[Elecraft] K3 - Build impressions

[David Wilburn]

Welcome to the cult, I mean....err kit building experience, a.k.a.
Mojo.  

It is interesting to hear you talk about the initial overwhelming amount
of parts.  With my K2 I did an inventory, and broke many of the parts
out into containers for each stage.  It was a nice sense of
accomplishment watching the parts disappearing, and peeking ahead to see
that tests were going to be run.  

I bought the K2 to have a quality CW radio that I could work on.  I was
blindsided by how fun the kit building experience was, and enjoyed it
much more than I expected.
-  

David Wilburn
k4dgw at k4dgw.com
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982


On Sat, 2007-12-15 at 10:38 +0000, Stewart Rolfe wrote:
> Just finished putting K3 000145 together and as an Elecraft 'virgin' 
> wanted to pass on some thoughts.
> 
> The kit quality quite simply is superb. It all went together so smoothly 
> and there was no pushing, bending, flexing necessary in order to get 
> things to fit; screw holes just lined up exactly first time. The few 
> 'gotchas' were always predicted and well documented and illustrated. 
> Occasionally some hardware seemed to be missing but was discovered 
> lurking (logically) in envelopes in other modules so remember to check 
> before emailing Aptos.
> 
> Almost the only tool I used was the larger of the 2 cross-head 
> screwdrivers normally found in those little watchmaker kits; did every 
> screw in the kit and fitted exactly each screw head and no temptation to 
> over tighten. The fine tweezers came in handy later on for locating 
> screws in the tighter spots before screwing down.
> 
> When the kit arrived it took my breath away because of the number of 
> modules and bags etc - I'd ordered the atu and 100w module in addition 
> as well as a couple of filters. They soon disappear though as everything 
> goes together, and it took 2 sessions of 3-4 hours each to get to the 
> initial (qrp) testing/alignment stage. I do have a bone to pick with 
> them though under trade descriptions as I did actually use my soldering 
> iron to solder the terminals for the DC connector so it wasn't a 
> completely 'no solder' experience.......!
> 
> I just know the build quality is going to be a portent of the 
> performance quality.....
> 
> 73,
> 
> Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF
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