Choosing Elecraft is a no brainer, but any of the other kit manufacturers would be fine also. The point it to give a young man an opportunity to see something start from a box of parts and become a higher level assembly.

We are also considering the Elecraft KX1 as a good starter kit. We have already built several of the other smaller Elecraft kits.

Here is a summary of our current situation…

• I have read the various FAQs, tips, etc.
• I am not new to kit building.
• We have a good soldering station.
• If the K2 works out well we will use it on CW for a while and then add
  enhancements: SSB first then others (perhaps DSP, 160M, 60M-Xvrter,
  100Watts)…
• Are there tools or tips I am missing before I drop the coin?

The summary of the very helpful answers are…

• Think ESD for the parts (no worries there… I am the ESD promoter at our electronics lab at work)
  • No parts in non ESD foam
  • No parts in cardboard, etc.
  • Small anti-static mat with wrist straps, etc.
  • Keep active parts in their black ESD foam
• Seriously consider the re-work eliminators and other nifty things from http://www.unpcbs.com/
• Consider a good Cap/Inductance meter
• Seriously consider using flush cutting snips
• Certainly use a thermo controlled soldering iron with good assortment of tips
• Use small diameter solder
• Get a new #1 Phillips screwdriver
• Seriously consider an illuminated magnifier or, perhaps, a mag. visor
• On the same topic, have good lighting
• Reference the example toroid images available from the K2 community
• Use headers where possible
• Dental pick and other assorted fiddling tools
• Reserve a good amount of table space for the project
• Consider pre-wound toroids
• When inventorying parts, leave the resistors in their tape
• Seriously consider starting with the XG2 and DL-1 dummy load to spin up on soldering skills
• Seriously consider making the XG2 because it will be handy during the K2 build
• Consider building the N-gen noise generator. Simple to build and helpful to check whether a receiver is funcitoning properly