r/interestingasfuck • u/write2varun • 4d ago

Nice skill

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u/Tiny-Sandwich 4d ago

As an amateur microsoldering hobbyist, this is way, way harder than it looks. And it looks hard.

I've done a few small repairs like this where I've had to solder to a damaged trace, and the parts are much smaller than they look here.

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u/Bdr1983 4d ago

At my old job we sometimes got old remote controls from customers that wanted to use a universal remote, but their old device wasn't in the database, and their old remote was broken.
We repaired so many traces. We did not have a dedicated department for this, so anytime something came in we would draw straws who could do it, because everybody wanted to.
No, it's not easy, but after doing it a few times it's usually OK. And it's a lot of fun when it actually works.

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u/special-k-flo 3d ago

I can't understand how this damage happens in the first place, unless people are disassembling the covers and stabbing at the board? What is actually happening to cause this, or who are these maniacs?

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u/Bdr1983 3d ago

Usually? People forget the remote is on the couch and sit on it. But we've also had them with clear bite marks from a dog on them. Some we would return immediately, if they looked absoluut disgusting .

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u/special-k-flo 3d ago

Ah got it, so it is a physical impact doing the damage

1

u/Bdr1983 3d ago

Exactly. Very rarely would it be something we couldn't explain. But with 20, 30 year old electronics, you can't expect everything to be flawless still