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

[David A.Belsley]

Stephen:
    I'm glad your operation worked.  But even a small drill can do more 
damage to the plate-through than is necessary because you're not sure 
if it is going down the center of the hole, and encountering only 
solder, or if it is to the side, encountering both solder and 
plate-through.  Using a stainless-steel pin or needle is a very safe 
method.  Solder does not stick to the stainless steel.  If the hole is 
partially open, you need only stick the tip of the needle in, use your 
iron, either on the pad or directly on the pin, to heat the pin and, 
with very gentle pressure let it slowly melt its way through.  Works 
beautifully. Some larger stainless pins have nice large non-metallic 
heads, which allows one to hold it and apply pressure even when hot.  
Most XYLs have stainless pins or needles floating about.  It seems to 
go with the breed.

best wishes,

dave belsley, w1euy



On Apr 16, 2005, at 4:11 AM, 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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