Hi, Steve. 1) I use little plastic snap-cover boxes that have small compartments for small parts like this. I find my fingers are sometimes too large to get into the 1x1" compartments, so I keep a pair of tweezers handy. I've heard of everything from egg cartons to muffin tins being used. Just something to keep the parts from wandering around.
2) The anti-static mat that Radio Shack sells should be fine. Connect the mat to a wrist strap and connect the wrist strap to you. If you set the envelope on the mat and then open it while you have the wrist strap on, and the chassis is also sitting on the mat, then you won't have much potential between them. 3) Almost any DMM will do. The checks being made are intended to catch gross, destructive issues. Take your time, and savor the experience! It will help to make you "one with the radio"... 73 de Dick, K6KR -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of KC2VNI Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 4:01 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Elecraft] Preparing for the Build of the K3 Kit S/N 3823 I recv'd the K3 and I am reading the instructions. I figured I'd ask some basic questions on a few things before putting tab "A" into slot "B". (I've already looked through the instructions to get an overview of what I should expect and I'll read them again before diving into this) 1) A means to hold the smaller hardware- What types of holders or containers do you guys use to hold the smaller screws? 2) Static electricity-I was going to purchase a static mat with a ground strap. Some questions: - Does anyone have experience with the type of static mat they sell at Radio Shack? - Is it acceptable to work on a wooden table top that has painted metal legs and attach the ground from the mat to the table leg even if it's painted? 3) Multi-Meter: Is an inexpensive Radio Shack unit acceptable for measuring the resistances that are discussed in the assembly manual? Does anyone have suggestions about what model they would use? As a side note, I've got my power supply (an Astron RS-35M) ordered so I'll be able to hopefully conduct at least the "smoke test". The antenna will be the next piece of the puzzle once the smoke test is out of the way. Also, I'd like to pass my compliments along to those of you who've taken the time to post you tube videos of their building experience. It's been helpful. As a general comment that is not of a technical nature, my feeling is that this is going to take me longer than 7-8 hours to build. I'll let you know how I'm progressing and if I have further questions. I thank you in advance for whatever suggestions you may have. 73 KC2VNI Steve -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Preparing-for-the-Build-of-the-K3-Kit-S-N-3823-tp438567 7p4385677.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
