Hi George, I just finished my K2 a few weeks ago, it was actually my first kit and came out working with no problems. The main tips I'd give in retrospect on my experience mostly from the perspective of a first-time builder: - start reading the manual now. I.e. download it from the manuals section on elecraft's site, it's in PDF format. Also for any of the options you ordered too. Go through it in detail until the kit arrives. Read ahead in it even after you start building, during breaks or after building sessions, etc. - don't skip the parts inventory. The concern isn't missing parts (my kit wasn't missing anything) but going through and identifying the parts. Some of them like the tiny caps will take a lot of time to figure out what they are, which is which etc. If you do this during the parts inventory, you've already seen the part when you're doing the build and it'll go all that much faster (i.e. some of the teeny capacitors in the band-pass filters, etc). In my case, I've never built a kit radio before ever. Or actually a kit anything ever. Also, prior to my K2 the last time I really tried to build anything electronic was in the mid 70's when I was a kid trying to homebrew a tube rig. And it did nothing but catch on fire. Kind of ended my building career until just a couple months ago hi hi. So I had a lot of refreshing of memory to do when it came to ID'ing parts, etc. - try to avoid "marathon" building sessions. I.e. don't work for more than an hour or so at a time and take breaks if you do. When you get into a hurry is when you make mistakes and it takes some of the fun out of it too. - if something is confusing don't guess. Stop and double check with the manual and then if all else fails post a question on here. Don and all the folks on here are a bottomless pit of information about what to do if something isn't clear.
As for tools, I'd say you can't build the kit without (i.e. these were my most used and crucial tools and are _required_): - good temp-controlled soldering station with 1/32" 700F screwdriver profile tips (i.e. the Weller WTCPT, etc) - flush cutting (NOT bevel cutting) SMALL electronic wire cutters (i.e. Xcelite from Mouser, etc) - .020 diameter solder (Kester 44 from Mouser, go ahead and buy a lb of it). - a magnifying glass (RadioShack has a good lighted one that I'm still using) and strong pair of reading glasses (depending on whether you're near or farsighted, I'm farsighted). - computer with Internet access. I'd very strongly suggest: - a high quality and large anti-static mat with a wrist strap, this will end all worries about ESD. this can also double as your table top mat for the rig when it's finished too. - small solder wick. - a VOM. Finally, again if you're a first time builder like me, just be prepared for the rig to kind of take over your life for a few weeks hi hi. It took me about 3 weeks and a little more to get mine completely finished, just doing an hour or two in the evenings after work. It was slow for me because I had no kit-building experience and so some things took a long time (like some of the toroids). But in the end you'll be rewarded with a really exceptional radio. The RX performance is simply outstanding, you won't believe it was a rig you built yourself with discrete components! Gud luck es 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K2-new-builder-tp4724690p4724925.html Sent from the [K2] 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
