MOTM

All excellent suggestions.  Here are a few more
things:

You will need to buy thermal compound.  This is NOT
documented on the MOTM site to my knowledge.  You will
need it for several kits (most notably the MOTM-300). 
It is documented well within the appropriate kits. 
But it is a bummer to have to encur any more delayed
gratificaiton while you obtain it.  Do to federal
postal regulations, Paul is not able to include it in
the kits--or he would.  So go buy some now....

Lead spacing for most resistors, diodes and ferrite
beads is 0.4".  The lead bending guide works great for
these.  What is not documented is that most of the 
axial capacitors have a lead spacing of 0.3".  So
don't do what many of us have done on our first kit
(or two) and go ahead and bend the axial capacitors at
0.4".  Unfortunately the lead bending guides that most
of us possess do NOT include 0.3".  To compensate for
this, bend your axial capacitors over the butt end of
the guide to get the perfect lead spacing.

I used to always use a PCB holder to do my work.  As I
have progressed, I often use a piece of foam to work
on top of.  This helps keeps all of the parts of a
similar height pushed tightly against the board.  But
it does not add any stability to the board, so you
really have to have a soft touch to utilize this
method.  Jim Patchell's Fancort assembly jig was my
initial inspiration for this
(http://www.silcom.com/~patchell/synthmodules/assemframe.jpg).

Finally, the order that Paul gives for doing things is
not sacred.  It is a great guide for beginners though.
 As you build kits, you will find that it is probably
easier for you to do a few things in a slightly
different order.  So once you feel confortable with
the process, don't be afraid to fine tune it a bit. 
If the order is really important, Paul notes that
clearing in the directions.

Solder Jockeys Unite!

--Shemp

> Start with the easiest modules, like the envelope
> generators, and 
> then proceed onto the harder ones. 

> Here are a few more tips:
> Take breaks when Paul's instructions say to. It will
> help you avoid 
> simple mistakes that are hard to correct, like
> putting an IC in 
> backwards. I learned the hard way on this, and had
> to unsolder a 14-
> pin IC on a VCO. I was sweating!
> 
> Get all the basic tools that Paul recommends,
> especially a good iron, 
> socket wrench, magnifying glass, lead former and
> heat gun. Good tools 
> make a big difference.


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