> Been meaning to try hand-soldering a SOIC surface-mount for a
> long time, but
> finally felt fearless today.  With a small scrap of PCB, I laid out a few
> SOIC patterns and hand-soldered it with a regular Weller SP12 soldering
> iron....  very small, light, and low-cost ($13), with a decently
> small tip
> (though I've seen smaller-tipped irons).  Pic of this first
> attempt attached.
>
> I've electrically tested it, and it seems to all be good.
> Whereas it's not
> aesthetically perfect, neither was my first attempt at regular thru-hole
> soldering.  No magnifier used either.  Chip is a 50-mil pitch
> generic 74LS244
> I picked up for a few cents some time back.
>
> Please, no comments on the scrap PCB, which I cut with a pair of scissors.
>
> This opens up a new world to me, and I highly recommend it to anyone else
> who's been sceptical.

        Way to go, it actually looks far better then MY first attempt... SOIC
soldering isn't too bad, solder wick is generally the only additional tool I
need over what I use for through hole soldering, and I've been needing it
much less frequently.

        I find for SOIC a regular tip is usable, while a fine tip is far better a
regular tip will do. Now of course since you've crossed this bridge you must
go smaller! Those tiny 4 resistor resistor packs are REAL fun to hand
solder! :) One good thing about being nearsighted as I am is you don't need
a magnifying glass, I just hold everything close to my eyes. People around
me always ask whether I can actually see anything that close... :) TTYL

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