[Elecraft] Building Techniques (was) Straigthening IC-legs

Wed Dec 18 11:15:01 2002

Hi

I have several techniques I use when building. Mt work bench is home made
from 2x4's the top has a half round 1 inch channel routed into the edge
about an inch back from the front much like a chalk holder on a chalk board.
This is a good place to put small parts like screws and/or clippings and
prevents anything from rolling off on to the floor. I use baking pans to
sort the parts before building and to prevent losing anything.

Mounted to the front edge of the bench is a aluminum yard stick connected to
ground through a 1 meg ohm resistor. This is handy for measuring toroid wire
and as a safe ground to touch before handling static sensitive parts. I also
use it to straighten IC leads. Touching the yard stick first with one hand I
press all the leads on each side against and roll the part slightly to bend
all the leads inward a little.

I keep an old cloth top style mouse pad to use under the K2's I am working
on to prevent scratches on the case.

I use a Weller WES50 with a ETA tip set at 750 to 775 degrees F for most PC
board work. I have a Hakko 706 de-soldering station (no longer made replaced
with newer model) I use Hakko CHP-170 flush cutters and Xcelite 378M needle
nose pliers. I use Kester .031 63/37 solder with #245 flux core (although I
and Elecraft recommend #44 flux for beginners).

Don Brown
KD5NDB

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen King" <[email protected]>
To: "Martin" <[email protected]>; "Charles Greene" <[email protected]>
Cc: "elecraft" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Straigthening IC-legs (was KAT100)

> I just carefully use my fingers, also, with a wrist strap.  Once you do
afew
> it is not hard or anxiety producing.  For me, along with winding the
> toroids, it is part of the CRAFT of the EleCRAFT experience!
> Peace & 73
> Stephen
> W3SMK
> K2 #2644
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Charles Greene" <[email protected]>
> To: "Martin" <[email protected]>
> Cc: "elecraft" <[email protected]>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 4:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Straigthening IC-legs (was KAT100)
>