Worth investing in reballing tools?

It's the thought of dismantling that many machines right down to the mobo for a living that fills me with despair!
 
Consider the other advice given here too. Don't take the plunge soley on my comments.

As I've never done this before, I'm not sure how many machines you'll ruin before you get the hang of it. I didn't think it would be a lot anyways, but I'm probably wrong about that.


Just letting you know why $100 to $150 to reball a first gen system would be worth it.
 
brandonkick said:
Consider the other advice given here too. Don't take the plunge soley on my comments.

As I've never done this before, I'm not sure how many machines you'll ruin before you get the hang of it. I didn't think it would be a lot anyways, but I'm probably wrong about that.


Just letting you know why $100 to $150 to reball a first gen system would be worth it.
Click to expand...
I kind of already had my mind made up that this would be something I'd like to do as well before I even posted. The others do have good points, and I agree with them. But I see this also as to be the only one who does this in my area.

I do see this as a gamble, but I also think I could get ROI from recycled dead PC's, then practice on them, if they work, great, send them back out into the world. If I mess it up, then strip it and move on. But the ones that do work should be able to be sold and help pay for the equipment faster. Once its all paid off, then its just sitting there ready to make you money. And then so what if you only get one once a month. Thats a once a month money maker you didn't have before.
 
MobileTechie said:
It's the thought of dismantling that many machines right down to the mobo for a living that fills me with despair!
Click to expand...
I kinda actually like the physical side of computer services rather than the software side. Sure both are interesting, but I like working with my hands too, and this kinda work would fill the need for me.

Maybe I'll burn myself out later on it, but for now, I'm still enjoying it!
 
For our viewpoint, reballing or reflowing is temporary at best. The majority of the issues are due to bad design and mainly of Nvidia graphics chips on HP and a few Dell series laptops. You may be able to reflow the solder connections but it is just inevitible that it will rear its ugly head again. We did this on about 50 HP dv2000s and dv6000s at $105 each. They worked for about a month and back again. Didn't do any good to buy new boards because they came equiped with the same issues. I had one of my 'seasoned' techs convince me to spend $1200 on equipment to carry this out. Anybody want a good deal on some minimally used reballing equipment?
 
The nVidia chips made before 2010 had a design problem, so reflowing/reballing them didn't solve the underlying problem. You need to replace the chip with a new design model (made in 2010 or later).
 
brandonkick said:
If you have the $1000 to $1500 to invest in a decent proper starting setup, you can make money for sure.

As I've said, reworking laptop/ps3/xbox 360 motherboards are going to be a lot of your business BUT it shouldn't take very long to get your money back. Anything after is icing and you now have another great tool / service in your arsenal.

Jokers may post on craigslist about $40 reworks but their work is almost always of inferior quality and they probably wind up damaging more boards then they fix.
Click to expand...

definitely, we have several of them in our area but they tend to get the cheapskates and customers we dont want

a few customers compare us with them but when we explain the difference they usually understand
 
djyox said:
All good points.

But, what happens when the new xbox/ps4 have the same problems again. We have all seen that the designers/engineers of these things don't learn their lessons from the past.

With that being said, and the cheapness of xbox's and soon to be cheaper, they look like a good practice option.

Don't forget if you have successful repairs on the practice, you should be able to at least get your money back out of the repair and enough extra for a coke.
Click to expand...

with the switch to lead free solder then yes they will
unless lead comes back which it wont then if you start now you can get some real cheap practice by buying cheap systems and repairing then when the next gen comes out you are ready
 
djyox said:
Isn't reflow just putting a bandaid on the problem, where as, reball is fixing the issue of the lead-free solder? Sure it doesn't fix the cooling issues.

Maybe reflow is where I should cut the line... I am wondering what the startup costs will be all in to learn how to reball. Because again, we haven't talked much about the laptops. Ones where people are basically throwing them away. Unless you bill yourself the same labor price as your customers, those will become more of a profit rather than just stripping it down to parts, and could then become a cheap laptop for someone to upgrade to, and almost all profit in your pocket.


Maybe I'm way off in my thinking. But if lets say start up (not including practice items) is $1000, thats ten repairs to get ROI... more or less. Then once its paid for, and your skillset is inplace, its just waiting to make you money. AND you're more than likely going to be one of the few in the area who does this type of work. I also see a small craigslist ad campaign of reflow vs. reball to get some business flowing in.
Click to expand...

lets put it this way, a laptop comes in and has a faulty gpu
you find the part online for $250 and obviously have to make something off of it but the customer says its too much so thats done

now you fix the gpu and charge $200 and its roi, since your not buying a replacement board
 
brandonkick said:
Consider the other advice given here too. Don't take the plunge soley on my comments.

As I've never done this before, I'm not sure how many machines you'll ruin before you get the hang of it. I didn't think it would be a lot anyways, but I'm probably wrong about that.


Just letting you know why $100 to $150 to reball a first gen system would be worth it.
Click to expand...

a used console is around $150 in our area
customers bring that up and we simply say thats true but it could die next wk with our repair or refurbished system you get a full warranty

as i mentioned most of our business is just reworking
 
River Valley Computer said:
For our viewpoint, reballing or reflowing is temporary at best. The majority of the issues are due to bad design and mainly of Nvidia graphics chips on HP and a few Dell series laptops. You may be able to reflow the solder connections but it is just inevitible that it will rear its ugly head again. We did this on about 50 HP dv2000s and dv6000s at $105 each. They worked for about a month and back again. Didn't do any good to buy new boards because they came equiped with the same issues. I had one of my 'seasoned' techs convince me to spend $1200 on equipment to carry this out. Anybody want a good deal on some minimally used reballing equipment?
Click to expand...

Many people say this, and it comes down to an improper repair or using improper equipment

I am glad though you did not say generally and said from your viewpoint

If you were to tell me which equipment you used, your profile and setup i could definitely get your repairs lasting longer, we have consulted a few companies this way and they were extremely happy with us

After repair you should do a prime95 stress test, if it passes overnight then the machine should last

We have a about 3% of customers return to us with warranty claims

Now bad design and cheap components are definitely there, but 99% of issues are simply BGA related

Many of the hp laptops are horribly built and no amount of work will fix them
We have recently repaired 3 dv4 notebooks and they have not come back in just around 3 mths

The dv series we dont even take them in anymore because success is limited and a waste of time but other models work just fine
 
Larry Sabo said:
The nVidia chips made before 2010 had a design problem, so reflowing/reballing them didn't solve the underlying problem. You need to replace the chip with a new design model (made in 2010 or later).
Click to expand...

Some models that is correct sir, using 2nd gen versions was the only solution
 
acesdeals, you're either a good BS'er or you know what you're talking about. Either way you got me sold. Would you mind if I PM'ed you, to help me get started down the path of this stuff? I'm not even 100% sure of what all the equipment is exactly just yet.
 
im a total bser
this is my boss bsing my employees with teaching :cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqLN4A-HRw

if you send a pm, tell me your budget and which devices you want to rework
then i can offer some suggestions, or just keep it in the thread so if another wants to start they have the suggestions there
 
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That was me trying at an internet forum joke. It sounds like you know your stuff. I'll shoot you a PM.


EDIT: actually, I did send you a PM, but maybe its a better idea to keep it in the thread for others to come and look down the road.
 
Last edited:
djyox said:
That was me trying at an internet forum joke. It sounds like you know your stuff. I'll shoot you a PM.


EDIT: actually, I did send you a PM, but maybe its a better idea to keep it in the thread for others to come and look down the road.
Click to expand...

I vote for thread. I'd be interested in hearing this!
 
Interested too.

This is something I have been thinking about for some time, but afraid to take the plunge.

Would also vote for keeping it in the thread :)
 
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