Repairing stuff

I like to repair stuff...my wife on the other hand doesn't like for me to repair stuff. My new job has developed some skills to let me repair things I probably couldn't have before. I'm on a bit of a good streak with repairing things. I did a rear drum break job for a guy today. I repaired the dryer a few weeks ago, removing about a plastic bag full of lint from the machine. Dries great now. Tonight I kind of repaired my laptop. In a few weeks I need to order a part for my TV. The USB plug in the back of my laptop wobbles. That wouldnt be too much of a concern cept for the fact I plug my wireless in via USB. It also gives intermittent power to the USB wireless device plugged into it. So I venture to taking apart the lappy, and figurin out whats wrong.

Of course my wife gives me that Oh Great look, and informs me that if I break it I buy her a new one TOMORROW!!

So I take apart 50 little screws, One screen from the main body, one keyboard, some metal thingy that collects dirt, and find the culprit. The USB has become de soldered from the mother board. That's easy, I got a soldering wand around here some where...Where is it...nope not in the drawer, not in the basement...Ah Ha...found it outside on the shelf in the storage closet.

Back inside, plug it in, let it heat up and go to town...Of course I couldn't find any of my other accessories to help solder, like the flux, or the wire...but I don't need no stinkin wire....I'll just heat up the existing solder and re seat it...Nope that don't work...so off to look for the flux and solder. After about 10 mins of good hard searching...I find the flux, in a plastic box, in another storage unit, on the other side of the house, that held a hodge podge of things like break fluid, wd-40, a rag, a plastic cap, and some other fluids for autos in general. Why the flux would be in there, I have no idea. No solder though..bummer

Ok Back inside again, apply flux to both sides, and wallah! I get it to re seat. Now it doesn't wobble, and I make a few more adjustments and we are back in bidness!!!

So far I figure I've saved about 2000.00 bucks from my repairs.

I only had two small screws left over from this job. I have no idea where they came from. Nothing rattles when I shake it and I ain't pullin it apart again to figure out where they came from.

BT