Ever chase a connector around your workbench while trying to solder it onto a cable? How many times has a phone plug rolled over on you just as you zero in on it with the soldering iron? How about trying to hold the plug between your knees while you solder it and your knees?

The newly improved SolderBuddy ACS® holds many different types of audio connectors for you during soldering, including Neutrik and Switchcraft XLR, mini-XLR, 1/4″, mini, and sub-mini phone plugs, phono (RCA) and two types of coaxial power connectors. Newly added is the accessory port for the MAG-3 a 3X magnifier or any future accessories we may come up with. No more on-the-move wires or connectors. SolderBuddy gives you a steady platform for neatly attaching connectors to cables.

SolderBuddy holds the connector for you while you work. The PostNClip keeps the wire steady so all you have to do is solder the wire into the pin. A second PostNClip (available as an accessory) can be sometimes useful to provide additional positioning options or extra stability. If you have to make your own cables, you need a buddy, the SolderBuddy®.

Recommended Accessories:
MAG-3™ three power Magnifying glass on a flexible arm. Extra PostNClip model ACS-P, Non Slip Base model NSB-A

Speaking of a new product. We have a sweet one for the lone musician, house sound guy or gal, church, school or home audio enthusiast wanting to work on their speaker connectors or musical instrument, cables.

The NEW ))SPK((™ incorporates a special vise to hold the Neutrik® Speakon® Powercon® or Amphenol® connectors, and D-Sub connectors up to the D-50. It has additional ports for the 1/4” phone, Banana plug and 3.5mm mini phone plug. The new ))SPK((™ comes with two sizes of Post N Clips the taller for the larger connectors and the shorter for the standard connectors. We have even included a strip gauge for getting your wire length exactly right every time. Finally the new ))SPK((™ has a handy screw well for those runaway little screws that are always trying to escape.

All in all the new ))SPK((™ is a great complement to the ACS™ which has the other needed audio connectors used by today’s audio/video professional, musician or cable builder or home audio enthusiast needing to  make speaker cables or better mini monitor wires.

One last thought you can use the ))SPK((™ to hold the ACS™ for even more flexibility.

Recommended Accessories:

The MAG-3 a 3 power magnifying glass on a flexible post. An extra ACS-P post for more flexibility. The Non-Slip Base model NSB-A

Hailing all Bikers, Cruisers, and Off Roaders! we’ve got something cool for you. Introducing the new SolderBuddy® Moto™ for those having to repair their old wiring or are building something new. The Moto is little enough to fit most anywhere and attaches easily to your chassis with just a zip tie and stays put until you are finished working.

The Moto has two small flexible arms or posts with pint size alligator clips that holds your wires in place so you won’t have to chase your work around the bike. The clips are small enough that they won’t bite through your insulation. There are several holes for the Flexi- postsNclips on the Moto giving you a variety of working positions to make life easier, plus you have an accessory hole for other future accessories we may develop.

The MAG-3 is a good addition for close up work or those of us who can’t see anymore and it slips easily into the accessory hole. The Moto also comes with a starter set of zip ties to get you started. All in all it’s a great little tool to help you stay on the road or trail.

Recommended Accessories:

A second set of Moto clips Mot-P, the MAG-3 a three power magnifying glass on a flexible arm, also the Non Mar Base for Moto NMB-M

Hello RC Hobbyists!
In keeping with the SolderBuddy® tradition of small toolbox soldering aids, Tingler Innovations is introducing one of its newest products, The SolderBuddy® Hobbyist RC™. With the help of local hobbyists in the area we have what we think is a real winner and a truly exciting new product.

This handy tool holds all of the most popular connectors used by RC hobbyists. They include the Deans connectors, the 3.5mm bullet, Molex, 2mm, Servo, 5.5mm power connector and many more with a convenient and stable platform for holding and soldering your connectors and other parts for your projects. No more burnt fingers or melted parts.

But wait… The Hobbyist is two products in one! The Hobbyist also includes the VersaVice. This little vice has a jaw opening width of over 1.5” for most of your needs and finally, borrowed from the original SolderBuddy ACS Post N Clip system, but for the NEW Hobbyist RC, the post has been made flexible so you can get really close to those tiny connectors.

If you are a RC hobbyist, now you can race hard, fly high or just cruise in style knowing that the new SolderBuddy® Hobbyist RC™ is in your corner making your dreams come alive.

Recommended Accessories:
The MAG-3™ a three power magnifying glass with flexible arm. An extra Flexi PostNClip for RC model HRC-P, Non Slip Base model NSB-A

CQ —Hello Hams!
This is a message from my shop to your shack. Introducing the new SolderBuddy® Hobbyist™ HAM, a wonderful little tool to help you say Hello World. The new HAM has been designed with the field QTH in mind. Now you have a stable platform for making repairs and upgrades to your Antenna, Microphones, speakers and much more.

The new HAM incorporates all of your popular connectors and even includes a vise to hold your PL259, two row D Sub connectors and other odd items. Hams get a device that has been carefully researched and manufactured with the HAM operator in mind. It includes these connector ports: 1/4″ Phone plug, 5.5mm coax plug, 3.5mm mini phone plug, male and female Phono (RCA) plug and jack ports, a DIN connector and an 8 pin plug port. Other features include a cool little screw storage well with a threaded cap to store spare screws so they won’t get lost. You also get the exclusive stainless Post N Clip system for holding your cable in proper alignment and an accessory hole for the new MAG-3™ 3X magnifier and all future accessories our shack mates may come up with. All in all I think this is a cool tool for you. I give you the SolderBuddy® Hobbyist™ HAM.

Recommended Accessories:
The MAG-3™ a three power magnifying glass with flexible arm. An extra PostNClip for HAM model ACS-P, the Non Slip Base model NSB-A

The new VersaVice RMI is the standalone vise component of the Hobbyist. It’s a versatile little vise for holding almost any small item from SolderBuddy’s to model rail road track to almost anything that is small and needing to be held for gluing or soldering almost anything you can think of.

The VersaVice has a jaw opening of over 1.5″ and a gripping depth normally of approximately 1cm or just under 1/2″. The VersaVice is just a darn sweet little vise that will help you out in a bind. Made of durable materials including all metal fully threaded rod for smooth operation for years of service, The VersaVice™ also includes the flexible Post and alligator clip with several positioning holes for added versatility.

If you need versatility with a small foot print and weighing in at just over 6oz. make it the VersaVice. If you have to have a vice, make it a VersaVice .

Recommended Accessories:

An extra Flexi-PostNClip V V-P the Non-Slip Base NSB-A

It seems like things keep getting smaller, but our eyes don’t get any bigger! The MAG-3 is a handy 3-power magnifier with a 1.5″ lens and a flexible Post. It works great on all SolderBuddy, Hobbyist VersaVice or Moto models to give you that extra-close-up view. If you’re soldering, gluing or just trying to read the words on your TV remote the MAG-3 has you covered.

The MAG-3 fits all models  made after April 2,2009, models made before then can be modified to accept the MAG-3 or any newer accessories.

Click on the photo to see it close up

Accessories, accessories, accessories. Maybe you managed to lose it, maybe you’d like extras… Some of these are applicable to multiple models, some aren’t. If you need them we have them. Just Ask!

All accessory prices are postpaid in the USA. Overseas orders go by Priority Mail at an additional cost. Faster too!

The PostNClip (flexible or not) are NOT interchangeable across the different models.

Models made before April 2, 2009 do not have the 0.187″ accessory hole. You can add this yourself, or you can send the unit back to Tingler Innovations for modification at no charge. Offer only valid with an Accessory order.

The Artful Solderer™ by Lee Tingler is an extensive guide to soldering and soldering technique relevant to anyone from circuit designer, RC or HAM hobbyist, student to audiophile. It is printed on Yupo synthetic paper which is waterproof so if you spill your coffee on it, just rinse and dry. The book highly tear resistant for tough, on the road use. Edited by Rick Chinn. Endorsed by Rick Loconto, engineer, WPBT, Channel 2, PBS, Miami; and by Bill Porter, Captain Audio Productions, engineer to the stars including Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Ann Margret, and former Professor at Webster University in St. Louis, MO.

“It’s difficult enough to do your job well, and all too seldom we find an aid available to help make it easier. However, prepare to be both surprised and pleased over the latest technical manual from Tingler Innovations, The Artful Solderer™. Lee Tingler gives exacting, step-by-step instructions that enable the professional, amateur and student alike to do a more efficient job of soldering.

It’s with both confidence and pride in a former student that I wholeheartedly recommend The Artful Solderer™ as a ‘must’ read for everyone serious about making good solder joints in all their projects.”

The Artful Solderer™ by Lee Tingler covers in Quick Chapters™:
Thoughts on craftsmanship Safety Practices Choosing your tools Wire connection prep Making great connections HVAC vs. temperature Splices Oxidation Problem solving Above is a partial list of over 20 subjects covered in a cool and concise manner.

Below is an excerpt from The Artful Solderer™.

Solder or Bubble Gum?

Both can hold a connection together. Solder is generally more accepted. Whichever you use, proper technique is a must.

1. Wipe the tip on a damp sponge to remove any crud. Do this as you bring the soldering iron from its holder to the connection.
2. Heat the entire connection, not just the wire. Use the flat of the tip held against the connection to maximize the surface area of the portion of the tip that heats the connection. Doing this helps avoid cold solder joints as well as quickly raising the temperature of the connection to proper soldering temperature.
3. As the tip contacts the work, insert the solder between the tip and the connection and allow a small quantity to melt on the tip and the connection. Remove the solder. Doing this speeds up the transfer of heat from the tip to the connection.
4. As soon as the initially applied solder melts, feed enough additional solder into the solder joint to make the final connection. Apply only enough solder to fill the hole in the cut, post, terminal, or circuit board pad. There should be enough solder to cover the connection while still showing some of the contours of the connection.
5. Do no disturb (move) the connection while it cools. If the finished connection has a grainy or frosty look, most likely you disturbed the wire as the solder cooled. Reheat the connection and let it cool undisturbed.
6. Use the second 1 – 2 – 3 method. ONE – Apply heat to the work surface. Use a small amount of solder to facilitate this process. TWO – Apply the solder to the surface of the work to complete the connection. THREE – Let the connection cool without moving the wire or part.

Lee Tingler’s experience in the electronics field spans some 40 years. As a teen he sold and installed high end audio systems in private homes. Following that he worked in the recording industry as an engineer and studio designer/builder. Later in his career he did video production and now is involved in manufacturing. In recent years Lee has taken on the mantle of college teacher in the electronics field. His specialty you guessed it a class in soldering techniques. His interest in helping the students become more than just wire attacher’s but well rounded people. He has also developed college classes for other related subjects.

Throughout his business life, he has maintained a passion for perfecting his knowledge and mastery of soldering techniques.

Now having made over two hundred thousand connections, mostly soldered, he brings you this knowledge in a cool concise form accessible by all in The Artful Solderer™.