Recent content by Carl B.

Honestly, I’d be pretty nervous relying on 140-year-old gas pipes. I imagine most insurance companies wouldn’t be too happy about that either. And yeah, back in the day, the gas wasn’t as refined, it might’ve had all sorts of stuff in it, like moisture and sulphur, which could’ve eaten away at...

I’ve used the Hakko 936 clone (like the Yihua 936A) for years — solid temperature control and thin tips that are perfect for radio work. They’re not fancy, but I’ve recapped dozens of boards with no issues. Just make sure you get one with genuine tips — the knockoff ones burn out fast.

I’m designing a hot water recirculation loop for a second-floor bathroom that takes forever to get warm water. I was thinking of using PEX-A for the loop, but someone told me continuous recirculation might degrade it. Should I switch to copper for the return line? Or is high-temp PEX fine?