++++++++++++++++++ The editor here (VE3MCF) uses a 8 cm. thick piece of high density foam with a slant of 20 degrees cut into the front. I think I got it unpacking some kind of electronic equipment. Of course there is that one time I set the soldering iron down on it.... ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 13:00:12 -0600 To: "n3drk" , elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] pcb holder John: >In a week i will be starting to build the rf board so i will need a pcb >holder. To all the experienced builders out there,,,,which one is the best? Personally, I'd not recommend a 'real' PC board holder... especially for the RF board.. too big and 'clunky' to be having to horse it back and forth. I found them to be much too difficult and 'involved' when I was repeatedly inserting a few components and then flopping the board over to solder. If you develop a good technique of inserting the component completely, and then binding the lead right AT the PC board (45 degree angle) so it securely holds the component in place, you'll be just as well off and you can make the top-to-bottom (and back) transition much more quickly. The ONLY 'real' PC board holder I've ever found to be really useful was one I bought from some feller in Hawaii several decades ago. It mounted to the edge of the desk, clamped the PC board by one edge, and then flipped it from horizontal (for soldering) to about 315 degrees (for stuffing) via a piano hinge... worked like a champ... until I lost it! And now I can't find the manufacturer OR a diagram so I can make one myself. However, if you get one of the small Vacu-Vises, they have a notch cut horizontally in each of the jaws which makes a WONDERFUL holder for the smaller PC boards... esp, those of the various options. The jaws will open up to just a tad less than 3" width before you run out of threads, and once set, you can leave them just a bit loose and then merely slide the PC board into the slot for soldering. A 3" width will accommodate ALL K2 & K2 PC boards 'cept the RF board. 73 - Tom Hammond N0SS +++++++++++++++++++ From: "Jerry Ford" To: Subject: Fw: [Elecraft] pcb holder Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 13:13:17 -0600 John wrote: > In a week i will be starting to build the rf board so i will need a pcb > holder. To all the experienced builders out there,,,,which one is the best? > > john John: I think you will find that most folks are uning some variety of PanaVise. Available from many suppliers and has a variety of attachments. ( Basic vise and base are in your local Lowes store in the tool dept. ) Look it up on the internet and see if thats what your looking for. I think you will find it more than meets your needs. Do some price shopping because there is a wide range in pricing from one supplier to the next. Good luck and happy building: Jerry N0JRN +++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 11:37:44 -0800 From: Tree N6TR To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: Fw: [Elecraft] pcb holder > John: I think you will find that most folks are uning some > variety of PanaVise. One "learning" I can pass along to those using suction cups for your vise - don't leave them setup with your board hanging off the edge of the work table overnight. I did this and found my RF board and the vise laying on the floor near the base of my chair. I was lucky, and there wasn't any damage - but I sure stopped breathing for a few minutes. VP8THU - first call on 20 CW last night - 10 watts with the K2. Tree N6TR K2 #2411 ++++++++++++++++++ From: Margaret Leber To: Tree N6TR Subject: Re: Fw: [Elecraft] pcb holder Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 15:27:08 -0500 Cc: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net On Tuesday 22 January 2002 14:37, Tree N6TR wrote: > One "learning" I can pass along to those using suction cups > for your vise - don't leave them setup with your board hanging > off the edge of the work table overnight. If you're lucky enough to have a perfectly smooth non-porus surface for a Panavise, you're lucky. My experience has been that they mostly don't work well. I remeber years ago keeping mine adhered to the inside of the lid from a big metal potato chip can to give it some stability. If you have the luxury of a permanent workbench, go for the bolt-on Pavavise. 73 de Maggie K3XS +++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 18:22:58 -0800 From: Jerry Kincade Subject: Re: [Elecraft] pcb holder To: n3drk , elecraft at mailman.qth.net I've used the PanaVise circuit board holder (the large size) for a couple of years, works great. I especially like the fact that one jaw is spring-loaded. Once you set it for a firm grip, you merely squeeze the springloaded side for easy and instant removal and reinsertion of the board. Mouser has Panavise stuff, I think. Of course it fits in the same base as the PanaVise, which I also would not be without. Add the accessory Teflon jaw pads for holding hot soldering jobs without melting anything and an antistatic work mat/ground cord from www.matdepot.com and you are in business. 73, Jerry W5KP +++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 18:27:53 -0800 From: Jerry Kincade Subject: Re: Fw: [Elecraft] pcb holder To: Margaret Leber , Tree N6TR Cc: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Screwing the base down to a 12" square chunk of 3/4" plywood works fine, still portable and "storable", but stable. 73, Jerry W5KP > If you're lucky enough to have a perfectly smooth non-porus surface for > a Panavise, you're lucky. My experience has been that they mostly don't > work well. I remeber years ago keeping mine adhered to the inside of > the lid from a big metal potato chip can to give it some stability. If > you have the luxury of a permanent workbench, go for the bolt-on > Pavavise. > > 73 de Maggie K3XS ++++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Rod N0RC" To: "Margaret Leber" , "Tree N6TR" Cc: Subject: Re: Fw: [Elecraft] pcb holder Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 18:29:25 -0700 Folks, Panavise offers many different base mounts, see: http://www.panavise.com/nf/vises/vises_bmounts.html I use the "Bench Clamp Base Mount - Model 311" fitted to a "Low-Profile Base - Model 305 " with the "Standard Head - Model 303", to hold connectors and small parts when attaching wires. My Panavse "Circuit Board Holder - Model 315" is on a, "Standard Base - Model 300", secured to a "Part Tray Base Mount - Model 312", it holds the work steady and offers a place to store small parts during assembly sequences. I do not have this fastened to the work bench and it is plenty stable. I have it setup so I can insert parts from the top, then easily reach underneath with needle-nose pliers to bend the leads slightly to hold the parts in place. After I insert 5-10 parts, I just turn the board over to solder. One thing I learned when working on the K2 RF board. Insert screws into the 2D connectors, such that they fit into grooves of the "315". Makes it easy to slide the board in and out, and the jaws won't interfere with parts close to the edge. 73, Rod N0RC Ft Collins, CO +++++++++++++++++++ From: "Steve Carey" To: "Eelecraft Mail" Subject: [Elecraft] pcb holder Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 23:16:49 -0000 Hi All, I built my K2 ( Plus 160mtrs, SSB, NB & RS232 Add-on's ) without the use of a PCB Holder. I found the best tool to be a piece of anti-static foam ( from a Mother-Board Box ), glued onto a piece of 1/4" FLAT Plywood. Place over components on PCB, hold foam tight against board using both hands and "flip over" just like you did when fitting all the relay onto the RF Board! Works a treat. Most of the time, you don't even need to bend any component leads to retain them prior to soldering! I work in PCB assembly where we have 80 through-hole PCB assembly technicians (Surface Mount . . that's another story!) . Each of their benches is equipped with a Weller Temperature controlled Iron, a large illuminated magnifier and a PCB holder. The Soldering Iron bits get replaced every few weeks . . . 'cause they are on for 8 hours+ per day and simply erode away. The circular fluorescent tubes in the magnifiers get replaced at 6 month intervals or when they start to flicker . . . . BUT the PCB holders never get replaced . . . because they don't use them!!! Please KAT2 Auto ATU kit turn up this week . . . . I have itchy fingers! Steve/G4MJW K2 - 2408 http://www.skylites.freeserve.co.uk ++++++++++++++++++++