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