Hot take: stop using the heat gun on those old King radio connectors

I watched a guy melt a $400 KX 155 connector block last week because he was trying to shrink tubing with a heat gun on high, and I've seen the same thing happen at three different shops I've worked at in Phoenix, so why does nobody just use the proper temperature controlled iron for those pins or a low heat setting?

2 comments

2 Comments

harperwright1mo ago

No heat gun on high" should be a crime right next to putting a pizza cutter in the knife drawer (which I've also done, by the way). I once tried to rush a connector repair with my heat gun on max and ended up with a sad, droopy pin that looked like a sad little noodle. Now I just crimp everything cold and pray the gods of avionics smile on me, because apparently my patience is about as good as my heat gun control.

charles_chen931mo ago

Is it just me, or does every heat gun have a personal vendetta against my patience? I once melted a perfectly good connector trying to rush it, and now I just stare at the thing for five minutes before touching it, hoping it gets scared into working.