[Elecraft] K3 - SMT mods

[Don Wilhelm]

Brian,

That one part of your argument I have shown below says it all for me.  
Good tools *will* last a long time and serve their purpose very well 
over their lifetime.  Some inexpensive tools are just not up to the 
task, and sometimes fail after a few uses.

I consider tool purchases carefully - both from a cost perspective and a 
durability perspective.  I would not want to spend a lot of money for a 
one off use - better to rent or borrow for that purpose.  Substitute 
tools should be used carefully because they can fail in ways to cause 
injury - but I am thinking more along the lines of wrenches that can 
slip, but I give similar consideration to the soldering tools I 
purchase.  Is it up to the job I want to do?  Will it last sufficiently 
long for my purposes? Can I justify the cost based on my use over the 
tool's lifetime (or mine), etc.  Each person has a different criteria 
for selection, the choice is an individual one.

73,
Don W3FPR

Brian Lloyd wrote:
>   Of course, tools last a long time. I am still using hand tools I 
> purchased 40 years ago.
>