+++++++++++++++++ See also Xtal Notes, K2 Matched Filter Crystals(2) +++++++++++++++++ From: "Don Brown" To: "Indy" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] crystal grounding Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 08:05:04 -0600 Hi This is the way I ground the crystals on the 13 or so K2/K1's I have built. However I have not found it necessary to sand or scrape the crystal cans. I lay the soldering iron tip on the crystal next to and parallel to the ground wire and feed a little solder then quickly move to the other side of the wire and feed a little more solder and I get a nice shiny flow down the side of the can. If you used the screwdriver to position the wire against the can as described below the joint will look great. Do only one side of each crystal at a time so it can cool then go back and do the other side. Do not try to flow the solder all the way to the bottom of the can. I use Kester 63/37 #245 flux core solder although #44 flux core should work also. I am using a Weller WES-50 iron with a ETA tip set to 750 degrees F. Don Brown KD5NDB ----- Original Message ----- From: "Indy" To: Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 10:33 PM Subject: [Elecraft] crystal grounding How i DID it!!! by young Frankenstein ;-) Your mission, ground them twice with the thickest and shortest wire possible while not destroying the crystal in the process. this is how I did it, no guarantees if anyone else were to do it... no vises, no fancy tools, just a little thought 1) 600 grit sand paper, sanded the side of the crystals. i did not tin them. Once scruffed up they tin instantly anyway. 2) soldered vertical bare wires in the circuit board ground holes 3) soldered crystals in place on circuit board 4) pushed top of wire toward crystal until it touched, but it won't stay against the crystal, springs back a little 5) slid screw driver down wire from the top, while pushing it against crystal, now it stays in contact with the crystal. made sure that the grounding wire on the SSB board side is at least an eighth of an inch down from the top of the crystal, then it won't interfere with SSB board 6) solder the top of the wire to the crystal 7) then, in one swift motion, draw iron and solder down the side of the crystal along wire and off of it. iron is in contact low on the crystal for tenths of a second at most. grounding wire ends up well shorter than a quarter of an inch. this is a high point of the entire build. My filter skirts are straight down to the noise floor, no convex dish at all, and thank you to the two engineers who pioneered this approach to get rid of the blow-by, KI6WX and the other was Kevin, but I forget his call, thank you guys for so improving the performance of these filters! they deserve the credit GL Fred KT5X W5YA/qrp K2 # 700 +++++++++++++++++