[Elecraft] Random K2 building hints for those starting out

[Tom, W6WW]

Fingers get hot and only hold one component at a time.

73,
Tom, W6WW
K2 #3453



> 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
>