I'm currently at a small private school, and I realized that when I moved in, I brought in a bunch of tools (soldering iron, drills, and dremels) that I'm not supposed to have. To make it worse, my roommate is an RA. I really want to build my pedals, but don't want to get into any trouble with my possessions.
My school doesn't have any sort of electronics program, so there's not really a room on campus where I could do this stuff.
Does anyone have experience in finding a place to do electronics work in a place where these tools aren't allowed for safety reason?
Have you asked your RA?
Quote from: alanp on January 15, 2015, 05:52:03 AM
Have you asked your RA?
I've checked the student handbook. It says that appliances with exposed heating elements are not allowed, so that rules out soldering irons. I'm also sure my knives and dremels are out because they're cutting tools, which they could argue to be "weapons", not sure about my drill.
I wouldn't ask my RA, so he wouldn't have it on his conscience, because I'm not even allowed to have it on campus, let alone use it.
Maybe other students at your school build electronics too? Place a flyer in the cafeteria that you are looking to meet other electronic diy junkies. You never know? Maybe one of them has a garage ;D and you meet new people as well.
Steve.
I wonder if the baristas at Starbucks would care if you brought in your iron :)
Has anyone actually used on of the coldheat irons? Maybe they'd be ok with that.
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Look to see if you have a makerspace or hackerspace nearby. If you do, that could give you some time to build and people there might be able to help you find additional space to work. Do you have a physics program? Maybe they would be willing to let you use a lab on occasion.
Quote from: mandrewbot3k on January 15, 2015, 07:44:12 AM
I wonder if the baristas at Starbucks would care if you brought in your iron :)
Has anyone actually used on of the coldheat irons? Maybe they'd be ok with that.
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Yeah, I'm looking for places like that I can go to. I think the solder smoke would be a problem.
Quote from: RobA on January 15, 2015, 08:12:40 AM
Look to see if you have a makerspace or hackerspace nearby. If you do, that could give you some time to build and people there might be able to help you find additional space to work. Do you have a physics program? Maybe they would be willing to let you use a lab on occasion.
That's a good idea, I'll try for a science lab.
I just looked up hackerspaces and makerspaces. They charge a super high membership fee!
Quote from: brand0nized on January 15, 2015, 08:49:42 AM
I just looked up hackerspaces and makerspaces. They charge a super high membership fee!
Yeah, they can be not-so-cheap. The one around here has a student price which is quite a bit lower. Some colleges an universities have hackerspace clubs. If yours doesn't, maybe you could get one started and that could help you find space to work in because it would be more official.
Our local public library has a space for building stuff. They even have a 3D printer available. I've no idea how common this is, but I've seen that at least a few others have this sort of thing too.
Quote from: TGP39 on January 15, 2015, 06:41:53 AM
Maybe other students at your school build electronics too? Place a flyer in the cafeteria that you are looking to meet other electronic diy junkies. You never know? Maybe one of them has a garage ;D and you meet new people as well.
Steve.
This might be your best shot. If you can get a few other students who are interested you might be able to get an official club sanctioned by the school. Then you can request access to a work space. There might be a chemistry or physics lab that they would let you use.
Don't commit to actually having the tools of the trade on you, but ask someone like your RA or a professor with access to labs (chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, etc.) if there's a place you could do that kind of work.
If all else fails, look for a cheap, small, powered self-storage unit and create your own workspace there. Instant man-cave.
It is almost always to ask forgiveness than permission.
My wife's sister was part of the robotics department at UMass and they constantly had random people coming in to use the Irons and other tools. I would check to see if there is some sort of engineering or robotics lab as well. I have a friend that goes to the "Hackers space" all the time and he says it heaven for DIY addicts...like us.
Update, I've ordered a coldheat cordless soldering iron, so I hope that works out.
If all else fails, post what city you're in here. Maybe there's a local member who can share some bench space with you?
Just do it man
You're over thinking this, live life
I would go to the science lab and ask the professor if there is any time where the lab is open for personal projects and explain what it is. Most teachers like students that want to be hands on. I'm guessing you might get encouragement.
I know you just ordered the coldheat, but Hakko has this battery powered one...
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13151?utm_source=SparkFun+Customer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=46554e0c10-RegCustomerNews1-16-15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa5287abaf-46554e0c10-62036861
Quote from: brand0nized on January 15, 2015, 09:59:05 PM
Update, I've ordered a coldheat cordless soldering iron, so I hope that works out.
The "ColdHeat" and similar soldering irons are NOT recommended for electronics as they pass voltage through the tip. This has the good potential to damage ICs, diodes, transistors etc. Plus they chew through batteries very quickly. Just a FYI.
Quote from: rullywowr on January 16, 2015, 06:16:19 PM
Quote from: brand0nized on January 15, 2015, 09:59:05 PM
Update, I've ordered a coldheat cordless soldering iron, so I hope that works out.
The "ColdHeat" and similar soldering irons are NOT recommended for electronics as they pass voltage through the tip. This has the good potential to damage ICs, diodes, transistors etc. Plus they chew through batteries very quickly. Just a FYI.
Would it mess up passive components? I always use sockets for my ICs and transistors, you think it'll be safe to use?
I went to a University with strict fire policies. No hotplates, mini-fridges, Christmas trees, etc. I lived in a small hall that only had 15 guys, so my RA was always snooping around. I started soldering and my RA said he didn't care as long as I was being careful. Soldering iron wasn't actually on the fire policies, so he couldn't tell me no. If he did, I would have just chased it up the ladder the highest school employee who would hear my case. More opinions, more chances for someone to approve. The soldering iron actually got me a job in the IT department, some bench fee money from fixing random students' stuff, and I sold a few pedals to musicians at school.
I say ask your RA, don't say that you have the stuff on you, but that you want a definitive answer.
If all else fails, find an outdoor outlet, bring your card table(for the tonez), camping chair, and solder outside(weather permitting, of course).
Edit: Also, if you do start soldering on campus. Don't waste time convincing college students that you don't know how to make a bomb. They won't believe you anyway.
Quote from: pk1802 on January 17, 2015, 09:33:04 PM
Edit: Also, if you do start soldering on campus. Don't waste time convincing college students that you don't know how to make a bomb. They won't believe you anyway.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Sorry to hear about your strict policies, it's less strict over here. I think getting access to a lab will be an option, but I have to say that at my university it wouldn't be possible (at least not easily), as there is a no-student-without-supervision policy. As I'm in chemistry you can imagine the kind of stuff we have lying around (toxic, reactive substances and so on), but maybe it's another thing with EE. I know that our EE student's association even has a little work area in their rooms.
Hope it works out for you
Quote from: pk1802 on January 17, 2015, 09:33:04 PM
Edit: Also, if you do start soldering on campus. Don't waste time convincing college students that you don't know how to make a bomb. They won't believe you anyway.
Me being a chemist getting into electronics doesn't help.. :D