How To Solder?

All this while, I've been wondering if I was using the wrong blend of flux and resin in my solder or my soldering iron wasn't powerful because the solder wasn't melting or it'd damage the insulation before the solder could melt.

Then I discovered the mistake that 90% of hobbyists make: failing to tin the soldering tip.

A properly tinned soldering tip conducts heat more effectively. Even a 40w iron that's properly tinned can melt solder molten within a second of contact. That's right, you do not need expensive 200w or 300w irons to solder properly.

It also helps to have a wet sponge nearby to clean off excess flux and to keep to tip a shiny silver.

After 2 hours of fiddling, I finally picked up the right technique to solder.

Un-boxing the Kyosho Ultima DB SCB

Http://Hpisavagex46.wordpress.com. Watch us our young mechanic unboxes the Kyosho Ultima DB short course buggy. Based on the legendary Ultima buggy, this longer wheelbase version is a top contender to the Losi XXX Short Course Buggy.

How to Set Up Your Nitro Starter Box for 1/8 and 1/10 Cars

http://hpisavagex46.wordpress.com. Hey everyone, here's a simple tutorial and orientation for all those new to using a Starter Box for Nitro Cars. In the making of this video, I used the Twin-775 Motor Lipo-Ready Starter Box for 1/8 and 1/10 cars by BSD Racing - but all those starter boxes out there are more or less the same.

In this video, I'll be showing you how to configure your battery setups and wiring, some tips I have in holding Lipo Packs in place, and briefly on adjusting the mounting for various car sizes.

I hope you find this video helpful, and if so, do check out my blog for more RC tips and reviews. http://hpisavagex46.wordpress.com

Bloated Lipo Packs

Http://Hpisavagex46.wordpress.com. Here's an AcePow battery pack that gone bust.

Is that some micro circuitry beneath the yellow tape?

One pack's bloated, while the other is still thin and flat. Within the hard case, they are held together with double-sided tape.

Another perspective shot of the bloated Lipo cell

Lipo Cell Internal Explosion

I think the Lipo cell had an internal explosion. That bloating is apparently gas. It happened spontaneously with an audible "pop". This happened when I was trying to restore a low voltage cell to a chargeable voltage. Unfortunately, the cell must have been discharged too far. Even my attempts to refrigerate the cell after each hour of charge, it was not enough to help. As the cell exploded, one side of the hard case popped off.

AcePow 3200mah 20C 7.4v 2S Lipo. Perhaps a higher C-rating pack wouldn't bloat or explode like this. Thankfully, it was well contained in a Lipo Charge Bag which was specially designed to safely contain Lipo failure.

Electric Fly Swatter Demo

Http://Hpisavagex46.wordpress.com. Electric fly Swatter at full charge, dealing with a pesky young cockroach that crawled up the drainage pipe. Watch the fireworks!

Work Can Never Be Hobby

Mom: When did you get this engaged in the RC hobby?

Me: When I decided tennis got downgraded to 'work', something else had to become 'hobby'.

If work and play were the same thing, it'd be pretty boring.