[Elecraft] Few Ideas & a Question

[Don Brown]

HI

2)

I mounted a metal yardstick to the front edge of my bench and connected =
it to ground through a 1 meg resistor. I always touch the yardstick =
before I handle any static sensitive parts. In fact most of the time I =
will rest my arm on the edge of the bench touching the yardstick when =
building.

3)=20

If you will flatten your solder braid with your needle nose pliers it =
will work better. Most real solder braid has flux already in it. If you =
are using the shield from coax or ground braid then you will need to add =
some flux to make it work. Many years ago we used the rubber covered =
test prod wire for solder wick. You could just nick the insulation with =
your cutters and peel the wire like a banana. Then we would dip the wire =
in some liquid rosin flux and use it to wick off the excess solder. This =
was the NASA approved method when I worked at a subcontractor building =
Saturn 5 rocket systems.


If you will place the IC pins pointing up against the front of the work =
bench and roll the IC you will bend all of the pins on that side . Then =
flip the IC over and do the other side. I use the metal yardstick on the =
front of the work bench to roll the pins against. Always place your palm =
on the metal yardstick before touching the IC pins to the stick. This =
will discharge any charge on your body so it will not flow through the =
IC. Or even better wear a wrist strap. WARNING all wrist straps or other =
static grounding systems must be connected to ground through a 1-10 meg =
ohm resistor to prevent a shock hazard. Wearing a wrist strap without =
this resistor is like messing about with electricity while standing in =
the bathtub filled with water.=20


Don Brown
KD5NDB
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Dennis Payton=20
  To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net=20
  Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 11:12 PM
  Subject: [Elecraft] Few Ideas & a Question



  SNIP

  2.) I don't take the "officially" proper precautions when working with
  static-sensitive components, but believe I create a static-free =
environment
  by building on a slightly dampened cloth, laying the parts on it, and
  keeping my forearms on it.



  3.) When using solder braid to clear holes, I first put a drop of =
rosin
  between my fingers and rub it into the braid. I believe the rosin =
helps even
  the crummiest braid to work pretty well. I also keep rosin flux handy =
when
  soldering, and any time there's a question of solder flowing into a =
joint
  properly, I dip my solder into it.



  4.) To me, a small piece of perfboard, such as 3/4" x 3", is a great =
help in
  installing resistors. I use it to measure the spacing of the holes in =
the
  board, then to bend the resistor leads before installing them.



   I also have a curious question - one I ask almost every time I build
  something: Why don't they manufacture IC's with the correct spacing =
between
  the pins? Since I've been building, I've broken a few pins, and put =
more
  than a few holes in my fingers bending them. I suspect it has to do =
with
  them being built to be handled & installed by machines, not people.



  Thanks,



  Denny Payton    N9JXY

  Auburn, IN




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