[R-390] Filter Repair

[Mike A]

On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 02:24:45PM -0400, quartz55 wrote:

> I need help with connecting #40 wire together. When I do it, I loop each
> end, try to crush them on each other, solder them and then glue them
> with epoxy for insulation and stability. However, these wires are almost
> impossible to see, even with the headband 3.5x magnifier. It doesn't look
> anything like the picture, I wish it did, it's looks about half that size
> through the magnifier and the depth perception is poor, so it's hard to get
> the pliers to crush the wires together.
>
> Has anyone got a better way to connect these tiny wires, it takes me about a
> half an hour to do 2 connections? I'm getting a pair of the surgeons loupes
> so at least that will get it so I don't have to look at them from 3".
>
> Also notice that the glue seems to want to ball up, surface tension I
> reckon. Is there any way I can get the glue to spread out more evenly on the
> wires?
>
> http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg287/DogTi/R390A/coilbrokenwire_zps7a702c9c.jpg

I can't help much on the glue balling up, but think that the visual assist
you might find most helpful for this would come from 5x to 40x magnification
through a stereomicroscope. There are several available on the watery auction
place, for prices from quite decent through shockingly high.

A good stereo microscope lets you see in, well, _stereo_. The illusion (or
presentation) of depth is usually quite good.

No, I'm not selling a stereomicroscope; I've been buying higher-powered
scopes. 

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin