Reddit reviews Qooltek Bracket/Headband Magnifying Glass Jewelry Clock Repair Loupe with 2 LED Lights and 8 Interchangeable Lens 2.5X 4X 6X 8X 10X 15X 20X 25X for 0.5-6.2 Inch Focal Length (New Upgraded Version)
We found 3 Reddit comments about Qooltek Bracket/Headband Magnifying Glass Jewelry Clock Repair Loupe with 2 LED Lights and 8 Interchangeable Lens 2.5X 4X 6X 8X 10X 15X 20X 25X for 0.5-6.2 Inch Focal Length (New Upgraded Version). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
π Single Eye Observation - With close focal length:π¨0.5-6.2inπ¨ , it is suggested to use a single eye for viewing at area only because focus will fail when using both eyes lenses at the same time.π 8 Interchangeable Lens - 2.5X 4X 6X 8X 10X 15X 20X 25X magnifications can be interchanged quickly and put in corresponding lens storage box. Bonus: A sticky pen and a cleaning cloth are included to remove dust, dirt & fingerprints to enhance the view for the small parts.π 2 Adjustable LED Lights - can help work in low-light conditions (6 * button batteries Included). Easily rotate the LED switch cover about 30 degrees clockwise from the dot to lamplight mark to turn on the light.π Detachable Bracket and Headband - Comfortable eyeglass frame or switch to headband to ensure tight wearing and reduce fatigue for long time use.π Widely Use - Various lens for mechanical processing, beauty & makeup, jewelry appraisal, clock repair and miniature engraving, etc.πFather's Day Gift - June 20thπ
I haven't built Tides2 yet (it arrives in the mail tomorrow) but I've done some of the other 0402 Mutable stuff recently. Personally, I can't imagine doing even 0603 with an iron... it's too fiddly and the boards have too many parts.
Get a hot air station from Aliexpress and some stencils from OSH. The hot air station is awesome, I can't believe it was less than $20 -- despite being labeled 858D, it does NOT have the wiring / grounding / fuse issues that I've seen other people complain about this model who bought it a year or two ago. Everything is electrically correct and it works great. I use it with no nozzle attached and at the lowest air speed (which seems fast to me, sometimes I actually hold a finger over part of the air intake to slow it down a little bit).
I also recommend some inexpensive magnifying glasses from Amazon (links below). My preferred solder paste is Chip Quik SMD291AX10T5. Get some SMD practice boards from Ebay so you get the hang of the hot air station before you try the real PCB. They're like $1 each and include several different parts to practice with.
I've done 8+ Mutable boards in the past month with this setup (some are 0402, some have CPUs with fine pitch pins) and haven't had any major issues. Everything works. Just make sure you follow general proper procedures such as knowing how to read the Eagle files, how to test for shorts, how to follow the signal around the PCB, how to program the CPU with the JTAG/SWD interface (and how to set up the Mutable Dev Environment)... and it should be easy.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32818260663.html
http://oshstencils.com
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078JPRH2Y/
> Leica A60F
Ah! That must have been nice :) I may try getting a pair of magnifying glasses like these but I have a feeling I would be disappointed.. though, I suppose that some magnification is better than none.
This is what I use its good because it has a light, you can switch magnification, and it keeps your hands free.