[Elecraft] K1-4 4 band version gone? (Hand SMT---Never

[Phil Wheeler]

I don't think it's a matter of technique, Bob. I 
have all the right equipment (the special 
tweezers, solder paste - in the fridge, a hot 
plate, a heat gun). And I will do small, simple 
boards -- which even a 4-band K1 would not be.

My problem is knowing that an ill timed sneeze can 
cause a serious problem - and it has. Plus as I 
age my hands get a bit shaky, another problem. So 
I avoid SMT whenever possible, to the point of 
paying someone else to do it as in a recent project.

Phil W7OX

On 7/21/14, 7:42 AM, riese-k3djc at juno.com wrote:
> while this string is open
>   
> I have used a small Iron and tweezers to position chip caps/resistors
> tack one end and then do the other end,,, I use some liquid rosin
> the multi lead devices make sure leads are centered on the board then
> tack
> one pin,,, solder the rest and use solder wick to clean up bridges
> working under a mag light,,, than I go over it with a 10 power stereo
> microscope
> static strap fer sure
>   
> however
>   
> when I built a DEM 1296 transverter board a chip cap got away from me
> and couldnt find it,, when I was done I found it sticking to my thumb
> nail
> go figure
>   
> Bob K3DJC
>   
> On Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:32:12 -0400 "Bruce Beford"
> <beford at myfairpoint.net> writes:
>> While I understand this mindset; I for one, am grateful that there
>> are
>> SMT-based kits available. I enjoy building both thru-hole and SMT
>> based
>> projects. In many cases, thru hole equivalents are not available for
>> some
>> components. I have built many all-SMT projects, notably those
>> offered by
>> KD1JV,ad formerly NJQRP (now Midnight Design Solutions), among
>> others
>