tvb@LeapSecond.com said: > Having not done SMT before, how should I do it with minimal risk to the > very precious PCB. Or, what equipment should I use this as a good excuse > to buy? If you can get at it, 2 soldering irons, one on each end, works reasonably well. When both ends are melted, just push the part out of the way. Small/light things like 0805 resistors will frequently stick to one of the tops by surface tension of the liquid solder. -- These are my opinions. I hate spam.

metcal has a "hot twizer " to remove SMD components it heats the component on both end 73 Alex On 11/5/2016 12:55 PM, Hal Murray wrote: > tvb@LeapSecond.com said: >> Having not done SMT before, how should I do it with minimal risk to the >> very precious PCB. Or, what equipment should I use this as a good excuse >> to buy? > If you can get at it, 2 soldering irons, one on each end, works reasonably > well. When both ends are melted, just push the part out of the way. > Small/light things like 0805 resistors will frequently stick to one of the > tops by surface tension of the liquid solder. >

I also use the double-iron method over hot air for tiny components. I use them like tweezers, yet with an improvement in dexterity. Liberal use of liquid or paste flux, in addition to what might be in the solder itself, is very helpful in obtaining good results. If you have the "SMT solder paste" with tiny spheres of solder mixed in with rosin paste, that also works well. Obviously, a hot air machine with assortment of nozzles is the easiest way to handle components with a large lead count. Under "field conditions" I've actually used a common heat gun and a watchful eye on the phase change. Since leaving the 2-way radio field a dozen years ago, I only get to work on my own gear. I still like maintaining the ability, although the eyesight is becoming an issue. Time for those glasses I've been avoiding... First post for me, despite a few years of lurking. Always one of my favorite reads! On Saturday, November 05, 2016 12:55:55 PM Hal Murray wrote: > tvb@LeapSecond.com said: > > Having not done SMT before, how should I do it with minimal risk to the > > very precious PCB. Or, what equipment should I use this as a good excuse > > to buy? > > If you can get at it, 2 soldering irons, one on each end, works reasonably > well. When both ends are melted, just push the part out of the way. > Small/light things like 0805 resistors will frequently stick to one of the > tops by surface tension of the liquid solder. -- Everett B. Fulton, AF5OK efulton@rackspace.com DNS/NTP Engineer (the other time-nuts guy from the Spring Branch TX area)