[Elecraft] Construction question

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Clint, WS1V asked:

When you install a component on the printed side of the circuit board, and
then you tip the board over to solder, what are accepted methods to keep the
compenent from falling off?  I've read that you should bend the leads to
hold the component onto the board but I was wondering if this is the only
acceptable way?

----------------------
Bending the leads is a common approach for components with easily-bent
leads, but it is not the only way. 

One technique that I use (and you'll find described in some Elecraft
assembly manuals) is what I call "tack-soldering". In that case you position
the part and hold it with the finger(s) of one hand while you use your other
hand to touch the solder pad and one lead on the bottom of the board with a
soldering iron that has been wetted with a drop of solder. 

This will transfer a small amount of solder to the lead and pad to hold the
part in place. Then you can check positioning and make adjustments quite
easily, if necessary, since only a tiny dab of solder is holding the part in
place. Once satisfied with the placement, you the solder the OTHER leads
first, going back to the original tack-soldered lead and soldering it
properly last.

A last note - you mentioned dealing with CMOS. Wear a grounded wrist strap
or touch an unpainted, grounded metal surface frequently while you work to
avoid damaging the CMOS devices with static electric charges accumulated on
your body. Depending upon the climate where you are, just wiggling a bit on
your chair can produce destructive charges. Do not attach yourself to a
ground directly, except when you touch a ground. If you use a wrist strap,
it should have at least a 1 megohm resistor in series with the strap and
ground to prevent the possibility of a serious electrical shock. 

Ron AC7AC