Jason Hsu wrote:
>  I'm looking for suggestions on how to learn surface mount soldering, as I
> only
> know how to solder through-hole.
> 
> What training products can I buy to learn? What surface mount project kits
> would give me good practice?
> 
> What soldering iron tips should I buy? I have a WES51 soldering station and
> would prefer to stick with that.
> 

Get some *dead* consumer product like a TV, stereo, ipod, phone, 
printer, whatever.  It will be full of practice parts.

Pull out a circuit board, look it over.  Examine it closely and inspect 
the quality of the soldering.

Select smaller parts like 8 pin devices, etc.  Remove them carefully. 
Apply solder to both sides of the part, moving the iron back and forth. 
When it's free, remove the part.  Use solder wick to clean the board. 
Carefully use more solder wick to remove the solder from the leads of 
the part you took off.

Now solder it back on.  You can learn a lot of what works and what 
doesn't without worrying about ruining good parts and circuit boards 
doing this.  You will find out just how little solder is required to do 
the job.  And what happens with a bit of excess temperature.

Have fun.
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