[Elecraft] K2 #3421 finished

[Daniel Reynolds]

K2 #3421 was completed with battery option in six days - two very long days of
building last weekend (including Easter morning services), and a couple
evenings of finishing up the 3rd phase. Tuned it up at work on 80-10, and it
managed 11+ Watts and better than -130dbm (I think it was -137) receive on 40m.
Buddipole and Palm Keyer are arriving today, and I'm looking forward to QRP To
The Field this Saturday.

Some notes - the Radio Shack temperature controlled soldering iron (with
grounding option) worked like a charm. I ran it at 700 deg F for the entire
build except for 750 when using desolder wick. Towards the end of build I began
to wish that I had filed down the tip to a finer point (it felt like doing
needle point with a crowbar). I also utilized the Radio Shack ESD matt and
wrist strap... in fact, all the tools I used were from Radio Shack (around
$137). Soldering iron, solder, desolder wick, hemostats, non-serrated needle
nose pliers, flush cut wire cutters, mini screwdrivers. The only thing that I
used that wasn't from there was a mini butane torch (pocket lighter) for
melting/burning insulation. I think by utilizing the ESD protection and the
temperature controlled iron, it reduced my chances of zapping or cooking
sensitive semiconductors. My DMM was from Radio Shack, but I had bought that
earlier (around $40... closeout from $90). I don't like Radio Shack for most of
their inflated prices and lack of knowledgable staff, but they had what I
needed to start building right away.

Only messed up assembly at one point when I attached P1 to the top of the RF
board. That took 30-60 minutes to remove and reinstall. I ended up breaking P1
into two (almost three) pieces while attempting to extricate it from the
board... heat up each solder joint (after using solder wick) and gently pry P1
from the board working from each end. For aesthetics, I may one day replace P1,
but for now it works.

Thank you for producing an excellent kit. I'd be sad about finishing the K2 and
having to mothball the new iron except that I have the tuner, audio filter, and
noise blanker to build.

A very satisfied builder who is waiting for his Buddipole and matching Palm Key
to arrive today...
- Daniel/AA0NI