[Elecraft] K3 - SMT mods

[Brian Lloyd]

> This was the first time I had worked on surface mount, although I  
> have more than 20 years experience of PCB work from a previous job.
>
> An amateur grade heat gun on an expensive K3 sounds like a disaster  
> in the making to me! Proper SMD hot air re-work stations cost  
> thousands, they cost that much for a reason.

I picked up a temperature and airflow-controlled hot-air rework tool  
for about $100. Different tips allow me to control airflow to the  
precise area of the board to be worked. It makes removing parts a  
piece of cake. I have even used it on things like chip sockets on  
through-hole boards. I got it from these guys:

http://circuitspecialists.com

They have good, inexpensive solder and rework stations too.

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Brian Lloyd                         Granite Bay Montessori
brian AT gbmontessori DOT com       9330 Sierra College Blvd.
+1.916.367.2131 (voice)             Roseville, CA 95661, USA
                                    http://www.gbmontessori.com

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

PGP key ID:          12095C52A32A1B6C
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73 de Brian, WB6RQN
Brian Lloyd - brian HYPHEN wb6rqn AT lloyd DOT com