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Hi all. I'm somewhat new to soldering and I have a question. If you burn the board a little - like it gets a dark spot on it - does that ruin it?

Not unless you damaged one of the traces or pads. Even then, there's a way to fix it almost no matter what.

Usually no.

In extreme cases, I've read that really badly burned PCBs can become conductive. But that's usually from some kind of meltdown in a tube amp.

A little burn is no big deal. PCBs are made from FR-4 fiberglass, which is flame retardant and generally highly heat resistant.

Thank you very much. Just one more question. On the board the image of the trim pot is facing one way but the holes are positioned as if it was facing the opposite way. So how does it go in?

image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51288792@N04/4928310904/

jfrey wrote:Thank you very much. Just one more question. On the board the image of the trim pot is facing one way but the holes are positioned as if it was facing the opposite way. So how does it go in?

There's really only one way for it go in. It doesn't matter what the silk screen image on the PCB says. The people who made the board may have had a different type (shape) trimmer in mind when they did the graphics.

Ok, thank you again. I wasn't sure if maybe I had to wire it to match.

jfrey wrote:Ok, thank you again. I wasn't sure if maybe I had to wire it to match.

If you post a picture of the trimmer next to the PCB, I can tell you for sure.

culturejam wrote:If you post a picture of the trimmer next to the PCB, I can tell you for sure.

Hmmm, already put it on... Made a stupid mistake with the pots too. All I was thinking about was how the components fit together inside the box - didn't really think about how things had to be positioned outside. The pots are all next to each other in a line, so they're too close for the knobs that would go on them. I'm going to have to remove the middle pot later and reposition it. Or maybe I can just find really thin knobs somewhere...

I'll post some pictures of the work in progress later today.

I used the small knobs from my Absynth for a pedal I build recently with little room in between pots. Another option would be to stagger the knobs, like this:

Jero wrote:I used the small knobs from my Absynth for a pedal I build recently with little room in between pots. Another option would be to stagger the knobs, like this: (image)

Hmmm, might do that. Thanks.

jfrey wrote:Hi all. I'm somewhat new to soldering and I have a question....

Best advice...

(Don't ask me how i know )

devnulljp wrote:Best advice...
(Don't ask me how i know )

Haha. Nice. I'm actually pretty good at soldering, I just don't know a lot about it. I used to make little models that required soldering, and I took a class on circuitry like the better part of a decade ago. So my control is good, I just don't remember much.

Also, I've got some really small metal knobs that will be in stock tomorrow. They'll fit damn near anywhere. They look like this:




You can paint these any color as well.

culturejam wrote:Also, I've got some really small metal knobs that will be in stock tomorrow. They'll fit damn near anywhere. They look like this:
You can paint these any color as well.

Nice. Cost?

I'm buying that pedal from you too. So you could package them together and I'll send you the payment for both on Monday when I will for a brief time not be poor . In fact I'll make a list of components I'll need for my next project while I'm at it, and maybe I can get that stuff as well.

culturejam wrote:Also, I've got some really small metal knobs that will be in stock tomorrow. They'll fit damn near anywhere. They look like this:

You can paint these any color as well.

I too will be picking these up for sure