After reading all the posts about SMT soldering I decided to give it a try.

I am using a Radio Shack desoldering tool, slightly modified from the list
description, with an aquarium air pump and 63/37 solder paste.  After some
trial and error I was able to develop a suitable procedure for applying the
solder paste.

The system is working very well indeed.  I can solder 050 pitch chips with no
problem, from 0805 capacitors to SOIC 18s, and yesterday I soldered a 100-pin
QFP chip, which is .025 pitch.  I had one bridge, which I was able to remove.

Thanks to who ever started the thread.  I now feel comfortable prototyping
with SMT devices, which I have previously avoided like the plague.  I will
still avoid the PLCC chips - they are very difficult to solder.


Sid Weaver
W4EKQ
Port Richey, FL

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