[Elecraft] SMT - Was Re: Wayne on KNBx

[Jim Campbell]

Like it or not, we are seeing another transition in kit building.  Just 
as some of us witnessed
the transition from tubes to transistors, we are now seeing the 
beginning of the transition from
parts with leads to SMT.  I would guess that in ten years or so it will 
be increasingly difficult
to find parts with leads.  Perhaps those of us that are uncomfortable 
with SMT should start
stocking up on discrete parts and parts with leads.

I successfully made the transition from tubes to transistors and am 
beginning to embrace the
transition to SMT.  I just received one of Steve Weber's ATSIII kits. It 
is the most dense
SMT kit I have attempted so far, but I am convinced that I can do it.  
Steve did  teach me
something new about SMT.  He said to hold down the small parts with a 
toothpick with some
beeswax on it.  I could have used that info when assembling the AA-908.  
I was holding a
really small part with tweezers when "twang" it went off to somewhere.  
I never did find it
and had to wait for the arrival of its replacement.

Jim, W4BQP
Happy owner of K2 #2268 and a bunch of other Elecraft do-dads.