[Elecraft] KX1 construction questions

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Paul, N8XMS wrote:

My KX1 has just arrived and I am hoping to have construction completed in
time for good-weather field operations.  Before I start building I would
appreciate any and all opinions on the following questions:

1.  Elecraft recommends an ESD-safe temperature controlled soldering
station.  I have a simple Radio Shack 25-watt soldering iron that I have
successfully used for all of my previous kits, including a TenTec Tkit 1320,
Wilderness Radio SST40, and an Elecraft K1.  Have any of you built the KX1
with a similar iron or is the upgrade really needed?

2.  Elecraft also recommends flush-cutting diagonal cutters.  I currently
have a pair of miniature cutters.  They are not flush-cutting, but they can
probably get within 1/16".  Are the spacing tolerances that crucial?

3.  I have never used a conductive wrist strap on my other projects and have
done fine.  Do I really need to wear one for the KX1?

4.  If any of the above tools are really needed, do you have suggestions on
economical sources for purchasing them?

----------------------------------------------

The manuals are written to give the average builder a confident path to
success. 

I've worked on boards more tender than that in the KX1 using a
butane-powered "Port-A-Sol" soldering iron that was hot enough I could also
mount SO-239 connectors, but it was out of necessity, not choice. If you are
good enough with your uncontrolled iron, you can get away with it. The
problem is that you only find out whether you are good enough by whether pcb
traces or pads come off the board stuck to the tip of your iron. It's a bit
late by then. 

Consider the cost of a good set of tools compared to the cost of your kits:

A Hakko 936 ESD-safe soldering station is about $90. 

A good wrist strap such as the Elenco is all of $5.

Nice Hakko flush cutters are a whole $11.

A good plunger-type desoldering tool is $20. 

Those are prices from
http://www.tequipment.net/

I have no connection with Tequipment other than as a customer. Certainly,
there are many other sources. And sometimes all it takes is a little effort
with what you've got on hand. For example, I found myself needing a good set
of flush-cutters some years ago. I had lost mine - a natural consequence of
working on large ships every day. If I forgot to pick up a tool when I was
done, it'd be halfway to Singapore before I missed it. That day I had a
grinder nearby so I grabbed a pair of cheap Radio Shack diags I had around
for cutting stuff I didn't want to use my good tools on. I had noticed that,
in spite of chomping through a variety of things, the RS cutters were still
not nicked. So I used the grinder to sharpen them from the flat side,
working carefully to avoid going too far. I just ground them to a flat face
on that side. That was 10 years ago! They are still sharp and flat. Your
mileage may vary. RS may have accidentally gotten some good steel cutters
<G>. My point is that you can get a little creative and adapt what you have
on hand at times. 

I am a strong believer in learning to use the tools I have on hand to their
best advantage. Still, that's no excuse for not using the proper tools for
the job. Using the proper tools leads to the proper state of mind when
working on gear. After all, as the wise old sage observed, "When all you
have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail."

Ron AC7AC