Metalwork - Lathe and Mill topics

Tuesday, 28 October 2025

Re: [electronics101] Test Probes Wash 0402 LED strips

There are also tweezer test probes that have tiny metal tips connected to a pair of test leads.

They are convenient for measuring loose SMT parts on the work bench.

There are also tiny “pen-style” capacitance / resistance DMM with built in tweezers.

I use a stereo microscope when working on tiny parts. It works extremely well! My eyes are old too.

Bertho

From: electronics101@groups.io <electronics101@groups.io> On Behalf Of Andy via groups.io
Sent: 28 October, 2025 9:24
To: electronics101@groups.io
Subject: Re: [electronics101] Test Probes Wash 0402 LED strips

For probing 0402 parts, personally I think a small fixture with both probes glued to it, would not be a bad idea. They should be the right spacing for 0402 sized components. I have enough trouble getting one probe in the right place (ancient eyes), so getting two of them to both "stay put" where I want them can be a near impossibility. Having to hold only one fixture with the right probe spacing, helps with that.

I was a little surprised that you could solder to sewing needles, but honestly I never tried it. It might depend on the brand of needle, and the heat of your iron, especially if the needle is clamped in a vise for soldering.

Andy

Re: [electronics101] Test Probes Wash 0402 LED strips

Andy

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Re: [electronics101] Test Probes Wash 0402 LED strips

No question asked by me. I just explained a very good way to make test probes for working on electronics. I soldered the test wire to the eye of the needle using regular 63/37% solder with flux core. Regular flux works fine too.

Keep them very sharp and they will not slip. Very fine sandpaper can be used to sharpen them.

Bertho

From: electronics101@groups.io <electronics101@groups.io> On Behalf Of paul larner via groups.io
Sent: 28 October, 2025 7:19
To: electronics101@groups.io
Subject: Re: [electronics101] Test Probes Wash 0402 LED strips

so is anything being asked here? or am i missing something? or are they statements only?If wou made probes with sewing needles how did you solder the wires onto them and what solder and flux did you use 60/40 leaded and rosin?.

Re: [electronics101] Test Probes Wash 0402 LED strips

On Tue, Oct 28, 2025 at 07:19 AM, paul larner wrote:

so is anything being asked here? or am i missing something? or are they statements only?

I think you might have missed that this was a misplaced "reply" to another message thread about LEDs that were sold in long strips:

https://groups.io/g/electronics101/message/100099

(and its replies).

These homemade sewing needle probes were suggested as a way to probe and test those SMT diodes, but they probably do not help with that. These probes might help if the LEDs were wired in a circuit with insulated wires, such as holiday decoration wire strips in the old days when they used wires.

Andy

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Re: [electronics101] Test Probes Wash 0402 LED strips

so is anything being asked here? or am i missing something? or are they statements only?If wou made probes with sewing meedles how did you solder the wires onto them and what solder and flux did you use 60/40 leaded and rosin?.

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Tuesday, 21 October 2025

[Amateur-repairs] FS: Vintage Most-Often-Needed Radio Service Manuals by Supreme Publications #test-equipment

From an estate, an incomplete collection of Most-Often-Needed Radio Service manuals by Supreme Publications & compiled by M N Beitman. Years range from 1939 to early 1960s. I have multiple copies of some years. The manuals are in good to very good condition but all show age and signs of being stored. All pages appear fully legible and no manual appears to be missing pages. I've organized them by year and photographed the index pages of each year. 33 manuals in total, including a couple of miscelaneous. Overall photos show the range. If interested, please state the year(s) you want. $20 per manual, USPS shipping included. International shipping at an appropriate postage rate. Will sell the entire lot to an interested person; please inquire. The manuals are being advertised across multiple platforms.

Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mv2r9oxKVKwvjdqy6.

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Monday, 13 October 2025

Re: [Amateur-repairs] Test Leads

On Monday, October 13, 2025 at 04:48:09 AM PDT, Dino Papas via groups.io <kl0s=cox.net@groups.io> wrote:

Thanks for the sourcing tip on the TMP connectors, didn't know K6IOK had those available...still have to install the TS-940S PA that's sitting in the project queue, so many, so little time!

I hate those connectors, maybe a bit less than UFLs. You can make your own but you have to first find the darn connectors and then build them with RG-174/RG-316 coax, been there, done that. But as you say it's really the only way to I/O with older radios that use them for interconnects.

TNX again, and big TNX for all the work you do for our old Kenwood favorites!

73 - Dino KLØS