[sdiy] Future SYNTH-DIY/perfboard

[Tim Daugard]

From: "Steve Lenham" <lenham at clara.co.uk>

> A bit ironic, given the starting point of this thread, but I've been
> enthusing recently about the new stripboard that Farnell have
introduced
> (p/n 475-5352 in the UK) - it's tinned, yet cheaper than the untinned

I used to build on the prepatterened perfboards. I gave that up that I
could cut, strip and wire wrap or solder wires faster than I can place
and make a good solder connection on those boards. I now use nothing but
plank perfboard and header strips for connections (those that I don't do
with wire flying to the front panels.)

> use the wire wool before populating and an extended soldering
experience is
> guaranteed :-(

. . . and problems with the holes being too big for IC/Socket
connections and too small for power resistors, large caps, and some TO-3
leads. Not to mention, having to clean up the solder birdges between
adjanct pads that I always seem to end up with. The boards really don't
like the right angle corners that occur when soldering a pad to a bus
(with a lead or a jumper.)

> It looks much more professional when finished and, of course, doesn't
> oxidise afterwards either.

I gave up looking professional for speed of construction and ease of
building. I went from 2-3 hours for layout and board etching to 2-3
hours from start to finish on building a complete module. I'd rather
spend time playing since I'm making a non-comercial product.

> It's the little things that bring true pleasure...

Absoulutely,

Tim Daugard
AG4GZ 30.4078N 86.6227W Alt: 3.7 M
http://home.sprintmail.com/~daugard/synth.htm