I definitely need to learn to pay more attention, but I got the tree… Beyond not doing the lights correctly so they didn’t conflict with each other, I don’t think I did too bad.
The new iron… night and fuckin day difference!
The new iron… night and fuckin day difference!
4 Likes
Solder joints look good.
Practice and quality tools, I tell ya 
2 Likes
I have a black lower priced non digital hakko that i love. It was a big step up from borrowing my uncles “ole reliable” wellers.
And it 100% was needed for guitar work over using my grandpas soldering “shank” which was a 10" long iron with a wooden handle, straight plug in cloth cord, and a blunt pyramid tip that looks like it was shaped by hitting flint together. But i guess thats what was needed by bell atlantic in the '50s.
1 Like
Well, the only problem I’ve run into with the mod on my Porta Pro was the epoxy didn’t hold terribly well on one side. Even well after the 24 hour cure period. Don’t think that should be a difficult fix though. As for the Dekoni Blues… I’ve got a game plan. Need to pick up a dremel after payday to cut away the support material for the old jack. I’ll then be mounting the jack to the housing. I’ll be getting ahold of HAC for a balanced cable for it.
Carefull with dremels and other rotary tools like it.
I use needle files and fretsaw blades when fine work is needed.
I have a Dremel 3000, and it is an okay tool. In hindsight, I should have spent the extra money for a Proxxon IBS/E.
Don’t get me wrong! The Dremels are good, just that I had the Proxxon in hand and it just feels better.
Is there a tool you’d suggest more in this particular use case?
The two posts could be left alone, as they don’t really get in the way (I believe). The circular piece connecting them, however, isn’t large enough for the thicker walls of the newer jack to fit though.
Just another perspective showing that it will fit through the external hole without going all the way through.
1 Like
I second mazeframe with the tiny files and fret saw. Theyre meant for very finework on guitars and work well here too. The problem is they can be less common and expensive.
Would a drill or reamer not do? Still a little risky and maybe i am misunderstanding the work needed. But it seems a graduated hand reamer may help here.
That is actually a perfect rotary tool use case.
I used my Dremel for doing the same while modding a gameboy case.
The dremel disks are just a bit too big, the Proxxon “circular saws” Name is NO 28 830 work nicely though.
1 Like
A drill is a big ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh as I’m concerned about taking out more material then is needed, only to find myself in a much more difficult situation then what I need to be. A reamer would be the option I’d go with if I was adamant about not using a drill, and other options just couldn’t pan out.
The fret saw would more then likely be a poor fit here, given the space I’m working with and the fact that I’m not wanting to do any damage (if at all possible) to the exterior. As for the tiny files… Don’t know what I would be looking for to be honest. While I’m sure, if done correctly, it could make for a nicer job. Though at the same time, I’m not really concerned about that being the case, as without opening up the headphones again, I’ll never see it.
Once again it looks like you want to either cut out everything between the standing tabs or make the inside hole bigger to fit the new connection? Am i right?
I think a reamer would do well.
But once again i dont know the mod extremely well or the sizes of things so take my input with appropriate sides of salt.
Edit: it looks like i didnt fully read your response but ill leave this as is for any reference
1 Like
@Souldriver @MazeFrame well… I found an… unconventional way that I’m not going to disclose. But it seems to have worked.
Now for the… “fun” part… Soldering. Time to start knocking on wood… Never feel quite as nervous as when it’s time to actually pull the trigger, do you?
1 Like
Ahh i see you gnawed it off. Just check your teeth aftee
Done! Definitely the trickiest as it didn’t really wanna cooperate. Now, to see if it still works single ended (ordering a cable from HAC)
1 Like
I FUCKING DID IT AND IT WORKS!!! Thank you @ZeosPantera for having the “Left. Right.” stereo at the beginning of your sound demos, makes it really easy to verify that the channels aren’t mixing together and both sides work. I can NOT describe how anxious and scared of how I could have screwed myself over on this one.
5 Likes
Congrats! Nothing more satisfying than finishing a soldering project. Testing it out and its perfect!
Nicely done!
The “nibble away the plastic”-method is 100% valid. 
Particularly when I’m not exactly in the position to replace them should things go that far south
Not sure how i got turned on to this track might be from here. But hope this helps.
