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K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions

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ejkkjh

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
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Jim AB3CV

Re: 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, <[hidden email]> 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:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Jim AB3CV

Re: 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 <[hidden email]> 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, <[hidden email]> 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:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>
>

ejkkjh

Re: 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: [hidden email]
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 <[hidden email]> 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, <[hidden email]> 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
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Re: 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

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ejkkjh

Re: 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

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wayne burdick

Re: K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?

Administrator

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, <[hidden email]> 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
>

Ross Primrose

Re: K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions

In reply to this post by ejkkjh

Surely there must be someone in your local club who does SMD stuff....

73, Ross N4RP

On 7/7/2015 4:38 PM, [hidden email] 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: [hidden email]
> 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 <[hidden email]> 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, <[hidden email]> 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:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Merv Schweigert

Re: K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

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, <[hidden email]> 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:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Elecraft mailing list

Re: 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 <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
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

>

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Edward R Cole

Re: K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?

In reply to this post by HP

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 <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
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:
[hidden email]

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: 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.
>

Alan Bloom

Re: 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:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Fred Townsend-2

Re: K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?

In reply to this post by HP

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:[hidden email]] 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

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Edward R Cole

Re: K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?

In reply to this post by HP

Thanks Don:

I'm going to insert a couple brief comments, below:
------------------------
Date: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:54:09 -0400
From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 KBPF3 mod for LF questions capacitor size ?
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
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:
[hidden email]

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