[Elecraft] Random K2 building hints for those starting out

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

There's a reason why bending component leads is such a 'standard' =
approach
to holding parts in place while soldering.=20

I, too, like doing one part at a time. And, if it's likely to move, I =
solder
one lead, double check the fit so I can just reheat one connection while
pushing it down in place on the board, then proceed with soldering the =
rest
of lead (s).=20

I also do a fair amount of what I call "tack soldering". That is, I =
touch a
lead and pad with a iron that is slightly "wet" with solder without =
adding
any more solder. That 'tacks' the lead in place while I check the fit =
but it
isn't really soldered so hard it takes a lot of heat (or ends up with =
too
much solder on the pad) to adjust things. Then I solder the other =
lead(s)
first, coming back to the "tacked" lead last to finish it.=20

It's easier to "tack" a lead while holding the part/board with the other
hand as well if one doesn't need to add any solder with a "third" hand, =
Hi!
By bending leads, I only ever need to "hold" a very unusual part.=20

Keep in mind that Elecraft boards require very LITTLE solder with those
plated-through holes NO "fillet" around the lead is needed.. Just solder =
"in
the hole" to join the lead to the pad. I can't help but wonder if a some =
of
the ops who worry about cleaning their boards aren't really using too =
much
solder.=20

Dwell time of the iron on the joint should NEVER exceed about 2 or 3
seconds! One of the biggest dangers to good solder joints is too COOL of =
an
iron. Not only does the solder not flow properly some times, but the =
iron
gets left on the joint too long while it slowly brings the temperature =
up,
overheating the components. Use a high enough temperature that you can =
get
on and get off in 2, or at the most 3, seconds -  every time.=20

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289



-----Original Message-----
I only do one part at a time (a lot harder for me to screw up that way)

If your fingers are getting that hot then your cooking the component,

so it also serves as a heatsink/indicator that your dwelling too long or
need to turn up the heat on your iron.

--- "Tom, W6WW" <tom@cwx.com> wrote:
> Fingers get hot and only hold one component at a time.
>=20
> 73,
> Tom, W6WW
> K2 #3453