[Elecraft] Central Tendency of K2 PCB Solder Pad Widths?

[Tom Hammond]

Hi Jeff:

I don't believe it has to be quite that 'analytical' an 
approach.  The intent of my comments in the article were to try to 
urge builders to use a soldering iron tip width which would not 
easily overlap the pad width, thus promoting the potential for 
dragging excess solder between pads or pads and lands.

I've built numerous K2's and other Elecraft rigs and, for the most 
part, I think I've just about always used a 1.6 mm width tip.  I 
believe I did go to a somewhat more narrow tip when I built the KX1, 
because it was more densely populated, and thus more prone to 
offering chances for shorts between pads/lands.

The idea is to just use a tip that's large enough to carry as much 
'heat' to the joint as possible, while not being so wide that it 
easily allows you to overlap the pad with the width of the tip.

Hope this helps.

73,

Tom Hammond  N0SS

At 21:09 10/28/2009, Jeff T. Casey wrote:
>Hi gang,
>
>This document on the Elecraft web site,
>http://bit.ly/solderingtips
>says,
>"[Soldering iron] tip width will normally be in the range of 1/32" 
>(0.79mm) through 1/8" (3.2mm), depending upon the width of the pad 
>to which you are soldering. The width of the tip selected should be 
>about 75% to 90% of the width of the pad."
>
>What would you estimate to be the median or modal (or just typical 
>;-) solder pad width on the K2's circuit boards?
>
>Or, to be more direct, which of the following soldering tip widths 
>would be best for use in building a K2: 0.80 mm, 1.19 mm, 1.60 mm, or 2.40 mm?
>
>Or am I just splitting hairs?
>
>Thanks very much, 73 & 72,
>Jeff
>NE2J (formerly WB5GWB)
>
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