Mike,
If you have only limited experience soldering, check out the Soldering
Tutorial on the Elecraft website. Most problems are caused by poor
soldering, followed by poorly stripped and tinned toroid leads, and that
followed by misplaced components.
A quick insight on soldering - the old thinking of using a minimum
soldering time to avoid damage should be discarded with modern
temperature controlled soldering stations - that was for the old days of
non-controlled irons that got very hot.
We now have boards with thru-plated holes and components that will
withstand soldering temperatures for at least 5 seconds. I normally use
a temperature of 750 degF.
Watch for the solder to flow as you solder. It should wick out
completely onto the solder pad and the component lead in 2 to 3
seconds. If it takes longer than that the iron is too cold, if shorter,
the iron is too hot. Larger leads and solder pads connected to the
ground plane are exceptions and are expected to take longer.
While a highly reactive solder flux (like Kester 44) is OK, IMHO it
leaves a flux mess.
I use solder with a mildly reactive flux (Kester 385) and there is very
little solder residue.
Do *not* clean the flux except in areas that have been reworked several
times, and then clean up with alcohol on a swab. Do *not* flood the
board and get residue under components where it cannot be removed except
by de-soldering the components.
If you do attempt to remove the flux, make sure *all* of it is gone.
Flux is not conductive, but when combined with flux removers, any
residue left may develop conductive paths when exposed to normal
moisture in the air. If you see 'whitish' rings around component leads,
the flux and remover residue is still present and can cause problems later.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 6/2/2016 6:51 AM, Mike via Elecraft wrote:
A K2 kit is on it's way. Although I do have some experience soldering, it
has been 30+ years and I am open to any suggestions as to equipment
needed. I have a Hakko FS-951 soldering station. I have seen various
mechanisms
for holding the circuit boards while working on them. Any other tips
and/or caveats are more than welcome. A retirement project, hopefully to be
completed by the time the sun comes back in a few years. :)
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