[Elecraft] Kit or factory assembled K3?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Age attacks us all differently. I'm in my mid-70's and don't hesitate to
tackle a build, even one using very small SMDs. If you can assemble
something using 4-40 hardware, you can build a K3. 

However, I can no longer run five miles on the beach. That's a bummer. 

As my friend Fred and I have often noted, ageing is not for wimps. 

73, Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
Hi Dick,

I've built all my Elecraft radios and accessories [K2, KX1, K3, P3, KPA500,
KAT500, and a W1].  I was 63 when I built the K2, it took a lot of
concentration and no building if tired or had a glass of wine or a beer with
dinner.  I banned the vacuum from the room for the duration.

I built my KX1 when I was 64.  Smaller project, tighter quarters, equally
hard.  I built my K3 [S/N 642] when I was 65.  It's all mechanical, but
quite a bit of the work required good fine motor coordination.  It went OK.

I'm 72 now, about to score another birthday.  I *might* consider building a
K2, it's all thru-hole parts.  I wouldn't build a KX1.  I built my KPA500 a
year or so ago, like the K3, it's basically mechanical, there are wires and
cables to connect.  Again, fine motor coordination and reasonably good
vision required.  The toroid power xfmr is fairly heavy.  KAT500 went
together fairly quickly.

If you're 85, you might consider the extra cost of the factory assembled
unit, especially if you don't have good vision, a way of measuring screws,
and generally good dexterity with small parts.

Just my experiences, if I live to 86, given the progress of my old injuries,
I doubt I'd build a K3.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
- www.cqp.org

On 5/26/2013 12:22 PM, Richard W Hemingway wrote:
> One more question: Kit or factory assembled K3?
>
> Thanks for your help. I am practically 86 but I think that I could handle
the kit.
>
> Dick, N5XRD