[Elecraft] [K2] how much harder to build: K2 vs K1?

[Don Wilhelm]

LS,

There is a Soldering Tutorial on the Elecraft website that may prove to 
be helpful - it is either on the Builder's Resource page or the 
Application Notes page if I recall correctly.  Start at Builder's 
Resource and hunt around a bit.

Pay particular attention to the heat of the soldering iron - too cold a 
soldering temperature will get you into trouble.  Use 700 deg F to 750 
deg F. to keep soldering times down to between 2 and 3 seconds - you 
will not damage components nor lift PC traces at those temperatures as 
long as the iron dwell times are short.  The solder should flow out to 
an almost invisible edge on both the solder pad and the component lead.  
Do not use more solder than is necessary - enough to fill the 
thru-plated hole is sufficient, but I like to see a very small fillet.  
If your solder looks more like a ball, either you have applied too much 
or you are not using enough heat (or both).

73,
Don W3FPR

lstavenhagen wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> Been a couple weeks here since I started this thread, but I've actually
> changed my mind and ended up going with the K2. I thought it over a bit more
> and decided that the K2 base unit has everything I wanted in it so it was
> best to just get it from the start. Also since I'm in no hurry a longer
> build time isn't of much concern. I plan to just take my time and use it as
> a learning experience (I have my 706MIIG to use on the air in the meanwhile
> too).
>
> I'm going to start practicing my soldering skills here on some junk boards I
> have too.
>
>   
>