David P Harris wrote:
> Marc Nicholas wrote:
>>I do exactly the same with a syringe of Kester and a hotplate.
>
> Tell us more...

See Sparkfun's website: 
http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorial/ReflowToaster/reflow-hotplate.htm#Hot-Plate

I haven't actually tried the hot plate, but what this guy says makes sense:

http://openhardware.net/Misc_Stuff/ToasterSMD/#donotfry

"I don't like fry pans!

I suggest that you don't even bother with this technique. I am convinced 
that the electric fry pan method is nothing more than a convection heat 
method to melt the solder with some conductive heating of the PCB to act as 
a preheater. From what I remember about my test with a 5inch X 8inch board, 
on the electric stove with a large aluminum slab to place the PCB on, is the 
smell of charred fiberglass resin!

Use the toaster oven technique, it is so much easier and you can control the 
heat more precisely than with an electric skillet. Also, if you notice, the 
boards that Sparkfun is using on the skillet are relatively small boards? I 
believe this is why they are getting convection heat to melt the paste."

Plus, a toaster oven is safer. Would you want a fry pan on your desk? I have 
enough burns from my 30W soldering iron, thank you.

Best regards,

Vitaliy 

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