Beginner's guide to helpful mic building accessories

[ElSmurf]

Speaking of soldering irons - a few years ago I upgraded from an ok better-than-cheap iron to the cheapest JBC iron with an active tip. That was a real game changer for me.

 

[CalavoBob]

I've had incredible luck going to estate sales where the person was into electronics. Keep an eye out for them. Found a Bosch and Lomb stereo microscope with room enough under it for circuit boards and mike diaphrams. Fixed a broken wire on a SM57 with it last week that was about the size of a human hair. Even found a Fluke 8060 at one, and a tap and die set at another which is really useful cleaning up damaged machine screw holes.

 

[kingkorg]

@Roman Beilharz great thread. I would add getting familiar with REW which is free, and learn how to inject and probe signals using it, with or without an additional scope. Pocket scopes are also cheap these days, and it can be quite useful getting familiar with one. Using a scope should be quite intuitive and relatively easy for anyone doing any kind of audio related work.

 

[Khron]

Speaking of soldering irons - a few years ago I upgraded from an ok better-than-cheap iron to the cheapest JBC iron with an active tip. That was a real game changer for me.

Couldn't agree more - can't imagine going back from JBC. Can't really stand the Metcals we have at work, despite the price tag

 

[pmfalcman]

I've heard they are good. Hakko FR301, uh? - Indeed, the US version is way cheaper - $ 280 vs. € 380.

But still: Around 300 bucks for a beginner's budget?! Hmm... is there a product in the 50 bucks range?!

Yup! Even less

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005676816117.html

Been using one for years with good results. It can even suck the solder completly at first try.
Sure, no good for production work but for one-off, occasional builds? Sufficient enough.

Quite recently I even managed to correct my soldering fuc...hmmm... error on an OPA 1642.

If I wanted to spend more money on desoldering tool, I'd go for an inexpensive hot air station instead.
Great for desoldering SMDs and soldering them too. Or rather the other way around

 

[pmfalcman]

As for magnifying glasses on a goose neck, headbands etc - sure, they're great although I find them a bit cumbersome. And, for a beginner building occasionally one or two mics at a time, a bit expensive.
Some 10 years ago I suddenly realised (to my greatest surprise) that my eyes lost ability to accomodate. Since then I've been using (for soldering) cheap correction glasses. Comfortable to wear, good unrestricted field of view. For really close work - +3 diopters.
Otherwise +2.
And a hand held small magnifying glass for close inspection of IC joints if I have any suspicions.
All this costs pennies, is easy to work with - just something for a beginner.

Even a bit advanced beginner since I was easily doing production runs of 50 to 100 small boards, with 32 pin Atmegas and SMD elements. Regulated (not controlled!) soldering station for 20-30 euro and +2 OTC correction glasses for 3-5 euro.

Otherwise your first, cheap microphone costs around 1500 euro/USD

 

[Bjorn Andersson]

Oh YES! Desoldering gun is important. Will add that to the list. Any good recommendations anyone? I am just using a cheap air pump/tip type, that get's stuck every once in a while - not convincing.

Oh YES! Desoldering gun is important. Will add that to the list. Any good recommendations anyone? I am just using a cheap air pump/tip type, that get's stuck every once in a while - not convincing.

This is my desoldering gun: https://www.elmisrl.it/en/product/den-on-sc-7000z-desoldering-tool/
Expensive? = Yes Reliable? = Yes Made in Japan? = Yes



But i would think the Hakko FR-301 would be a good option.
Buy expensive and cry once, buy cheap and cry many times...

 

[chazwr]

Save up the money and invest in a Fluke DMM. It will last a lifetime. I've had a Model 27 since the 80s, it is built like a tank, battery life is extremely long, and it still performs flawlessly. Also, I've had a good experience with the Elenco Soldering Station. Reasonably priced and works well.

 

[Rob Flinn]

Yup! Even less

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005676816117.html

Been using one for years with good results. It can even suck the solder completly at first try.
Sure, no good for production work but for one-off, occasional builds? Sufficient enough.

I used to use a desoldering pump like this for many years & even doing large console recaps. What I found was that most of the time it was ok, but if I was using it on old circuit boards like my MCI desk, the recoil would tear the pcb tracks up. Whilst the Hakko is no doubt expensive one has much more control when using it.

 

[pmfalcman]

I used to use a desoldering pump like this for many years & even doing large console recaps. What I found was that most of the time it was ok, but if I was using it on old circuit boards like my MCI desk, the recoil would tear the pcb tracks up. Whilst the Hakko is no doubt expensive one has much more control when using it.

No doubt it's not perfect. Not even great. Just a basic, cheap, a bit clumsy tool.
In your case even evil

Good tools are great, make work precise and fast. No doubt about this at all. I love good tools.
But we're talking here about equipment for a beginner. Somebody who starts their adventure. Nobody knows if it "clicks" and will be a great and long lasting passion or it's just a passing whim. Or they need some tools to construct one or four mics from a kit and occasionally replace a component or two.
Spending over 1000 euro/USD on tools is a bit of an overkill, isn't it?
Unless one's filthy rich. It's a pleasure then.

Over 300 euro on a desoldering gun when a guy may need to desolder 10 components in his life?
Over 600 euro for a multimetre if he's going to do very basic measurements? Few times a year.
Seriously?
A beginner!
Those are tools for a seasoned pro who's working with them on a daily basis. He needs them. A beginner wouldn't even use 1/23rd of their potential.
My take is: start with inexpensive and basic. If it turns into a passion or a job - upgrade. Do not hesitate - get really good quality tools. Best ones! Insanely expensive even!

But only these tools one actually uses often. Or if, even seldom, but there's a need for top precision.
But this need will develop with time.

I did, have done or still do a lot of different things in my life. Repairs, construction, building, you name it. I have a ton (actually +/- 300 kgs, I reckon) of different tools. I'd love to have a cupboardfull of Festool tools or and a top notch MIG/TIG welder with all the bells and whistles But I use it so "often" that a cheap one from Lidl is only sensible in my case nowadays. I've been welding for years, I know the difference in performance and time. But for actual usage the great tool doesn't make sense.

Same goes for DMMs, soldering irons or other stuff.

BTW, as I wrote before, in my experience (YMMW), a hot air station (plus a pair of good tweezers and desoldering wick) would be a better and more versatile tool than an expensive (narrowly specialised) desoldering gun.
Especially in the SMD era

 

[Roman Beilharz]

@Roman Beilharz great thread. I would add getting familiar with REW which is free, and learn how to inject and probe signals using it, with or without an additional scope. Pocket scopes are also cheap these days, and it can be quite useful getting familiar with one. Using a scope should be quite intuitive and relatively easy for anyone doing any kind of audio related work.

Thank you for your appreciation and the suggestion to add REW best practise examples and using scopes. Although measuring all my build stages already, I would love to learn more in this regard as well - as I am sure there is way more to it than I know.

As more helpful comments and ideas keep flowing in, I am thinking about splitting my list into "1. basic/must have" and "2. nice to have/advanced users". So this thread might become quite extensive on longer terms.

Hence I think for basic REW usage etc. we should start another thread (and maybe make it sticky?). And who could qualify more for this than you?

 

[rock soderstrom]

What I found was that most of the time it was ok, but if I was using it on old circuit boards like my MCI desk, the recoil would tear the pcb tracks up.

Recoil is indeed a problem.

 

[Roman Beilharz]

Great thread, not just for mic building of course. Didn't know about the Manfrotto clamp, thank you!

One hint: To be able to mount the Manfrotto clamp on a mic stand, you will also need this spigot adapter:
https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/female-spigot-for-026-1-4-20f-and-3-8-f-31mm-long-adapter-119/

As I only had spigots with outside threads at hand, I helped myself joining this spigot with the mic stand using an reducing/mic holder thread as "sleeve".

 

[ze marcelo]

Many many thanks @Roman Beilharz, I hope other experienced members will follow your example.

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

Good pair of reverse tweezers are gold, as well as a Japanese SS-02 solder sucker. That thing is incredible. I've tried multiple desoldering stations, multiple solder suckers, solder wick, and nothing beats the SS-02.

SS-02: https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-SS-02-Solder-Sucker/dp/B002MJMXD4?th=1
Reverse Tweezer Set: https://www.amazon.com/Bundle-Soldering-Tweezers-45-Degree-90-Degree/dp/B073SJD7L5

Plenty of other useful bits and bobs i've acquired and use over the years. Love having an LCR and ESR meter, a good o-scope doesn't hurt (although rarely do i need to break it out), a cheap interface you're not afraid to blow up, a signal generator, and good tweezer or hook-style probes.

 

[Roman Beilharz]

Good pair of reverse tweezers are gold, as well as a Japanese SS-02 solder sucker. That thing is incredible. I've tried multiple desoldering stations, multiple solder suckers, solder wick, and nothing beats the SS-02.

SS-02: https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-SS-02-Solder-Sucker/dp/B002MJMXD4?th=1
Reverse Tweezer Set: https://www.amazon.com/Bundle-Soldering-Tweezers-45-Degree-90-Degree/dp/B073SJD7L5

Plenty of other useful bits and bobs i've acquired and use over the years. Love having an LCR and ESR meter, a good o-scope doesn't hurt (although rarely do i need to break it out), a cheap interface you're not afraid to blow up, a signal generator, and good tweezer or hook-style probes.

Thank you very much for your recommendations, that was exactly the kind of "bang for the buck" I was looking for. And didn't know about the reverse tweezers, makes a lot sense when thinking about it! Will add both to the primary list.

 

[rock soderstrom]

I've tried multiple desoldering stations, multiple solder suckers, solder wick, and nothing beats the SS-02.

I've also been using this one for some time, the suction power is really good, but unfortunately the recoil is also quite strong.

Reverse Tweezer Set:

+1, must have! You find the best ones in the medical field, unfortunately expensive and not isolated.

My tip for safe and comfortable working with microphones are these foam inlays for microphones. The microphone always stays in the position you need, the foam literally sticks to the desk, nothing turns away, stable thing...simple but very effective. Mega bang for the buck

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

Thank you very much for your recommendations, that was exactly the kind of "bang for the buck" I was looking for. And didn't know about the reverse tweezers, makes a lot sense when thinking about it! Will add both to the primary list.

Honestly one of the better investments. It's simple really - with regular tweezers or pliers you have to tense your muscles to grip the item, which makes it inherently less steady. Letting the tweezers do the work for me has made me much more accurate.

I tried helping hands for a long time and found them to be finicky. I use pairs of reverse tweezers on the desk to hold things, or my panavise, or one of my 3D printed mic cradles (or a 3d-printed wire soldering jig for joining wires). I've tried the gooseneck helping hands and the more traditional wingnuts + alligator clips + magnifier one. I found the second one is too finicky and slow to set up, and the gooseneck ones i've used don't support much weight and the alligator clips are too small for some tasks.

One other important item - which i believe has a separate thread - is a good work light. I use an LED ring light mounted around a magnifier which is on a desk-mounted boom arm. I finally gave in and bought a boom magnifier instead of using one of the magnifying helmets and glad i did.

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

I've also been using this one for some time, the suction power is really good, but unfortunately the recoil is also quite strong.

+1, must have! You find the best ones in the medical field, unfortunately expensive and not isolated.

My tip for safe and comfortable working with microphones are these foam inlays for microphones. The microphone always stays in the position you need, the foam literally sticks to the desk, nothing turns away, stable thing...simple but very effective. Mega bang for the buck

The foam inlays are nice. I designed and 3D printed a simple adjustable mic cradle that takes two 1/4in 6" long bolts and two matching wingnuts, that gives me more solidity and more adjustability.

RE: the SS-02 - i've never really had a problem with the recoil, although yes it is strong. Usually during desoldering i mount the board vertically and add a little bead of solder to the joint if it doesn't have enough for good contact. The soldering iron heats up the joint on the bottom side and the solder sucker stays on the top side over the hole. Also like that I can reset it one-handed by pushing the plunger against my leg or the desk, making for much quicker work when desoldering multiple parts.

 

[lampas]

Bought this one for 37 EUR:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.59.3f2e1802pkdQSG
It measures up to 2Gohm, and for that price it's quite accurate ... I tested it with 1G ohm resistors ...