[Elecraft] OT: Another quick question about solder...

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

We've gotten into cleaning vias so much I should point out that it is NOT
necessary to clean out the via to do a good job. A clean via just makes
things a little easier. 

First, you do not need to pre-assemble the resistor/diode pairs like the
Preliminary and Rev A instructions described (The Rev B instructions now on
the web site no longer contain those steps). Since Wayne worked out exactly
how to position the parts, you can trim one lead and install each one in a
via first, then bend and trim the leads to join the diodes and resistors
after they are secured to the vias. That really makes installing them much
easier.

To solder the parts to the vias, you can:

1) Simply cut the lead short and lay it *on* the via filled with solder, and
touch the combination with your iron carrying a small drop of solder. The
resulting joint will be plenty strong enough, or

2) You can trim the lead short after bending it to go into the via, (which
you need to do anyway if passing it through so the wire doesn't stick out on
the other side of the board), then hold the lead next to the body of the
part with your long nose pliers, place the cut end against the filled via,
and heat the via and lead with your iron until the solder melts and the wire
moves into place into the via. It will help if you tin the cut end of the
component lead with a little solder first.

In any case, once you have the diode/resistor pairs all mounted and
soldered, if you aren't completely happy with one of the joints it's easy to
go back and re-heat the suspect joint. The part should stay in place since
it is held by its other lead. That's something I always do when installing
parts in a tough spot: get them in and "tacked" in place, then go back and
finish any poor-looking solder joints.  

Ron AC7AC