[Elecraft] Loose Handle on K3

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Sometimes a locking compound is simply the most practical solution. Most of
the electronics equipment used in WWII had either locking compound on the
screws, safety wires in the nuts, or both. Any OT who has pulled apart a
WWII ARC-5 was greeted with a sea of little red spots on every fastener
inside!

There are times when the extra margin of safety is worth the effort. A dab
of nail polish is a benign and effective way to add that extra protection
that easily crumbles and falls off when the screw is removed. OTOH, I avoid
locking compounds such as Loc-Tite. That stuff slowly dissolves many
plastics, entirely destroying whatever it touches over a period of weeks and
months.

I've not had a K3 handle screw come loose, but the design is such that you
do *not* want to over-tighten the hardware. That will compress the handle
covers so they squeeze against the handle strap and prevent it from moving
to lie flat against the side of the K3 when it's not in use. 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
I hope not. The world would fall apart as we know it.

Locking compounds are never necessary to lock with the correct hardware and 
materials. That's why wheel lug nuts stay tight even when threads are 
greased, and why oil soaked engine and transmission bolts stay tight even 
when spun, stressed, and vibrated.

When a small screw comes loose it is because of a material problem (like 
selection of the wrong locking hardware) or tightening error. Locking 
compounds make up for other mistakes or shortfalls like too tight or too 
loose or bad hardware. If we can't fix the real problem, then we should use 
them.

73 Tom