmeter

[WolfeMacleod]

I figure it's time to start paying a bit of attention to gauss readings, so I bought one from here. http://integritydesign.com/DCmeasurement.html

An FW Bell model IDR-fw5180

[Spence]

So the big question is this: How have you managed without one?
This is not a question designed to get your back up. It's designed to test whether you really need one to make pickups or is it going to help make a better product etc....

[Possum]

:-)

Sheesh its about time. That magnet charger really packs a wollup in charging bucker magnets.

[WolfeMacleod]

So the big question is this: How have you managed without one?
This is not a question designed to get your back up.

I've managed just fine without one. I always did a Pull-test on the magnets to make sure one side wasn't really weak.
I mostly bought it to add the invoice to the tax box, so we're not in a high tax bracket..trying to bleed off a lot of $ before th enew year. Same reason I took my car to my mechanic yesterday with the instruction s of "find it and fix it, go hog wild" - my car is tax dedictable. I'm actually kinda pissed that he didn't do as much as I hoped needed doing.
I was going to order 20 lbs of Plain Neamel today, bu they wouldn't be able to invoice me till after the 1st, so I passed.
I bought a Canon G7 camera today too, since my old camera died...and just got home froma shopping spree at Fry's for solder, a solder fume fan, and lots of other goodies.

[WolfeMacleod]

Dammit. And I just checked my accounts. I have more right now that when I started the day out. Too many Payments came in during the day!

[Spence]

Nice to hear you're doing so well.

So gaussmeters are unneccessary.
That's true if you are only making pickups where you're magnets are pre-identified and you charge them up to full capacity.

I find it's a useful tool, especially the small portable Carlsen Melton unit I use. It's pocket size and pretty robust. So it goes places with me when I get a call out. I find it useful for identifying gremlins in pickups like unbalanced charges across the poles, orientation issues and even AlNiCo type identification. Mind you, the later isn't always 100% reliable but it gives you a starting point.
Of course if you make truely calibrated pickup sets, rather than messing with DC resistances you would calibrate the gauss levels.

Ignore this useful tool at your peril, same as an inductance meter. Sure you'll get by without one but that's all.

[WolfeMacleod]

Of course if you make truely calibrated pickup sets, rather than messing with DC resistances you would calibrate the gauss levels.

Ignore this useful tool at your peril, same as an inductance meter. Sure you'll get by without one but that's all.

I don't plan on ignoring it at all, I plan on putting it to good use.

[kevinT]

Carlsen Melton on Sale until 31st

ordered the Carlsen Melton GM-200A yesterday. Sounds like a number of folks here have them. ....its tax time too!

They have a special going on until Dec 31.

http://carlsenmelton.com/gm200a/gm200a.htm

[kevinT]

another piece of equipment to buy

Jeezzz...another piece of equipment to buy.

Wolfe brought up a good point. If you do a lot of soldering, it's probably a good idea to get a fume extractor/fan...those toxic fumes kill the brain cells...and i gotta think about saving the few that I have left.

did a quick search...check out this machine ...is it the C3PO or R2D2 model?

click on image for a bigger view.

[David Schwab]

Jeezzz...another piece of equipment to buy.

You can get small bench top units for stuff like this. I wouldn't really worry about it though.

[JGundry]

Yes, do yourself a favor and get a real fume extractor. The ones that run about $900 plus. I have been using one from the start. I do mainly effects and you would be amazed by how much soot the extractor picks up. Even if you are using lead free solder the flux and tin as well are bad to breath. There is a radioactive isotope of tin that will increase your exposure to gamma radiation and thus increase a person's cancer risk. I even wrap a post it note around the solder wire so it is not in contact with my skin as it absorbs easily through the skin. If you pay for your own health insurance then you know that $900 is peanuts when it come to the price of health care.

You should also wear a lab coat like the ladies in that picture as the rosin and fumes contaminate your clothes. I know it seems like over kill but it is a serious risk to one's health.

The bench top units just don't do the job.

[Joe Gwinn]

You can get small bench top units for stuff like this [solder smoke]. I wouldn't really worry about it though.

The rosin fumes will give you a splitting headache. I use an ordinary table fan set real low and a reasonable distance away, making the air flow gently from one side to the other (so I don't block the flow with my body). This way the fan is very quiet, and things don't blow around.

[David Schwab]

Yes, do yourself a favor and get a real fume extractor. The ones that run about $900 plus.

There are small bench top spray booths made for much nastier fumes that cost a lot less.

Better yet, and much cheaper still, get a respirator mask made for spraying auto finishes.

...and thus increase a person's cancer risk.

So will eating peanut butter. Seriously. But I don't worry about that either...

I even wrap a post it note around the solder wire so it is not in contact with my skin as it absorbs easily through the skin. If you pay for your own health insurance then you know that $900 is peanuts when it come to the price of health care.

Be careful of your pocket change... nickel is toxic to handle.

The rosin fumes will give you a splitting headache. I use an ordinary table fan set real low and a reasonable distance away, making the air flow gently from one side to the other (so I don't block the flow with my body). This way the fan is very quiet, and things don't blow around.

I've never had a problem with rosin fumes.. except burning my eyes. But I also use a small fan.

Years ago I worked in a prototyping lab, and we didn't use anything for fumes. Not saying that's a good idea, but my point is it was a very large company, and they could have afforded such stuff.

[JGundry]

I hope that no one is ever damaged by this stuff but the fact is that the risk is cumulative and we are exposed much more than most people. I know of one effect maker that has brain cancer. Lead is suspected as a cause of brain cancer.

The bench top spray booths that graphic designers use don't cut it if that is what you are referring to. They pretty much just contain the spray mount that most people use them for. They do little when it comes to exhausting chemical free air. The fume extractor I have will filter out 99% plus of smoke and chemical fumes.

As anal retentive as most here are about pickup specs... it makes sense to apply that same skill set towards one's health.

Poo pooing facts is a long scientific tradition. The problem is the results are always bad.

[David Schwab]

The bench top spray booths that graphic designers use don't cut it if that is what you are referring to. They pretty much just contain the spray mount that most people use them for. They do little when it comes to exhausting chemical free air. The fume extractor I have will filter out 99% plus of smoke and chemical fumes.

Spray mount is pretty nasty stuff, as are most lacquers. In fact, the chemicals in lacquers and thinners, as well as the solvents in paints and glues are much worse for you than solder rosin!

Just use a cartridge filter spray mask. They filter all the chemicals in the air you breath, and since they are covering your mouth and nose, they will be more effective than an exhaust system.

I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't use safety precautions, just that there are other, less costly ways around the problem.

If I was soldering 8 hours a day I would get something like that. But for a couple of hours a week, I don't think it's worth it. I breath a lot more junk crossing the street in NYC every day!