Recent Posts

1

Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Soldering Irons - Recommendations?

« Last post by SEL49 on December 08, 2025, 06:53:31 pm »

These are built like a tank - It's used but typically can last nearly a lifetime.

--Pete

That's my choice. Mine is about 40 years old and going strong. I also have a spare that's never been used.

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Soldering Irons - Recommendations?

« Last post by DummyLoad on December 08, 2025, 06:17:55 pm »

These are built like a tank - It's used but typically can last nearly a lifetime.

--Pete

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Soldering Irons - Recommendations?

« Last post by Khristophorous on December 08, 2025, 04:35:28 pm »

You are right, it isn't expensive.Right now I have a sponge and a bit of steel wool - the kind that is coils of flat ribbon just like the good brass stuff, not the fine fibrous steel wool. My budget for the month is already blown but I hope to buy a whole new soldering set up soon. I was able to get some 60/40 Sn/Pb and some of that stuff made just for tinning a tip. I have one more new tip on this POS iron and one tiny little job to do so I hope it will get me through - sanity intact. I guess this is all part of the race to the bottom. In like 2006 I could get whatever $5 iron was in WalMart's automotive isle and manage even SMD's with it, now a similar iron won't even tin wire. It is mind boggling. I read it is the combination of a cheap iron AND lead free solder, like it can be one or the other but not both. Twenty years ago lead free solder was not as ubiquitous as it is now so I'm hoping this 40% Pb and a brand new tip will allow me to manage the little bit I have to do - until 1st of January or 1st of February. I appreciate everyone's input.

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Introduce Yourself / Re: Navy Radio Tech Vet - Got Back into Guitar a Year Ago - Looking To Build 1st Amp

« Last post by DummyLoad on December 08, 2025, 04:21:50 pm »

In that schema, Lol @ copywrite.

--Pete

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Soldering Irons - Recommendations?

« Last post by acheld on December 08, 2025, 04:05:14 pm »

So is any steel wool ok or must it be stainless steel?

I use brass wool exclusively.  I have tried steel wool, but ended up getting bits of it on the tip. 

Brass wool lasts a long time, not expensive.

But whatever works for you is fine.   

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Introduce Yourself / Re: Navy Radio Tech Vet - Got Back into Guitar a Year Ago - Looking To Build 1st Amp

« Last post by Khristophorous on December 08, 2025, 03:32:21 pm »

To Shooter and Lectroid - that "not a good candidate" is a Filmosound 185 (Part # 05311) - so there is no PT, as I'm sure you already know. However since I made that comment I think I have found a way to use most of it. I am going to rebuild it using this Danelectro Leader schematic as my general road map. I found a PT that will provide the needed AC for a 25Z6 to produce the HV and it also has a 6.3v winding for a 12AX(Y)7 preamp and 6SN7 PI. I'll be sticking with the 25L6 PP so I can reuse the OT and I found another smaller PT to provide the heater voltages for those and the 25Z6. Both of these PT are Antek. I am still learning so that is my general idea as of now and is of course subject to change. If need be I'll stick with the preamp and PI shown in the schematic but the transformers I found should still work. I have a 5E3 kit to assemble before I get into that though and I still have a lot relearning to do before I proceed with even that.

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Please do not use VPN's

« Last post by EL34 on December 08, 2025, 02:39:22 pm »

I love that one!

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Please do not use VPN's

« Last post by shooter on December 08, 2025, 02:38:30 pm »

this one's been floating around the thymes for awhile;

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Please do not use VPN's

« Last post by Khristophorous on December 08, 2025, 02:26:25 pm »

If my computer restarts automatically when doing updates, the VPN starts up automatically, so by accident, I have occasionally tried to get to the site with it running. I will try to change the settings on the VPN, but I hope not to get deleted in the meantime.

But I completely understand the reasoning.

I have to second this as it actually happened not 10 minutes before seeing this post - I tried to refresh a tab I had open for this site and it stalled. That happens on a lot on sites when using a VPN so I checked to see if mine was on and yep - I had rebooted just a few hours prior and it was on. I don't have dozens or hundreds of posts but I assure you I am not here for any nefarious purposes. I just want vintage tone. 

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Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs / Re: Soldering Irons - Recommendations?

« Last post by Khristophorous on December 08, 2025, 02:17:43 pm »

Use stainless steel wool instead

Franco

So is any steel wool ok or must it be stainless steel? Ive always read brass wool. Ive used plain steel wool, quite a bit actually. While that worked for years that was also before I kept running into these pencil irons that are no good right out of the box, before the dark times, before the Empire. So I have tried to rethink my entire method.