Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
Thanks Don: I'm going to insert a couple brief comments, below: Date: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:54:09 -0400 From: Don Wilhelm To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? Message-ID: <559c82c1.1060...@embarqmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed I can vouch for what Ed has said. Much of the problem is with the fear of small parts. If you have 'eye problems', a magnifying headband can be a great help. - I use a 8-inch round magnifier lamp (new one has LED bulbs). Finding I have to use it most of the time now that my eyesight is deteriorating (mac degen); so how many more years I can do this is ?? - Tweezers are a great tool, but be cautious with their use. Too much grip on the part can send it flying to parts unknown where it becomes vacuum cleaner food. A touch just light enough to secure the part is what you want. I prefer straight tweezers while others prefer the angled type - it all depends on how you hold them to determine which is best for you. If you naturally put the main body of the tweezers in your palm, then the angled ones will work best for you. I leave the main body 'sticking up in the air', so straight tweezers work best for me. - Mine were given to me by a jewler-ham; 4-inch long with slight tips angled. I hold mine in left hand like a pencil. I am right-handed so it holds the solder iron (HAKKO FX951). The prior advice about tinning (putting a small pool of solder) on one end of the existing capacitor is correct. Heat that solder while sliding the added capacitor atop the existing one - when it 'sticks', go solder the other end, and then come back and dress up the soldering on the first end. I don't know about the calming effects of Whisky or tobacco for "mellowing", but if you have some technique for calming "the shakies", use it. --- That was said as humor. Best solder sober! I do most work in morning before much coffee. I limit work to about 4-hours in a session. If building a sm kit, installing some parts is easier before others - experience helps. --- Age is doing its thing on me, and I am beginning to feel the effects of 'tremors'. I find I need to support the heels of my hands on the board or the bench surface to counter that problem. Despite that, I am able to solder SMD components as small as 0603, and I am fortunate that my eyes allow me to do that part without magnification - I then inspect the work with magnification afterwards and make corrections as needed. Use magnification at the start if you are not so fortunate. If you need "Microscope" enlargement, then a webcam on your computer may be the answer to your problem - that is a 'cheap hams microscope'. In other words, with these hints, give it a try. I wish you success. 73, Don W3FPR 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
Everyone will develop their own techniques for SMD. After doing thousands, yes thousands, this is what I use. First, don't drink coffee for three days before you work. It's called caffeine palsy. It's not compatible with SMDs. Second, if the tweezers don't draw blood when they contact the flesh, they aren't shape enough. Third, get some bottled rosin flux. Thin it 50/50 with alcohol. Then paint the target area on the PCB with the 50/50 flux. Then place the chip components in their target locations. The flux will keep things in place for soldering. I use a combination of tweezers and an exacto knife to align and nudge parts into place. I use the blade to hold down pressure in the middle of the part while I solder. I use up to three soldering irons with tips to much the part. Get on and off the part in 2 seconds which means you need a hot iron. It's called one touch soldering. Set temperature, if you can to 750 to 800 degrees F. I work under a 10 power scope switching to 20x for 1x2 parts. 73 Fred, AE6QL -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Hank P Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 2:32 PM To: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? Are these 0805 or 0603/0604 or even smaller chips ? Hank K7HP Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be appreciated. Thank you 73 Emory WM3M __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to fptowns...@earthlink.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
On 07/07/2015 06:54 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: ... > Tweezers are a great tool, but be cautious with their use. Rather than tweezers I prefer an Exacto knife. You can use it to push the part into place and then use the knife blade to hold the part down while you put a blob of solder on one terminal to hold it in place. Then solder the other terminal(s) and finally go back to the blob and solder it correctly. If you have 65-year-old eyes like mine you will need a good, strong light and magnification. I bought a good-quality, brand-new, binocular microscope on the Internet for about $300, but a good magnifying glass or eye loupe would probably work also. It's like anything else; it gets easier after you've done it a few times. Alan N1AL I can vouch for what Ed has said. Much of the problem is with the fear of small parts. If you have 'eye problems', a magnifying headband can be a great help. Tweezers are a great tool, but be cautious with their use. Too much grip on the part can send it flying to parts unknown where it becomes vacuum cleaner food. A touch just light enough to secure the part is what you want. I prefer straight tweezers while others prefer the angled type - it all depends on how you hold them to determine which is best for you. If you naturally put the main body of the tweezers in your palm, then the angled ones will work best for you. I leave the main body 'sticking up in the air', so straight tweezers work best for me. The prior advice about tinning (putting a small pool of solder) on one end of the existing capacitor is correct. Heat that solder while sliding the added capacitor atop the existing one - when it 'sticks', go solder the other end, and then come back and dress up the soldering on the first end. I don't know about the calming effects of Whisky or tobacco for "mellowing", but if you have some technique for calming "the shakies", use it. Age is doing its thing on me, and I am beginning to feel the effects of 'tremors'. I find I need to support the heels of my hands on the board or the bench surface to counter that problem. Despite that, I am able to solder SMD components as small as 0603, and I am fortunate that my eyes allow me to do that part without magnification - I then inspect the work with magnification afterwards and make corrections as needed. Use magnification at the start if you are not so fortunate. If you need "Microscope" enlargement, then a webcam on your computer may be the answer to your problem - that is a 'cheap hams microscope'. In other words, with these hints, give it a try. I wish you success. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/7/2015 8:46 PM, Edward R Cole wrote: OK, brace your self, but I told you so (a few weeks ago) - not specifically you, Emory. Surface mount work takes skill and calmness. I compare it to the process precision shooters use. Breathing in/out and out half-way and hold will calm nerves. Mental thinking to calm yourself vs saying "do not shake" is some of the zen stuff that works. Resting the heel of your hand on something helps holding still. Whisky or some of that tobaccy that will mellow you...but you might get munchies so caveat emptor! (legal in only three states) Bees wax or putty with a toothpick are beginners methods. Professionals get a fine jeweler's tweezer to hold sm. Use what works for you. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@sonic.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
I can vouch for what Ed has said. Much of the problem is with the fear of small parts. If you have 'eye problems', a magnifying headband can be a great help. Tweezers are a great tool, but be cautious with their use. Too much grip on the part can send it flying to parts unknown where it becomes vacuum cleaner food. A touch just light enough to secure the part is what you want. I prefer straight tweezers while others prefer the angled type - it all depends on how you hold them to determine which is best for you. If you naturally put the main body of the tweezers in your palm, then the angled ones will work best for you. I leave the main body 'sticking up in the air', so straight tweezers work best for me. The prior advice about tinning (putting a small pool of solder) on one end of the existing capacitor is correct. Heat that solder while sliding the added capacitor atop the existing one - when it 'sticks', go solder the other end, and then come back and dress up the soldering on the first end. I don't know about the calming effects of Whisky or tobacco for "mellowing", but if you have some technique for calming "the shakies", use it. Age is doing its thing on me, and I am beginning to feel the effects of 'tremors'. I find I need to support the heels of my hands on the board or the bench surface to counter that problem. Despite that, I am able to solder SMD components as small as 0603, and I am fortunate that my eyes allow me to do that part without magnification - I then inspect the work with magnification afterwards and make corrections as needed. Use magnification at the start if you are not so fortunate. If you need "Microscope" enlargement, then a webcam on your computer may be the answer to your problem - that is a 'cheap hams microscope'. In other words, with these hints, give it a try. I wish you success. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/7/2015 8:46 PM, Edward R Cole wrote: OK, brace your self, but I told you so (a few weeks ago) - not specifically you, Emory. Surface mount work takes skill and calmness. I compare it to the process precision shooters use. Breathing in/out and out half-way and hold will calm nerves. Mental thinking to calm yourself vs saying "do not shake" is some of the zen stuff that works. Resting the heel of your hand on something helps holding still. Whisky or some of that tobaccy that will mellow you...but you might get munchies so caveat emptor! (legal in only three states) Bees wax or putty with a toothpick are beginners methods. Professionals get a fine jeweler's tweezer to hold sm. Use what works for you. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
OK, brace your self, but I told you so (a few weeks ago) - not specifically you, Emory. Surface mount work takes skill and calmness. I compare it to the process precision shooters use. Breathing in/out and out half-way and hold will calm nerves. Mental thinking to calm yourself vs saying "do not shake" is some of the zen stuff that works. Resting the heel of your hand on something helps holding still. Whisky or some of that tobaccy that will mellow you...but you might get munchies so caveat emptor! (legal in only three states) Bees wax or putty with a toothpick are beginners methods. Professionals get a fine jeweler's tweezer to hold sm. Use what works for you. Soldering a sm cap on top of an existing cap is a little tricky. Add a bit solder to one end of the existing cap so the new cap can be slid into it. You melt that solder with iron and slide in the top cap - hold - carefully remove iron -keep holding a couple seconds till solder solidifies. Now add a bit of solder on the other end. Use an ohmmeter to test continuity from the top cap to the pc trace where the cap is installed. Good continuity - you're done! Continuity across the cap - bad - do over. If this is just too hard for you, then find a local ham to help you with it. Or send it to Elecraft. The filter is not large so not real expensive to ship. This is not a service that would be cost-effective for me to do for you. 73, Ed - KL7UW (wish I could still pass the soldering inspection that I used to get from NASA - brag blah blah) - Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2015 14:49:03 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? Message-ID: <5a527057-cdd2-4997-b957-62def2f21...@elecraft.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 They're 0603s (.06" x .03"), which would be considered "mediums size" by today's SMD standards. But it does take a bit of courage (and a good pair of tweezers, and maybe a shot of cheap whisky) to install them by hand. Hats off to our intrepid customers attempting this for the first time! 73, Wayne N6KR P.S. Our engineers and technicians routinely work with with packages that are about 0603 size, but have *6* leads that must all be soldered. This is done by flowing solder onto all 3 pins on one side at a time (carefully!), then wicking the excess solder off with solder wick or a vacuum tool. Not for the faint of heart. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
Check out the SMT tips available that are forked or split to hit both ends of the 0603. My Metcal has them and I am sure other soldering irons do also. I no longer do 0603s, lucky if I can do 1206 Mel, K6KBE From: Merv Schweigert To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? Any reason why small leaded caps cannot be just be bridged across the SMTs? Lots easier to hold the lead with a tweezer and dap a little solder on the end. Merv K9FD/KH6 > They're 0603s (.06" x .03"), which would be considered "mediums size" by > today's SMD standards. But it does take a bit of courage (and a good pair of > tweezers, and maybe a shot of cheap whisky) to install them by hand. Hats off > to our intrepid customers attempting this for the first time! > > 73, > Wayne > N6KR > > P.S. Our engineers and technicians routinely work with with packages that > are about 0603 size, but have *6* leads that must all be soldered. This is > done by flowing solder onto all 3 pins on one side at a time (carefully!), > then wicking the excess solder off with solder wick or a vacuum tool. Not for > the faint of heart. > > > > On Jul 7, 2015, at 2:39 PM, wrote: > >> I don’t know but they are very small, I have seen bigger fleas >> >> -Original Message- From: Hank P >> Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 5:32 PM >> To: Elecraft >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? >> >> Are these 0805 or 0603/0604 or even smaller chips ? >> >> Hank K7HP >> > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to k...@flex.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to farrerfo...@yahoo.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
Any reason why small leaded caps cannot be just be bridged across the SMTs? Lots easier to hold the lead with a tweezer and dap a little solder on the end. Merv K9FD/KH6 They're 0603s (.06" x .03"), which would be considered "mediums size" by today's SMD standards. But it does take a bit of courage (and a good pair of tweezers, and maybe a shot of cheap whisky) to install them by hand. Hats off to our intrepid customers attempting this for the first time! 73, Wayne N6KR P.S. Our engineers and technicians routinely work with with packages that are about 0603 size, but have *6* leads that must all be soldered. This is done by flowing solder onto all 3 pins on one side at a time (carefully!), then wicking the excess solder off with solder wick or a vacuum tool. Not for the faint of heart. On Jul 7, 2015, at 2:39 PM, wrote: I don’t know but they are very small, I have seen bigger fleas -Original Message- From: Hank P Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 5:32 PM To: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? Are these 0805 or 0603/0604 or even smaller chips ? Hank K7HP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to k...@flex.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions
Surely there must be someone in your local club who does SMD stuff 73, Ross N4RP On 7/7/2015 4:38 PM, ejk...@gmail.com wrote: Thanks Jim for help. I tried the wax but my hands are not steady enough and eyes not good enough, could not get the small caps in. Anyone know if this is an all or nothing mod, can I cut out the L1 and L2 and add the big cap without adding the small caps or must it all be done? I guess I will ask Elecraft about sending the board to them for the small caps install or try to find someone local here in MD who can do it. thanks 73 Emory WM3M From: Jim Miller Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 3:05 PM To: ejk...@gmail.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions also don't try to keep you hands in position without support. always support your hands by your forearms on the edge of the worksurface or better yet with your wrists on something like bean bags closer to the work. stability rulz! 73 jim ab3cv On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 3:03 PM, Jim Miller wrote: put a small bump of solder on one end of the existing cap. pick up the new cap with a toothpick that has been coated with a bit of beeswax from the sewing store. by just touching the toothpick to the top of the new cap it should adhere and allow you to gently place it on the existing device. heat the end with the solder blob to tack the new cap in place. solder the other end. reheat the first end briefly if necessary to make a nice joint. 73 jim ab3cv On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 2:56 PM, wrote: Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be appreciated. Thank you 73 Emory WM3M __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to j...@jtmiller.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@n4rp.com -- FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.” __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
They're 0603s (.06" x .03"), which would be considered "mediums size" by today's SMD standards. But it does take a bit of courage (and a good pair of tweezers, and maybe a shot of cheap whisky) to install them by hand. Hats off to our intrepid customers attempting this for the first time! 73, Wayne N6KR P.S. Our engineers and technicians routinely work with with packages that are about 0603 size, but have *6* leads that must all be soldered. This is done by flowing solder onto all 3 pins on one side at a time (carefully!), then wicking the excess solder off with solder wick or a vacuum tool. Not for the faint of heart. On Jul 7, 2015, at 2:39 PM, wrote: > I don’t know but they are very small, I have seen bigger fleas > > -Original Message- From: Hank P > Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 5:32 PM > To: Elecraft > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? > > Are these 0805 or 0603/0604 or even smaller chips ? > > Hank K7HP > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
I don’t know but they are very small, I have seen bigger fleas -Original Message- From: Hank P Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 5:32 PM To: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ? Are these 0805 or 0603/0604 or even smaller chips ? Hank K7HP Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be appreciated. Thank you 73 Emory WM3M __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to ejk...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
Are these 0805 or 0603/0604 or even smaller chips ? Hank K7HP Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be appreciated. Thank you 73 Emory WM3M __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions
Thanks Jim for help. I tried the wax but my hands are not steady enough and eyes not good enough, could not get the small caps in. Anyone know if this is an all or nothing mod, can I cut out the L1 and L2 and add the big cap without adding the small caps or must it all be done? I guess I will ask Elecraft about sending the board to them for the small caps install or try to find someone local here in MD who can do it. thanks 73 Emory WM3M From: Jim Miller Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 3:05 PM To: ejk...@gmail.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions also don't try to keep you hands in position without support. always support your hands by your forearms on the edge of the worksurface or better yet with your wrists on something like bean bags closer to the work. stability rulz! 73 jim ab3cv On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 3:03 PM, Jim Miller wrote: put a small bump of solder on one end of the existing cap. pick up the new cap with a toothpick that has been coated with a bit of beeswax from the sewing store. by just touching the toothpick to the top of the new cap it should adhere and allow you to gently place it on the existing device. heat the end with the solder blob to tack the new cap in place. solder the other end. reheat the first end briefly if necessary to make a nice joint. 73 jim ab3cv On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 2:56 PM, wrote: Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be appreciated. Thank you 73 Emory WM3M __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to j...@jtmiller.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions
also don't try to keep you hands in position without support. always support your hands by your forearms on the edge of the worksurface or better yet with your wrists on something like bean bags closer to the work. stability rulz! 73 jim ab3cv On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 3:03 PM, Jim Miller wrote: > put a small bump of solder on one end of the existing cap. pick up the new > cap with a toothpick that has been coated with a bit of beeswax from the > sewing store. > > by just touching the toothpick to the top of the new cap it should adhere > and allow you to gently place it on the existing device. heat the end with > the solder blob to tack the new cap in place. solder the other end. reheat > the first end briefly if necessary to make a nice joint. > > 73 > > jim ab3cv > > On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 2:56 PM, wrote: > >> Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might >> be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass >> that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of >> the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every >> small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army >> knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be >> appreciated. Thank you 73 >> Emory WM3M >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to j...@jtmiller.com >> > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions
put a small bump of solder on one end of the existing cap. pick up the new cap with a toothpick that has been coated with a bit of beeswax from the sewing store. by just touching the toothpick to the top of the new cap it should adhere and allow you to gently place it on the existing device. heat the end with the solder blob to tack the new cap in place. solder the other end. reheat the first end briefly if necessary to make a nice joint. 73 jim ab3cv On Tue, Jul 7, 2015 at 2:56 PM, wrote: > Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might > be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass > that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of > the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every > small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army > knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be > appreciated. Thank you 73 > Emory WM3M > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to j...@jtmiller.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions
Received my KBPF3 mod kit for LF today. Caps are very small. This might be my first SMD, at least this tiny, work. With as big a magnify glass that I can find I can see the caps and after some effort get them on top of the existing caps but I can not get them to stay there. I have tried every small tweezers I can find, even very small ones from a little Swiss army knife, no luck. Any suggestions on how to keep them there would be appreciated. Thank you 73 Emory WM3M __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
