Homebrew PCBs

I ordered the sharpest pencil point they make, to try if it is better
than a larger tip for QFN and other small stuff.
It isn't.
I end up drag soldering all the same, and the thin tip is a nightmare
if you try to solder even small pins to big copper areas.
With the slightly rounded tip drag soldering works whatever way you
move the iron. With the sharp pencil tip i find it is better to angle
the tip and push it so that the point is leading. If you let the point
trail it makes more solder bridges. My theory is the trailing fillet
in the gap between tip and PCB aids in cleaning bridges, with the
sharp tip trailing there is no fillet. With larger  rounded chisel
type tips there is always a fillet whichever way you angle the iron.

So you can drag solder with a sharp pencil tip, but there doesn't
actually seem to be any advantage over a slightly larger more
universal tip.

I plan to buy the power well tip some day, and see if it is better in some way.
(It's a little like the hoof from metcal)

ST


On 8/18/07, Leon <leon355@...> wrote:

> How do you solder the QFNs? I use drag soldering, but I have got a very
> sharp point cartridge for my Metcal which might be better.
>
> Leon