[Elecraft] Random K2 building hints for those starting out

[Harry Yingst]

Fingers work best



--- Bob - AG5Q <AG5Q@attbi.com> wrote:
> > Masking tape works better for me than bending leads to temporarily
> hold
> > parts in place while soldering.
> 
> I don't feel comfortable using tape in contact with components
> because of the possibility of static electricity.
> One crude test of your tape is to unroll it in a totally dark room.
> If you can see sparks, it's pretty charged up.
> 
> I just did an experiment with a roll of masking tape and a roll of
> plastic electrical tape.
> I put the roll on my finger so it would turn easily and as I quickly
> unrolled several inches of tape, I could see a blue line where
> the tape was separating from the roll.  This discharge was visible
> for both rolls. I don't know how long the static charge persists,
> but it's there at least for a while.
> 
> For the K2 assembly I bent the leads a little bit on a few components
> at a time and then soldered only one lead of each component in
> the group and checked them.
> If a component did slip while the board was upside down, I only had
> to reheat one lead to reseat it.
> 
> This is not a perfect solution by any means.  There is a trade off
> between the risk of reheating a component vs. the risk of static
> charge.  I think static charge is especially insidious  because you
> may be soldering resistors which are not likely to be affected,
> but the tape might be in contact with a previously mounted FET or IC
> that is sensitive.
> 
> 73/ Bob - AG5Q
> 
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=====
--

Harry - AB2PN

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