Leak light and Soldering Irons

1851 Views 26 Replies 15 Participants Last post by clarnibass, May 28, 2007

Dog Pants

Discussion Starter · May 25, 2007

Y'all can have a good laugh, but it bloody hurts!

After seeing one too many of my school students get scammed on the cost of instrument repairs, I finally decided to bite the bullet and start diong a little maintenence and minor stuff myself.
Part of this involves finally getting around to making a leak light.
I followed Gordon's instructions,and it was easier than drinking beer!
And therein lies the problem....
It's my day off, so I'm listening to some Hank Mobley and having a few cold ones, when the inspiration to make theleak light hits me.
Concentrating on the job in front of me, I reach, without looking up, for my beer, and grab the bloody soldering iron. Danced like Fred Astaire and developed an instant case of Tourette's syndrome. Worst of all, the Friday night Footy game is on tonight and the worst of the burns is right on my "Remote Control Thumb."

The leak light works like a charm and cost me bugger all. Under $20 AUD.

OK you can all laugh at me now. :twisted:

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

milandro

· #2 · May 25, 2007

Poor dog Pants

! For all those who want to save their fingers.....

I had been using a home made battery powered leak light to occasionally check my instruments, later on I noticed somebody selling a saxophone leak light which was nothing else than a short version of some Christmas " light hose" (I really don't know how to call them) which is a product that has been around for a few years and that is meant as inside or outside Christmas decoration , it is made of a number of small light encased in a flexible hose. It is watertight since it is also meant to work outside (so electrocution shouldn't be to much of a worry....), anyway, I asked someone I know in a charity shop to be on the look out for me (they get these things all the time) for a not too long one (they come in all sizes) and one which had no colored lamps (they come in all colors) and hey presto the week after I was provided with a great leak light for the cost of 5 bucks.

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Dog Pants

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 25, 2007

I'm still on the lookout for one of those. So far, the only ones I've seen are too long and have multicoloured lights. How do you find the Rope Light in actual use? Does it provide a bright enough light?

milandro

· #4 · May 25, 2007

this one I have is about 6' long and it has clear bulbs. It is actually easy to use and gives a very festive look to my practice room!

the light is bright enough but you can always improve performance if you dim the light around , no need to work in the dark though. I was told that you can actually buy this by the (meter , yard, whatever takes your fancy... down under) and make it yourself to measure, but I am lazy and unsure about my technical skills....

littlemanbighorn

· #5 · May 25, 2007

I just soldered a new bulb on my leak light (a fancy votaw tool thingy.) I always use the handy plastic handle on my soldering iron. It all comes down to personal preference, though.

DJ TJ

· #6 · May 25, 2007 (Edited)

Colored leak light...

I've had good success using a green rope light. It seems like the colored light makes it easier to find leaks. Even though I prefer to dim the lights, mine is bright enough to be used in a well lit room.

I've seen rope lights for sale at home improvement stores, hardware stores, department stores (with the christmas decorations), DJ supply stores, and internet shops. I've also noticed there are several brands of rope lights with some designs being much brighter than others.

gelliot2

· #7 · May 25, 2007

Dog Pants said:
Y'all can have a good laugh, but it bloody hurts!

After seeing one too many of my school students get scammed on the cost of instrument repairs, I finally decided to bite the bullet and start diong a little maintenence and minor stuff myself.
Part of this involves finally getting around to making a leak light.
I followed Gordon's instructions,and it was easier than drinking beer!
And therein lies the problem....
It's my day off, so I'm listening to some Hank Mobley and having a few cold ones, when the inspiration to make theleak light hits me.
Concentrating on the job in front of me, I reach, without looking up, for my beer, and grab the bloody soldering iron. Danced like Fred Astaire and developed an instant case of Tourette's syndrome. Worst of all, the Friday night Footy game is on tonight and the worst of the burns is right on my "Remote Control Thumb."

The leak light works like a charm and cost me bugger all. Under $20 AUD.

OK you can all laugh at me now. :twisted:

What about the the beer? You didn't spill any, did you?

Carl H.

· #8 · May 25, 2007

Dogpants, I think your situation calls for desperate measures. Starting with treating the burn by holding something icy in that hand. Then start training the other hand by watching multiple sporting events on TV and flipping with the other thumb. The icy treatment will end for then session when you are numb from head to toe.
Repeat as demanded by local TV programming.

It is a sacrifice, but we need you to pull through.

hakukani

· #9 · May 25, 2007

When mixing brews and soldering, get one of these

http://www.coldheat.com/pro.cfm?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=soldering+non+branded

jazzbluescat

· #10 · May 26, 2007

Sorry you burned your hand, Dogpants. Try some Desitin, the stuff they put on babies' bottoms. It works wonders on burns, cuts and scraps.

Other precautions to take in order to avoid injury, to whom it may concern

:
1. Unplug electric lamp before replacing plug, switch, wiring.
2. Turn water souce off before replacing faucet, pipes, etc.
....Feel free to add...

milandro said:
this one I have is about 6' long and it has clear bulbs. .....

Excuse my pickiness, but, six feet is quite long. Do you mean 6"?

Carl H.

· #11 · May 26, 2007

jazzbluescat said:
Sorry you burned your hand, Dogpants. Try some Desitin, the stuff they put on babies' bottoms. It works wonders on burns, cuts and scraps.

Other precautions to take in order to avoid injury, to whom it may concern :
1. Unplug electric lamp before replacing plug, switch, wiring.
2. Turn water souce off before replacing faucet, pipes, etc.
....Feel free to add...

Excuse my pickiness, but, six feet is quite long. Do you mean 6"?

Probably means 6 feet. Shorter lengths are available, but take a bit of looking to find. Mine is 2' and I had to hit 4 stores to find one that short.

I can't imagine 6" being an off the shelf item.

elguapo

· #12 · May 26, 2007

Light

If you are looking to buy one, check out Music Medic. This one works well.

http://www.musicmedic.com/catalog/products/tool-lt100.html

Cannonball & CmelGuy

· #13 · May 26, 2007

I'll try to find the lights and give it a whirl.

Cannonball & CmelGuy

· #14 · May 26, 2007

Tried my new "leak light". Found a few leaks. One each on my tenor and C, and one in my sanity. Time for a drain of funds and a double repad.

milandro

· #15 · May 26, 2007

jazzbluescat said:
Excuse my pickiness, but, six feet is quite long. Do you mean 6"?

No I didn't mean 6 inches

, I meant 6 feet (so you can check baritons and basses this way:twisted: ).......you just leave the bit which you are not using hanging out or if it really bothers you you put black tape around it....for what I paid I am not complaining and as I said it makes the practice room look festive

Grumpie

· #16 · May 26, 2007

I checked about the rope lights last week. Found some at the gardencenter, you can buy them by the meter for approx. 1.50 Euro. You need the connector and endcap (as shown on the musicmedic link), which costs 3.50 Euro. Click the connector and endcap on the rope and there's your leaklight.
I'm going to make me one this week and no soldering iron needed

Sorry about that Dog Pants, I know how this feels.
BTW, yesterday Shaft was on tv here.......you were great

milandro

· #17 · May 26, 2007

Grumpie said:
I checked about the rope lights last week. Found some at the gardencenter, you can buy them by the meter for approx. 1.50 Euro. You need the connector and endcap (as shown on the musicmedic link), which costs 3.50 Euro. Click the connector and endcap on the rope and there's your leaklight.
I'm going to make me one this week and no soldering iron needed Sorry about that Dog Pants, I know how this feels.
BTW, yesterday Shaft was on tv here.......you were great

Can I shorten my own light rope? Can I re-use the end cap or do I need to buy another one?

I' been watching Shaft too..... great soundtrack!

Grumpie

· #18 · May 26, 2007

milandro, at the gardencenter the just cut the length you need so you can cut yours aswell I think. The connector is clicked on the two steel wires you see inside the rope and is glued to the rope and so is the endap. I did'n see just the endcaps for sale but you should be able to make one yourself. There must be some protection on the end though because you dont want those two steel wires touch yuor horn when plugged into 220 volts. :shock:

milandro

· #19 · May 26, 2007

Grumpie said:
There must be some protection on the end though because you dont want those two steel wires touch yuor horn when plugged into 220 volts. :shock:

I did figure that one out........

Bedankt! (which is not Dutch swearing but just " thanks" among Dutchies)

I shall try it would be nice to make it shorter but again it is not absolutely necessary (actually, if I buy one plug and one end plug I can now make two or three leaklights.....I am in business!

)

Grumpie

· #20 · May 26, 2007

milandro said:
I did figure that one out........

Bedankt! (which is not Dutch swearing but just " thanks" among Dutchies)

I shall try it would be nice to make it shorter but again it is not absolutely necessary (actually, if I buy one plug and one end plug I can now make two or three leaklights.....I am in business! )

You probably have to look on the outside for a mark where you can cut it. The ones I've seen had to be cut at a specific point (marked with 2 small lines) otherwise you could not longer use it.

BTW, I just made my own leaklight, 1 meter rope light and sticking and glueing the adapter on. 5 minutes of work and total cost was Euro 5.20.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

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