Jean-Francois,
Of course, you don't need most of these neat things - I have a Panvise
(an old one) and found it not very useful because it wouldn't hold the board
once the components very close to the edge were put in. For de-soldering, I've
been using de-soldering wick, which looks like a roll of very fine copper braid
and sucks up an amazing amount of solder... best of all, a roll costs only a
dollar or two from your local RadioShack or equivalent. A temperature
controlled iron is a must, but you really need only one tip - I bought several,
in several different sizes and temperatures, and after building the K2 and most
of the options that would fit into it (plus some other add-ons), I'm still
using the first soldering tip I started with.
One tool that hasn't been mentioned but is cheap and very useful is a
surgical hemostat - this looks like a cross between a small scissor and a
locking pliers, and it serves as a small needle nose pliers that also locks.
RadioShack and other electronics suppliers are now selling these for a few
dollars for building electronic stuff.
Bob W1SRB
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 3:18 PM
To: Jean-Francois Joly; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Q: Building the K2
Hi Jean-Francois,
Congratulations on your upcoming passing of the CW exam. Also, I think
you've made a great choice in going with the K2, its a great rig.
I don't think that you need too many tools out of the ordinary to build the
K2, but it is certainly is a great opportunity (or excuse) to buy a bunch of
neat stuff.
Among the tools I bought, using the K2 as a reason (or excuse) were:
a Panvise with the Printed Circuit board holder attachment
a de-solder iron (got lots of use from that)
a magnifier/flourescent lamp
a temperature controlled soldering station (with lots of different tips)
Silver bearing solder (before they said not to use it)
Kesters multi-core solder (after they said not to use the silver stuff)
a solder pot and a bar of solder (which I used before placing my order
with toroid guy!)
Of course after you finish the basic K2, they temp you with all sorts of
things you just have to have, like dsp filter, ssb, et al.
All in all building the K2 was a lot of fun and a very satisfying experience.
Have a lot of fun building it and don't forget to post your questions here,
these guys have seen it all and they are a great help.
73 de
Tom
WB2QDG
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Jean-Francois Joly" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Hi all,
>
> I will be passing my morse code exam soon and I was looking for the best
> radio to start with for CW. Up to now I'm pretty sure I will go with the K2.
>
>
> I just wanted to know if any special tools are required to complete the kit?
> I'm aware of what they say in the advertisement... But still, once I
> bought an OHR100 kit, claiming that no special tools were required, but at
> the end of the alignement stage, they *assumed* you already had another
> transceiver as your main rig to tune the OHR. Is this the case with the K2?
>
> Thanks,
> Jean-Francois
> VA2JFJ
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