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[K2] Kit Building Time ?

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Phil Hystad-3

[K2] Kit Building Time ?

Has there been any collection of building time stats on the K2. I was wonder if there was an average time and I would expect a moderately large standard deviation.

My kit experience is K3, KX1, NORCAL 40A, and several other smaller things. The K2 would definitely be the largest kit considering that the K3 was non-soldering. My K3 time was about average, about 8 1/2 hours. I never did time the KX1 because it was spread out over several weeks (I traveled a lot for work during that time).

73, phil, K7PEH

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

Phil,

For someone building a K2 for the first time, about 40 hours is the norm
for the base K2 (no options).
For those who have built 100 or more (yes there are a few), that time
can be cut by about 15 hours.
Pre-wound toroids will reduce the total time.

Whatever your build speed, just enjoy the journey - there are several
checkpoints (and how to use learning experiences) along the way - do not
skip those or gloss over them.
The K2 goes together just like any other kit - one part at a time. Do
not second guess the instructions, they are correct after all this time
of "scrubbing" by many builders. If you think you do not understand any
of the instructions, ask, that is what this reflector is all about (and
has been from the beginning) - one ham helping another.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/20/2011 9:57 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:

> Has there been any collection of building time stats on the K2. I was wonder if there was an average time and I would expect a moderately large standard deviation.
>
> My kit experience is K3, KX1, NORCAL 40A, and several other smaller things. The K2 would definitely be the largest kit considering that the K3 was non-soldering. My K3 time was about average, about 8 1/2 hours. I never did time the KX1 because it was spread out over several weeks (I traveled a lot for work during that time).
>
> 73, phil, K7PEH
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Phil Hystad-3

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

Don,

Thanks for the comments. I got another answer too that also said about 40 hours. I am thinking of having the toroid guy do my toroids as winding those little things is a skill that does not interest me. I have done a number of toroids and those small ones do not interact with my fingers very well.

73, phil, K7PEH

On Apr 20, 2011, at 7:13 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Phil,
>
> For someone building a K2 for the first time, about 40 hours is the norm for the base K2 (no options).
> For those who have built 100 or more (yes there are a few), that time can be cut by about 15 hours.
> Pre-wound toroids will reduce the total time.
>
> Whatever your build speed, just enjoy the journey - there are several checkpoints (and how to use learning experiences) along the way - do not skip those or gloss over them.
> The K2 goes together just like any other kit - one part at a time. Do not second guess the instructions, they are correct after all this time of "scrubbing" by many builders. If you think you do not understand any of the instructions, ask, that is what this reflector is all about (and has been from the beginning) - one ham helping another.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 4/20/2011 9:57 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:
>> Has there been any collection of building time stats on the K2. I was wonder if there was an average time and I would expect a moderately large standard deviation.
>>
>> My kit experience is K3, KX1, NORCAL 40A, and several other smaller things. The K2 would definitely be the largest kit considering that the K3 was non-soldering. My K3 time was about average, about 8 1/2 hours. I never did time the KX1 because it was spread out over several weeks (I traveled a lot for work during that time).
>>
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>

Bill K9YEQ

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3

I think the basic kit is around 40 hours. I built mine in around 30, but
sat for 3-6 hours at a time. I was a test builder. I didn't follow one of
the highly recommended instructions, do a parts inventory first. All I did
is sort and be sure I knew what few parts there were that I didn't recognize
were just to be sure I did not screw up. There were no inventory issues.
Radio worked super through the build.

73,
Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:57 PM
To: Elecraft Elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] [K2] Kit Building Time ?

Has there been any collection of building time stats on the K2. I was
wonder if there was an average time and I would expect a moderately large
standard deviation.

My kit experience is K3, KX1, NORCAL 40A, and several other smaller things.
The K2 would definitely be the largest kit considering that the K3 was
non-soldering. My K3 time was about average, about 8 1/2 hours. I never
did time the KX1 because it was spread out over several weeks (I traveled a
lot for work during that time).

73, phil, K7PEH

______________________________________________________________
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ac0h

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Phil, Don and all.

I can corroborate the 40 hour "standard".
I built my K2/100 in 4 weeks working most weeknights after work for a
couple of hours. My radio has all the options you can have except for
the KAF2 (I've got the DSP2) and the KNB2. I also built an NGen and XG2
and KAT100-1 with the kit. I wound my own toroids too. I really don't
see what the big deal is with winding toroids.

The only problem I had with the whole process was caused by my
irrational exuberance at firing the rig up the first time and having it
work perfectly. I failed to re-tighten the screws on the finals in the
KPA100 and smoked 'em.

Pilot error the whole way and another shining example of why "RTFM"
applies all the time.

73,

--
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
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K1FFX

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

> For someone building a K2 for the first time, about 40 hours is the norm
> for the base K2 (no options).

While I didn't log actual hours worked while building my K2, I did mark all dates worked
in my K2 manual during construction. I worked on it over 38 sessions from early
August through early October, and I think, on the average, a work session was
about 1.5 hours. I know I put in a lot more hours for the last few sessions, trying
to push through to completion. So, I'd estimate that, including inventory time in
late July, I worked about 70 hours to build a base K2.

So, my experience is probably an "outlier" ... but my method was check the
component once, check it twice, and maybe check it a third time (comparing
the instruction in the manual to the part I had just stuffed), and only then apply
the solder. I always examined each solder joint right after soldering (they were
all good) and I always compared against the schematic if I thought I might have
a solder bridge (never happened).

BTW, also wound my own toroids ... I actually found that to be one of the more
enjoyable activities of the K2 build.

Enjoy the build!

- Bruce

Bruce Rosen
K1FFX
K2/100 6982 KSB2 KAT100-1 KAF2 KIO2

aj4tf

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3

My experience:

Basic K2 Build time: 57 hours over 16 days

Options:
SSB: 13 hours over 4 days
Audio filter: 5 hours

KPA100 build time: 38 hours over 9 days

Total build time: 113 hours

YMMV.

David AJ4TF

> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:57:20 -0700
> From: Phil Hystad <[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] [K2] Kit Building Time ?
> To: Elecraft Elecraft <[hidden email]>
> Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Has there been any collection of building time stats on the K2. I was wonder if there was an average time and I would expect a moderately large standard deviation.
>
> My kit experience is K3, KX1, NORCAL 40A, and several other smaller things. The K2 would definitely be the largest kit considering that the K3 was non-soldering. My K3 time was about average, about 8 1/2 hours. I never did time the KX1 because it was spread out over several weeks (I traveled a lot for work during that time).
>
> 73, phil, K7PEH
>
>
>

K1FFX

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

In reply to this post by K1FFX

> While I didn't log actual hours worked while building my K2, I did mark all dates worked
> in my K2 manual during construction.

I went back and looked at my "dates worked" markings in the KPA100 manual and found
that I built it in 20 (or maybe 21 ... my markings got a little fuzzy at the end) sessions from
mid-December to mid-January. Estimated construction time somewhere between 30 and
40 hours (and, I'm guessing, closer to 40). Big chunk of time went into constructing the
power cable ... I'd buy it pre-assembled next time.

Regards -

Bruce

Bruce Rosen
K1FFX
K2/100 6982 KSB2 KAT100-1 KAF2 KIO2

Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX

Re: [K2] Kit Building Time ?

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Phil,
Don's times are spot on. But, like he says, do take time to enjoy the trip.

I highly recommend Mychael, the Toroid Guy, for toroids. In all the
repairs I've done, one of the most common difficulties that folks have
are related to toroids. Typically, the enamel isn't properly removed.
I've even seen cases where a toroid checks okay with the VOM, but
presents a perverse intermittent at RF.

Cheers, Alan

Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40)
570-321-1516
http://WilcoxEngineering.com
http://eBookEditor.net
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/28062?ref=awilcox
Williamsport, PA 17701

On 4/20/11 10:13 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Phil,
>
> For someone building a K2 for the first time, about 40 hours is the norm
> for the base K2 (no options).
> For those who have built 100 or more (yes there are a few), that time
> can be cut by about 15 hours.
> Pre-wound toroids will reduce the total time.
>
> Whatever your build speed, just enjoy the journey - there are several
> checkpoints (and how to use learning experiences) along the way - do not
> skip those or gloss over them.
> The K2 goes together just like any other kit - one part at a time. Do
> not second guess the instructions, they are correct after all this time
> of "scrubbing" by many builders. If you think you do not understand any
> of the instructions, ask, that is what this reflector is all about (and
> has been from the beginning) - one ham helping another.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 4/20/2011 9:57 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:
>> Has there been any collection of building time stats on the K2. I was wonder if there was an average time and I would expect a moderately large standard deviation.
>>
>> My kit experience is K3, KX1, NORCAL 40A, and several other smaller things. The K2 would definitely be the largest kit considering that the K3 was non-soldering. My K3 time was about average, about 8 1/2 hours. I never did time the KX1 because it was spread out over several weeks (I traveled a lot for work during that time).
>>
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> 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:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>