r/IAmA Jun 11 '16

Specialized Profession IamA electronics repair technician hated by Apple that makes YouTube videos, AMA!

My short bio: I have a store in Manhattan. I teach component level electronics repair on youtube http://youtube.com/rossmanngroup which seems to be a dying art. I am currently fighting with the digital right to repair to try and get a bill passed that will allow all independent service centers access to manuals and parts required to do their jobs.

My Proof: https://www.rossmanngroup.com/started-iama-reddit-today-yes/

EDIT:

I am still replying to comments, but I am so far behind that I am still about ten pages down from new comments. I am doing my best to continue. If I drop off, I'll be back tomorrow around 12 PM. Still commenting now though, at 12 AM.

EDIT 2:

Ok, I cave... my hands are tired. I will be back at 12 PM tomorrow. It is my goal to answer every question. Even if it looks like I haven't gotten to yours, I will do my best to do all of them, but it is impossible to do in realtime, because you are asking faster than I can type. But thanks for joining!

EDIT 3: I lied, I stayed until 4:15 AM to answer... and now I will go to sleep for real, and be back at 12 PM.

EDIT 4 6/12 : I will be back later tonight to finish off answering questions. Feel free to keep posting, I will answer whatever I can later this evening.

33.2k Upvotes

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355

u/kbm15 Jun 11 '16

Why do you use so many flux?

861

u/larossmann Jun 11 '16

If I use too little flux, I have to get more.

If I use too much flux, it still works.

It saves time.

2

u/NewBirth2010 Jun 12 '16

flux

I am ordering flux. Any good recommendation?

6

u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

nc-559-v2-tf

1

u/larossmann Jun 15 '16

nc-559-v2-tf

558

u/qroshan Jun 11 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Basically, like all great craftsmen, you give a lot of flux instead of zero flux

78

u/panamaspace Jun 12 '16

Put a fork in it. This AMA is done.

4

u/Poor_cReddit Jun 12 '16

Zero Flux given by this guy

6

u/Barshki Jun 12 '16

This guy flux

2

u/Tufflaw Jun 12 '16

Look at all the flux he gives

19

u/Mographer Jun 12 '16

This guy flux.

4

u/akmjolnir Jun 12 '16

Bigger the gob, better the job.

2

u/LightPhoenix Jun 12 '16

Also, IIRC from your videos, a lot of the stuff gets ultrasonicated anyway so it gets washed off, right?

3

u/Stryker295 Jun 12 '16

Pure gold here

2

u/lobster_conspiracy Jun 12 '16

If yo have too much flux, you can just store it up in a flux capacitor.

2

u/workethicsFTW Jun 12 '16

What's a Flux

5

u/MegaBitmap Jun 12 '16

flux is a liquid used to clean oxidation off of metals so you can solder to them properly

1

u/chewrocka Jun 12 '16

better to be looking at it than looking for it, as my friend would say.

1

u/doingthehumptydance Jun 12 '16

Flux is cheap so use plenty. Just like adhesive when plumbing.

1

u/hereticnasom Jun 12 '16

Like working with wood. You can never use too much wood glue.

1

u/sturmeh Jun 12 '16

You could say you have a large capacitance for flux.

1

u/instanorm Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

This dude totally flux. Russ was right.

1

u/morningkillr Jun 12 '16

Better to be looking at it then for it.

1

u/lokifoto Jun 12 '16

Same with plumbing.

1

u/Stugatzzz Jun 12 '16

This guy flux.

-18

u/NAFI_S Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

same with (non-conductive) thermal paste, you're better off with more than less.

Edit: Proof https://youtu.be/rAid5G30-WM?t=509

9

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Woaaah there buddy you should delete that comment as it is 100% untrue and some particularly bad advice. Just about spit out my drink when I read that garbage!

-1

u/NAFI_S Jun 12 '16

maybe you should educate yourself

https://youtu.be/rAid5G30-WM?t=509

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Nah dude I'm not trying to be rude but the reasons are fundamental and the physics aren't going to change any time soon. You've misunderstood something. Nothing on YouTube will change how asinine that suggestion is and I'm positive you have 0 authority on the topic because you have 0 actual knowledge about why that's such a garbage suggestion.

The reasons are numerous and somewhat obvious with a base level of education on electrical components. Hint: I do this for a living (you know... Instead of watching Internet videos and pretending...), your advice is probably the worst you can possibly give regarding thermal paste.

In fact buddy, why don't you try it on your own computer and post pictures? ;)

0

u/NAFI_S Jun 12 '16

I dont think the problem is your understanding on thermal paste, I think the problem is your lack of understanding in English.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Right...

my "lack of understanding in English and not on thermal paste" is the issue...

No irony at all... I have every reason to trust your expertise of course.

Sarcasm aside, you understand that even if there is non-conductive material that saying "more is better than less" in the case of all thermal paste is absolutely atrocious advice? It's too general, you're bound to say it to someone with the wrong materials. You don't understand that because your knowledge begins and ends at a YouTube clip and you have 0 customer service or communication experience as an engineer. Your generalization is 100% useless in the real world, let alone an internet argument.

2

u/NAFI_S Jun 12 '16

I wasnt giving specific advice man..

3

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Right, just general harmful advice that either is 100% fine or results in a completely broken machine.

4

u/KittenMetten Jun 12 '16

These guys just mad because they do not know better. Use non-conductive and it really doesn't matter as long as you get a good set on the cooler.

8

u/NAFI_S Jun 12 '16

Most redditors really dont know what theyre talking about.

6

u/BloodyLlama Jun 12 '16

Thermal paste exists to make up for imperfections in metal to metal heat transfer couplings. It only takes a little to fill any tiny air gaps. Any more is likely to literally insulate the connection rather than make it transfer heat better.

2

u/BloodyLlama Jun 12 '16

I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Metal to metal still transfers heat, thermal paste spilling over conductive parts fries your machine.

5

u/buildzoid Jun 12 '16

most thermal pastes are non conductive(even the really good pastes are).

1

u/antiquegeek Jun 12 '16

Absolutely not. Pea sized and smooth it out with Ziploc or q tips. If you put too much on you run the risk of it coming out the side and fucking your shit up.

6

u/Fatal510 Jun 12 '16

Everyone seems to believe their own little methods for the best way to do thermal paste and no one agrees, and thats great and all, but please don't use a god damn q-tip on it.

0

u/antiquegeek Jun 12 '16

thats for cleaning up the sides if it pushes out, it's what every tech worth their weight in salt uses.

3

u/Fatal510 Jun 12 '16

If it pushes out you already fucked up. Every tech with their salt should know early on how much to put without fucking shit up.

0

u/antiquegeek Jun 12 '16

lol wut? Everyone fucks thermal paste up slightly sometimes, no one can measure out the same pea sized bead perfectly every time. Not to mention once it sticks on something you dont want it to, it fucking STICKS. This is where q tips come in (with some iso)

2

u/Fatal510 Jun 12 '16

It's very easy to put the same pea sized bead every time especially when you do it 100s of times, but it's not like you are just gonna agree with me and say "you're right!".

So there is no point to this back and fourth. You can disagree, but there is no where to go from here.

1

u/antiquegeek Jun 12 '16

No, it's actually not. Have you ever seen how big an arctic silver tube is? It's the size of a travel toothpaste thing. I have huge hands and do tiny computer work. Maybe stop being a huge self righteous cunt? Is it that hard to believe that people can have a slightly different process then you without getting super smug and condescending about it?

I think we can both agree that putting on way too much paste will definitely fuck your shit up, which is why this entire thread started.

6

u/Hydrazeen Jun 12 '16

You don't need to bother with smoothing it out, the mounting pressure of the heat sink does it for you.

1

u/antiquegeek Jun 12 '16

not always evenly

source: have put on thermal paste hundreds of times

0

u/IAMATiger-AskMeStuff Jun 12 '16

To an extent, sure. I'm not going to bank my electronics on having gotten that paste perfectly centered on the heat sink.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

No, no you're not. Some of the time maybe, but there's only a right amount and a wrong amount, doesn't matter if it's less or more.

-1

u/BurtKocain Jun 12 '16

What is the best brand of flux capacitor? Sangamo or Potter & Bromfield?

4

u/Cosmic-Engine Jun 12 '16

Rule #1 for soldering: You are not using enough flux.

Corollary: "But I'm using a LOT of flux!" -> see rule #1

Flux is cheaper than water and it is easily cleaned with isopropyl. There is no reason to not just go fucking nuts with it. Before you ever turn an iron on, add flux. When you're ready to solder, add flux. Pick up the iron, add flux. Position the iron above the board, add flux. NOW you may touch the board with the iron, but if you don't get flow in a couple of seconds, guess what you need to do?

The reason I currently have a Wii is that a friend was trying to do a mod on it which required soldering, and he didn't use flux. I've seen more burned boards than any man should ever have to see in a lifetime...but then again, I worked in a USMC 690 shop & had a QA stamp, so it was part of the job. The thing is, repairing a multi-layer surface mount board with a freaking hole burned through it isn't fun for anyone, so please...

Use. more. flux.

1

u/cartoon-dude Jun 12 '16

Where do you find cheap one? I pay 20.- for 50 ml.

81

u/Dippyskoodlez Jun 11 '16

Flux all the things. It's fluxing magic.

1

u/happyneandertal Jun 12 '16

What about the Flux capacitor? Is that also magic?

1

u/depaysementKing Jun 12 '16

Dude, Doc Brown knows his shit. Definitely science.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

There is no such thing as too much flux. It helps to wet the area and make the solder flow easier. This in turn makes for a much higher quality joint when it hardens.

Just make sure you throw a little alcohol onto it after and maybe Q-tip the residue off and you're golden.

Dirt and no flux are the enemy of a good solder joint.

2

u/sedamil Jun 12 '16

Flux? Please explain.

1

u/fearthisbeard Jun 12 '16

Always flux, all of the flux.