Tech Tip

[Jana]

If you're working on an amp and snip off a lead from a resistor and it gets sucked into the carpet, the fastest way to find it is to walk barefoot on the carpet. You can look for it on your hands and knees for hours and not find it, but take off your shoes and it will magically appear.

Tip 2. The hemostats you use for building amps also work great for extracting the piece of wire from your foot.

[M Fowler]

Too funny Jana and yes funny how I've had to room wire clippings from my feet before too.

[Bob S]

Yep - been there & done that
Tip 3
When turned on, a soldering iron tip is hot.
Contact between a hot tip & skin should be avoided.

[EtherealWidow]

Also, no matter how seemingly convenient, avoid the temptation to hold what is being heated with said iron. Heat transfers.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Tip 3
When turned on, a soldering iron tip is hot.
Contact between a hot tip & skin should be avoided.

Corollary 3A: Do not solder while wearing shorts (or less.)

Recommended to wear jeans/dungarees.

Solder drips hurt!

[echuta13]

Welding with sneakers on is a no-no too unless you like doing the indian hot-foot dance.

[gui_tarzan]

And if you're welding overhead, don't wear a belt or button your shirt cuffs.

[eniam rognab]

carpet in a workroom? fan-saaaaay!

pardon me but do you have any grey poop-on? i need to hide my amps secrets

[mhartman]

Law: You will get the OT secondaries backwards. Don't fire up for the first time while the wife and kids are sleeping (unless you leave the neg feedback disconnected).

[Jana]

Carpet in my workroom--yes indeed. My workroom is the living room. The chassis drilling station is the kitchen floor (linoleum, I've only drilled one hole in it). My workbench is a dining room table imported from Europe (nothing fancy, just solid wood). Gone are the days when I had a dedicated workshop. But, it's better this way--I have learned to clean up and put tools away regularly--well, sort of. I have a spare bedroom that I just shovel every thing in there.

[Tillydog]

And if you're welding overhead, don't wear a belt or button your shirt cuffs.

And cover your ears!!

[TUBEDUDE]

Funny you mentioned the found lead, I just had that happen to me. Unfortunately I was wearing new thick Thorlo socks. The lead would stab me intermittently, and each time I removed the sock I couldn't find the offending nib. Finally decided to run it through the laundry, problem solved. Couple days later I'm at work and getting intermittently stabbed during the day. The dam thing is still there! Finally got home, tried an uber strong magnet, magnifier and packing tape. Still no joy. Had to throw it out and used the other sock to polish shoes. Wasted $18 on that pair of socks. I wish i had found it barefoot!

[Baxtercat]

A corollary is: if it drops into the chassis, the way to find it is to turn on the amp and look for sparks.

[VacuumVoodoo]

When you put your solder wire aside for a few seconds don't look for it where you are sure you put it. Start looking somewhere else at once. Saves a lot of time and frustration.
This is also valid for any tool.

[Jana]

Very true Aleksander.

Also, if you try to solder and the solder wire just isn't melting like it should be, it's probably buss wire.