[Elecraft] Neurotic about Toroids

[Don Wilhelm]

Lee,

Not to worry, the enamel itself will not adhere to the solder at all, so if
you have the leads with a nice shiny tinned surface, you can know that they
have been stripped as well.

As for zapping ICs, practice safe ESD techniques at the workbench.  If you
have a wrist strap available, use it when handling ESD Sensitive devices, or
even better, also use a properly grounded (through a high value resistance)
anti-static mat on the workbench.  At a minimum, follow the instructions in
the manual to 'touch an unpainted metal surface' before handling these
devices.  The real key to safe ESD practice is to keep everything at the
same potential - before handling ICs, I make sure everything is on my
antistatic mat - that includes the circuit board, IC (still in its
anti-static foam), any tools I will use, as well as both hands, and if I
have any doubt or the air is particularly dry, I put the wrist strap on too.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> My main worry is with the stripping process.  The recommended
> method is the
> melted solder thing where you tin and strip at the same time.
> But how do you know
> you have not tinned the enamel, since the whole thing is covered
> in solder?
>