> If the board is double-sided, the opposite side obviously must be  
> entirely hand soldered.

I used to do SMD (0805 and larger) by hand: patch of solder in one pad, 
heat with tip of iron, put component in place with tweezer, solder the 
other pad. No problems, but it takes time (but still less time than TH 
components).

I just got a solder paste stencil, so I tried a PCB using that method. 
Very easy, and a lot quicker. I used a paint stripper. Not ideal, but 
certainly doable. (I will probably either build or buy an oven, or maybe 
a hot-plate.) The flip side has some larger SMD components (SOIC28 and 
some FETs), those were easy too. The main problem is how to use the 
stencil when the bottom side is already populated, so it isn't an even 
surface.

-- 

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu

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