I do this with normal solder and a 1.5mm tip using a 35w iron.  (No, I'm not
talking golf!)

I simply solder along the side of the chip.  (Often SO18 of 16F84 or 628
PIC's)
Soldering on all legs in a single controlled stroke while feeding solder
very slowly.
This technique has taken me some time to master, but it makes soldering of
theese packages simple without any special tools.

For small prototyping I solder components down to 0402 with a pair of
tweezers and the same 1.5m m tipped 35w iron.  After all, they're not that
small?  They are actually 1 mm long, and that's plenty!

I will admit that I am still young and that I will definately not be able to
keep this up as I age, but for now it woks.  Shaking hands may come sooner
than one expects when dealing with such small scales :-)

I do have a gas torch that have a hot-air muzzle but I can't use it for
continous operation as it turns out the tip get's too hot and the tool
starts to melt!!!  And this is a quality instrument from Rothenberger...

    Kyrre


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tal Bejerano - AMC" <kooter@ZAHAV.NET.IL>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: [EE]: Printer to PCB?


> Alan
>
> I must say that I disagree with you about the solder and a very fine tip.
> I saw a demonstration in HAKKO (solders manufacturer) and they use/sell a
> small special soldering paste  that you put on the smd ic pins and then
you
> can use *ANY* solder (15W-40W) and just put the solder tin on *ALL* pins.
I
> was in shock cause I thought all the pins will be soldered together!
> but like in magic it didn't happened. this small tube solved my smd
> soldering problems.
> and it's not too expensive either.
> Regards
>
> Tal Bejerano
> AMC - ISRAEL
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Alan B. Pearce
> Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 12:48 PM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [EE]: Printer to PCB?
>
>
> >What is the essential equipment for a beginner
> >to have to start SMD placement.
>
> A very fine tip soldering iron, preferably with adjustable temperature
> control.
>
> A pair of tweezers, preferably the sort with "normally closed" jaws,
rather
> than the "normally open" type commonly available. The "normally closed"
type
> allow you to hold components without having to think about keeping the
> tweezers closed. If you use the "normally open" type, then the effort of
> holding the component with just the right amount of pressure leads to a
> situation where it is all to easy to twist the jaws sending the component
> flying to where you will never find it :)
>
> A good magnifier, my preference is a headband stereo magnifier of about
> 2.5x, an Optivisor or similar. If dealing with extremely tiny components
you
> may wish to get a higher magnification, but I find the larger
magnifications
> harder to use.
>
> Get some very fine solder and resin.
>
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>

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