In SX Microcontrollers, SX/B Compiler and SX-Key Tool, bean wrote:

William,
  I use a 3x magifier with a light. 
  The iron is a cheap weller WLC100 with the smallest tip available (not sure but I think it is 1/32"). I set the control to "3".

  I use the "drag" method. I use a flux pen (Kester #186) and coat the pads AND the legs of the SX48.
  I place the SX48 (this takes about 1 minute to make sure all sides are okay).
  Then I put one finger on the SX48 to hold it down (making sure not to move it).  
  I put a VERY little ball of solder on the end of the tip. Touch the left end of 1 row of pins and "drag" the soldering iron to the right (I'm right handed). If you have the proper amount of solder on the iron it will work great. If your finger get too hot, then you are going too slow. It's about 1 second to drag across 1 row of pins. 
  Now make sure all the other rows of pins are okay. Before soldering any further. 

  I only tried the paste a couple times, but I found I could solder them down by hand faster than finding the bridge and fixing it.
  I'm sure it can be done, but I don't have a proper screen printer for the paste. Also I think my solder stencil was too thick.
  Everything has to be just right for 0.5mm pitch devices.
  It probably takes me about 2-3 minutes to solder one device down, and for the quantities I'm making now that is acceptable.

  Oh I forgot to mention that I make the pads for the SX48 longer than recommended, that helps with hand soldering too.
Bean.

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