MOTM

Some of my modules have arrived and I am starting assembly. Starting
with the Power supply module first, there comes a step where it calls
for heat shrink wrap tubing. In the Power Supply instructions, Paul
suggests using an Alpha Fitgun3. I cannot find much on the web
about that product, but I do find lots of info on other brands of
heat guns.

Do I need a heat gun to shrink the tubing? Can I use something else,
like passing the soldering iron nearby? Is there a cheap way of
doing the heat shrinking? Is there a lot of heat shrinking done in
the other kits that would justify buying a quality heat gun?

Thanks for any help.
Andy Miller

At 09:48 PM 07/05/2000 -0000, andy@... wrote:

>Do I need a heat gun to shrink the tubing?

Not necessarily.

>Can I use something else, like passing the soldering iron nearby?

Some people do that, but I haven't had very much luck with that technique.

>Is there a cheap way of doing the heat shrinking?

I use a Bic lighter (hard to get much cheaper than that!). I have a
feeling that's a safer technique than using a gas stove's open flame. You
just want to avoid letting the actual flame touch the heatshrink tubing and
wire insulation, but that requires no steadier a hand than most of the
board soldering.

>Is there a lot of heat shrinking done in
>the other kits that would justify buying a quality heat gun?

Not enough for me. In a private exchange with Andy, I mentioned that I
consider certain of the recommended tools for MOTM assembly to be
absolutely essential (good soldering iron, good cutters & pliers,
workstation with vise clamp) and some to be helpful to use, but optional
(lead bender, for instance), at least for me. I'd definitely put a heat
gun in the latter category - certainly useful, but not necessarily
essential. Of course, YMMV and all that ...

-Doug
ceres@...

Maybe I'm a little late, but... a cigarette lighter worked
perfect for me

Peter