On Fri, 16 May 2014 14:21:42 -0500, Jon Elson
wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:

I had a huge struggle with soldering a couple of DB-9 connectors, my
vision and fine motor control just aren't what they used to be. And, I
only had to make 5 connections on the DB-9's, it took me close to an
hour. These are for a DRO, I've been using a break-out box until now on
the mismatched scales and display. Remember, the display bit the dust a
while ago.

I did have the connectors locked in a miniature vice but I couldn't
think of any other techniques that would help.
Well, the right tools really help. Since I do this stuff for a living,
I have the RIGHT tools for this stuff. Resting the wrist or forearm on
something so you only need to move the fingers a bit should help. Doing
fine soldering "freehand", where you have no support except at the shoulder
is going to be really hard! I probably do this so much by reflex I
am not even aware I am using such support.

Of course, I do stuff way smaller than a typical D connector, then I have
to use a microscope, tweezers, etc.

Jon

The keyboard wrist rests you can buy at the puter places work pretty
well for this..particularly if you glue/stack 2 of them on top of
each other (flat foam ones..the cheapies)


--

"
I was once told by a “gun safety” advocate back in the Nineties
that he favored total civilian firearms confiscation.
Only the military and police should have weapons he averred and what did I think about that?

I began to give him a reasoned answer and he
cut me off with an abrupt, “Give me the short answer.”

I thought for a moment and said, “If you try to take our firearms we will kill you.”"