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

[Mike W]

I don't think drilling out a THP hole is a very good idea.

What I use is a wooden cocktail stick ( bought in lots of 1000 for a 
quid from your local Pound Shop ) or a wooden toothpick that I have 
previously preformed by gently pushing it through an empty THP hole 
of the correct size.
I then heat the hole to be cleared until the solder melts and then 
push the stick through the molten solder. Its easy, non destructive 
and very quick to do.

I also use this wooden tool to prevent ingress of solder to ajacent 
holes when soldering a component located close to other THP holes.

hope this helps someone.
atb Mike W, G8NXD qthr

On 16 Apr 2005 at 9:11, Stephen wrote:

> Gentlefolks,
> 
>  I did not explain myself very well in the previous post. 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. I was lucky enough to find a small
> box of 50 or so PCB drills in different sizes, from very tiny through
> to about 2 mm at a stall at Dayton some years back for, I think, $10. 
> 
> 
>  I only resorted to this approach because my Weller de soldering
>  station, 
> which i was given for free seems to have developed a fault and I had
> nothing else to hand. It is a Model DS 801, The symptom is that whilst
> the tip heats up, no matter what the temperature setting, it will not
> melt solder ;-(. The green LED flashes at about 1 Hz which is possibly
> a fault indication.  if anyone has a manual for one, or knows what the
> fault is i would be greatful for some assistance. 
> 
>  Of course the real answer is for me to pay more attention to the
>  manual in 
> the first place. ;-). It is a beautiful morning over here in Norfolk,
> England...do I melt more solder...or garden...that is the
> question..... -- Stephen Farthing
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