[Elecraft] Can't wait!

[Ron D' Eau Claire]

> I just ordered the K2 and KSB2...
> (1) Soldering station. (Which station and where can I find one?)
> (2) Solder to use (and where can I find it?)
> (3) Aproximate space for the building environment.  Will an 8ft folding
> table be sufficient to lay out the kit and perform the build?
>
> 73 de kc4kgu (John)

Congratulations John. You are in for a lot of fun!

I'll let others with more information about those new-fangled soldering
station things tell you what works best. There a LOT of expertise on here.

Watching the messages here over the past year or two, it seems that plain
old 60/40 rosin core solder is still the most preferred. I can't see any
difference between the Radio Shack variety and Kester, but then I think that
a 'fine wine' is Chianti in a jug.

Some builders used 'silver' solder and 'no clean' types of solder. Some ops
swear by removing any and all traces of rosin off of their boards after
soldering. I never have, and a lot of my joints are over 50 years old
(solder joints in my radios as well as those in my body). Silver solder has
been accused of being very hard to remove from the through-plated holes
without damaging the plating. Reports say it doesn't want to wick out or
blow out using desoldering tools. The "no clean" types of solder seem to be
too light on flux for good joints in the hands of many builders - especially
when tinning toroid leads.

Speaking of toroid leads, be SURE to tin them well before installing them,
and tin them right up to the core so you don't pull the enamel down into the
solder joint when you install them. If you need service, you will be in
touch with Gary at Elecraft. I understand that Gary has a special torture
for anyone sending him a PTTL (poorly tinned toroid lead). Something as bad
as the Wouff Hong that ol' Hiram wielded back in the old days. Not sure what
it is, but it bet "it ain't pretty". Even if he doesn't inflict it on you,
PTTL's give him nightmares. Be nice to Gary.

Space? When was whatever space you had enough?  I built my entire K2 on a
portable drawing board measuring 2 ft x 3 ft. Unneeded supplies stayed in
the bags in the Elecraft box next to my work position. I find it easier to
stay organized if I don't spread parts over half an acre of bench top. It's
an old habit born of years of working on equipment in the 'field' wherever I
could find a little space.

CAUTION: UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOLLOWS...

Take you time! Take your time! Take your time!

It's a demonstrated fact that rigs built quickly often take longer to become
operational than those built carefully. It takes much longer to locate and
correct an error than it does to do it right in the first place.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289