MOTM

As long as we\u2019re sharing\u2026

I have a strip of Styrofoam that\u2019s about 1\u201d x 3\u201d x 24\u201d along the back of my rolling soldering station, which is an old typing table with an anti-static mat, a power strip glued under the top toward the back, and a big magnifier/desk lamp bolted to it. Soldering station on the right.

When I start into a new kit, I first just kick back, go through the box, happily pet the faceplate for a while, and then sort the parts according to the inventory sheet. I stick the resistors into the Styrofoam in order of appearance. When time comes to solder, I grab all of one value, bend the legs with my trusty lead-bending guide (as Paul says, \u201cthe best $3 you will ever spend\u201d), and then start popping them into the board.

I\u2019m VERY careful about triple-checking values at this stage, and then once more as I insert them into the board. I learned the hard way with PAIA kits in my youth that you are your own worst enemy with electronic assembly, and the hours of aggravation trying to troubleshoot a (hopefully not destroyed) PCB because you stuck in a wrong value or put a diode in backwards _just ain\u2019t worth it_. It\u2019s not worth rushing construction; let it take three nights, if I build it properly I will have it for the rest of my life.

If the parts arrive on a strip, all the better. It will ensure proper inventory and consistency across all kits in a batch (i.e., if one part is wrong, or even intentionally substituted, then everyone encounters the same thing and we\u2019ll know immediately on this list what to look out for).

About a year ago, one of you good folks (can\u2019t remember who right now) posted on his web site some wonderful progressive photos of a \u2018300 VCO being built. That was cool! I was as interested in seeing someone else\u2019s workspace as I was to see the module!