Neil, Apparently you found some answers to these already, but in case not, here goes: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neil Gandler" > #1 If you used a toaster oven with a convection fan, did it work better than > a standard toaster > oven? Fans are better, but not required. > > #2 What brand and type of solder paste did you use? I am seeing > recommendations to use > a solder with atleast 2% silver. I used a kit available from Digikey www.digikey.com that came with paste solder, paste flux, dispensing tubes. It's pretty handy. It's just called Surface Mount Soldering Kit. > > #3. With the solder paste you used, did you need to add flux? > Yes. Paste flux can also serve double duty. Put a dob on your component and stick it down on the PC board where you want it, if you are using a regular fine tip soldering iron this can free up a hand. > #4 What type of precision temperature gauge did you use? As we both know you > can never rely on the inaccurate thermostat knobs on most toaster ovens. > I have a thermocouple and a digital thermocouple meter handy in my lab anyway. For the home hacker, this might be a tough thing to get. You can get a pretty fair thermocouple meter from radio shack (their high-end do-it-all voltmeter has a thermocouple input) or some of the other outfits that make these 20-in-1 voltmeters(Metex, Exetech) My Metex meter is the Best hundred bucks I ever spent. > #5. Do you have a text log on the heating and cooling cycles you used to get > the best results? If you can include the brand and model toaster oven, even > better! > > #6 Have you found an effective "ozone safe" flux remover, considering that > todays mandatory environmentallu friendly requirement has made these flux > removers less effective. > Nope. I just use the flux remover in cans avail from Mouser or Digikey. Don't know what's in it, but it will take the paint off anything. > #7 This may be a stupid question, but would it be safe to reflow your boards > in the same toaster oven you use for food? NO NO NO NO The only problem I can see, is if > vapors from the soldering chemicals deposit inside the oven and revaporize > and settle on the food cooked inside. I mention this since a convection > toaster oven costs around $200. It would be nice to use for food as well. > You need a cheap knockoff. Try one of our 300 series. www.toastmaster.com TM316 $29.99 retail. No fan, probably works as well as any. Note: Yes I do work for Toastmaster. --Lawrence Lile -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.