I've given thought to stencils, but without building something to prop my hands on, I'll smear the paste. So, I place up to 10 or 15 parts at a time and use the hot-air gun. To each his own, I guess. Bob ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GFS GPSDO list: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/GFS-GPSDOs/info -------------------------------------------- On Thu, 6/23/16, Oz-in-DFW <lists@ozindfw.net> wrote: Subject: Re: [time-nuts] OT stuffing boards: was GPS interface/prototyping board To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement" <time-nuts@febo.com> Date: Thursday, June 23, 2016, 8:16 PM I'll second this, and suggest you consider: 1. Pick and place machines use a lot of floor space (even for the     "small" ones are more than 1/2 a bench.) 2. Even the best ones require pretty continuous tuning. If you aren't     using them continuously each new run is a new and different     experience.  Often unpleasant for the first few scrapped boards. 3. You can only place a limited list of parts for a run.  If you have     one more part than the machine will accomodate, its a second (or     third, or fourth pass.) 4. They are all high maintenance in addition to requiring tuning. A lot     of the maintenance is based on calendar, not operation time.  Even     and idle machine requires time if you actually want to use it     eventually. 5. Most are closed software loops. You work around their poor (or un)     documented formats and bugs. 6. There are really cheap small batch assembly houses coming online     that will do under 10 units. See Macrofab, PC:NG, Small Batch     Assembly are fairly quick turns. If all you are doing is protos, hand placement, mylar solder stencils (see Oshstencils and others) and a hacked toaster oven are a good solution. The $500 Chinese reflow ovens seem to require more (re)work that a $50 toaster oven.  If you use stencils to place the solder, part placement is as fast (or faster) than through hole parts. I have to use a microscope.  I'm shaky enough that  may need to built some Waldoes soon.  ;-) I just did six moderately complex boards (no fine pitch parts) and that was 2-3 too many for me. Solder stencils make **all** the difference. Oz, in DFW