[Elecraft] solder in kits, the sequel

[Matt Palmer]

In response to the solder comments i'd like to contribute my $0.02 :

IDM, As long as the solder is not on the prohibited list it doesn't
matter. There I said it, everyone proceed to gasp and freak out. I'm
still working on my K2 slowly, and have now used more than 6 different
kinds of solder ranging from kester, to radio shack, to multicore.
I've used various diameters from way to small to way to big. I don't
think it really matters, any solder that melts will produce a radio in
the end, you could spend a lifetime arguing about which is better and
perfecting your special solder formula, I would prefer to get a few
QSO's in instead. I will admit that a good solder is nice and
minimizes the effort and fuss, but even crappy radio shack solder
(from my testing it has been the worst so far) works though it
requires added cursing and a few rude gestures to make it cooperate.
Solder is solder despite what everyone likes to claim IMHO, and a
little practice and a decent soldering iron is worth more that
worrying about what brand/mix solder you are using. Just pick up the
soldering iron and get to work, your gonna make a mistake or two, your
going to need some practice, your going to need to let the smoke out
of a few things in the process. In the end, mental energy and effort
is better spent in actual building and use of the project than
freaking out because you don't have the magic bullet special solder.

Matt
KD8DAO

On 8/1/07, Leo Bricker <k5ldb.leo at gmail.com> wrote:
> I am a fairly new ham. I'll probably be thought of poorly by some, based on
> prior readings here, however I managed to grow up not learning to solder or
> build kits or anything similar. I have virtually no tools for such
> activities either. Based on my readings here and elsewhere I find the
> Elecraft community for the most part a totally helpful and friendly
> community. I have deluded myself into thinking that even with two left
> thumbs I may be able to build a few of their small kits and have a useful
> piece of test equipment when finished.
>
> That said, because I realize how great a difference there can be in solder
> and the significant impact it can have on the finished project, I would
> gladly pay more for my kit to have the experts at Elecraft send me the
> optimum solder for my kit. I would also gladly and thankfully accept a list
> of tools with part numbers and sources that they have found best.
>
> I will never have the level of expertise they have so these things would be
> significant assets for myself and others at similar levels. I didn't hear
> any others suggesting they include such things without proper compensation
> and am not suggesting it either. I'm suggesting they offer an additional
> option box to check off to get things that not everyone has yet and may not
> know the best choices of.
>
> --
> Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
> --
> Leo Bricker
> 73's K5LDB
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