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A vintage radio repair turned into a full day of chasing a single cold solder joint.
After celebrating a quick fix on a 1970s Zenith, the audio cut out again three hours later, leading to a frustrating but oddly satisfying eight-hour hunt that ended with reflowing one connection on the tuner board (has anyone else had a simple job blow up like that, and what's your process for finding those sneaky bad joints?).
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gavin_clark1mo ago
The toothpick trick is something I've seen guys do with circuit boards that have tight component spacing. @the_tyler you're right that it feels wrong, but the wood is soft enough not to damage traces if you're careful. For really stubborn joints I'll use a dental pick with a bent tip, it gives more control without scratching.
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brooke_carter2mo ago
Magnifying glass and poking each joint with a toothpick...
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the_tyler2mo ago
Wait, a toothpick? That's the part that got me. The magnifying glass is one thing, but jamming a toothpick into every tiny gap? I can feel that scratchy wood sound just thinking about it. My teeth are on edge. That's a level of detail I could never handle.
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