[Elecraft] To drill or not to drill, that is the question

[David Pratt]

A far safer method, Stephen, is to position a pin on one side of the 
board, held there with your index finger.  Apply the iron to the other 
side of the board and as the solder melts gently push the pin through 
the hole.  This then leaves a hole into which the component can be 
inserted.

73 de David G4DMP

In a recent message, Stephen <stephen at stevef.demon.co.uk> said....
>What I did was to
>use a very small drill, with a diameter smaller that that of the hole, and
>twist it gently between my fingers. This was sufficient to remove enough of
>the solder to allow me to insert the component leads without damaging the
>through hole plating.