If you have an infra red cook top, convection oven, and your wife is out
of town, this method works well:

1) Squeeze solder paste onto each pad.  You could fashion a stencil and
   squeegie on, but if you are only doing a few, it isn't worth the hassle.

2) Place parts on the pre-pasted pads.  Don't worry about gluing them down
   or placing them perfectly on the pads.  Surface tension will hold them
   down and centre them for you as long as each side is stuck in the paste.

3) Pre-heat the board on the IR top.  Use a thermometer to ensure temperature
   is about 100C.  This not only reduces the time in the oven, but it reduces
   the thermal shock to the board connections, especially if it is multi-layer.
   Note:  If the boards have not been stored in an air tight dry environment,
   it may be a good idea to dry them for some time in a 70C oven prior to step
   1.

4) Place in convection oven pre heated to melting point of your solder paste.
   (see specification). Measure with thermometer to ensure temperature. A
   regular oven will work too, but the heat is more uniform in a convection
   type oven.  When the paste has melted and become shiny, and the components
   have auto aligned themselves, carefully remove the board and place on range
   top to cool.

5) Correct any defects.  You'ld be really lucky if there weren't any!

5) Place board(s) in dishwasher, add detergent, and cycle.

6) Serve warm with a sprig of parsley.

This method works very well.  However, when we did it last, I had a process
engineer with 20 years experience helping me.

If you are doing a double sided board, there is a special heat curing epoxy
that you can purchase (from solder paste supplier) that will cure during step 4.
Apply it the same way you do the solder paste, but between the pads. Don't get
it on you, as it is a bitch to get off! Thus when you repeat steps 1-4 for the
other side, your side1 parts won't fall off, leaving evidence for your wife to
find...  Not that she ever would since I do all the cooking!

And hey, if you have one of those new CEBUS controlled ranges, you could just
program it to do your reflow!

Craig

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of ARudzki
> Sent: August 5, 1999 3:55 PM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [OT] Home Made SMD Soldering
> 
> 
> I've done this with a toaster oven.  It works but
> 
> 1) you need to watch the heat & the solder.  When it flows, get it outta
> there.
> 2) If you don't get the temp right, the board bakes before the 
> solder melts
> (fiberglass edges get DARK)
> 
> 
> tony
>