LS, On grounding the crystals - use a high heat (800 deg F) on the iron to heat the crystal can quickly, use a large tip if possible. Put a large flat area of the iron on the side of the crystal can to aid heat transfer. The key is to heat the crystal can as quickly as possible - long heat-soaking is what damages components more so than high temperatures.
As for the toroids, make a couple trial windings (Elecraft supplies extra wire). To produce nice tight windings, smooth the wire around the *outside* of the core rather than trying to pull it tight - it is impossible to pull the wire tight once it rounds a corner of the core. You can space the turns neatly after you complete the winding. Remember to count the turns correctly - each time the wire passes through the center of the core is one turn. A straight wire through the center is one turn, a complete wrap around the core is 2 turns. The most critical thing in winding the toroids is the number of turns. 73, Don W3FPR lstavenhagen wrote: > The worst part seems to be coming up with the RX and then TX assembly, the > only thing I'm dreading is grounding those crystal cans (the two on the > control board were a real fight and I'm hoping I didn't already cook those > two crystals). But I've read the tech. articles on the site about > alternative ways to approach that and they've given me some good ideas on > how to do that. > > The toroid winding doesn't look too bad - I hope those aren't super-critical > as far as spacing of the turns, etc.? > > LS > W5QD > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
