[Elecraft] SMT Work In The Ham Radio Shack WHAT TOOLS Are Required..?

[Don Wilhelm]

Andy and all,

While there are several exotic tools and materials available for doing 
SMD work, I would prefer to speak to those who might only do it on 
occasion - maybe a single project that does not require such things as 
soldering paste and heat guns.

About the best reference I know of for working with SMD in the ham shack 
is contained in the instructions from Tom Hammond for the SMD version of 
the K6XX CW tuning indicator.  You may download that pdf file from Tom's 
website www.n0ss.net.

A short version of the technique is to use small diameter solder (too 
much solder will cause a real mess).
Just apply a small amount of solder to one pad (a corner pad for an IC) 
- then position the component and heat that pre-soldered pad (this step 
will stick the component in place).  Now solder the other lead(s) and go 
back to the first one if there is any doubt about its integrity.   Mop 
up any excess solder with solder wick and you are done.  Steady hands 
are also helpful, but if one has learned how to support and work with 
unsteady hands, it can even be done by those folks.  I would say that 
everyone needs to experiment a bit before tackling something important 
and of value.  There are small inexpensive projects (Softrock for one) 
which serve that purpose.  Another low or no-cost practice item is a 
scrap computer card or board - that can give you experience in removing 
components and putting them back on.

So if you already have small diameter solder and a temperature 
controlled iron, you only need some solder wick and some device to pick 
up and hold those tiny components.  One big hint that I can offer - do 
*not* attempt to use curved nose tweezers, one cannot control the 
squeezing force and they are guaranteed to launch the small components 
and make them 'vacuum cleaner fodder'.  I use straight tweezers with 
tips that taper to a point with good success, YMMV.  A tube of solder 
flux comes in handy at times when the solder just won't flow right, and 
a magnifying device of your choosing is almost mandatory - even if you 
don't need it for soldering, you will need it for close inspection.

There are several sources of information on the web about using solder 
paste, toaster ovens, heat guns, etc.  If you are going to be doing 
quite a few boards and don't mind the expense of these tools go for it, 
but SMD work *can* be done easily with the tools many builders already 
have available.

73,
Don W3FPR


Andy - GM0NWI wrote:
> Hello Good People..!
>
> The title of this post say's it all really..
>
> If one were going to succumb to the inevitable of the future... and include
> SMT WORK in the Shack in the same way we have undertaken general work with
> thru-hole technology...
>
> What Tools WOULD be required..? (In The Shack)
>
> To do a wide varying range of jobs that we see both NOW and possibly in the
> future..?
>
> I'm sure that everyone here would be VERY interested in folk's out there
> "ideas" ..."know-how's"
> ...PICTURES (hint hint !) and website links for sure...
>
> Apologies if this has been discussed previously to this depth... Just
> thought it an interesting Thread for everyone involved "newbie's" And
> "Pro's" alike..
>   
>