Scott:
I have a question about L33 in the BFO circuit on the K2 I am building. The
wire it is wound with appears to have a coating of some kind on it. Should
this coating be removed before soldering it to the resistor that holds it
in place? And if so, how can it be removed without destroying it. I tried
scraping the coating off but that didn't work. The wire broke. Instead of
taking off a couple of turns and using it anyway, I ordered a new one. I
sent an email to support at Elecraft about this, but they don't answer
emails anymore.
1) Losing a couple turns off L33 is NOT a show stopper!!!
2) L33 SHOULD have had each of its leads pre-tinned, copper-colored out to
within 1/2" or so of the end and then solder covered to the ends. Thus
all you should have had to do was to wrap the tinned ends around the
resistor lead and solder into place.
3) The enamel covering the copper wires is 'heat-strippable'... but it takes
a goodly amount of heat, and a bit of time to accomplish the task, BUT it
is MUCH better (though possibly not easier) and attempting to strip the
enamel using a sharp blade (which can, and will often will, cut the wire).
IF you must strip heat-strippable enamel from a wire, get your iron nice
and hot (750 deg F or higher), melt a small blob of solder onto the tip,
STICK the END(!) of the wire INTO the solder blob and let it 'cook' for
several seconds. Soon, you should see smoke and the enamel starting to
melt and bubble up. At this point, add just a bit more solder and slowly
insert more of the wire into the blob, until the required length of wire
has been heat-stripped. Then SLOWLY pull the wire back out the same way
you inserted it. This should leave you with a nicely stripped and tinned
lead. You may have to use your fingernail to scraps away any remaining
burnt (black) enamel from the tinned wire.
73,
Tom Hammond N0SS
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