Homebrew PCBs

hi!

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:

> I use a hotplate for most of my smt, and a 0.020" conical tip iron for
> the rest.  http://www.delorie.com/pcb/hotplate/
> 
> More near the bottom of: http://geda.seul.org/projects/djs_pcbs/
>

if you have to keep the board moving and you have a lot of components
on it, it seems almost impossible to keep everything on place :( 

and tip ironing lots of small components seems to be a stressing task,
i'd use it only for small corrections, clean up and desoldering. 

i think i'll have to buy an oven. it's very handy to solder everything
in one step, at the same time. and you use it to cure dry-films too,
and to dry moisture sensitive components before soldering

 
> I got some SynTECH paste online.  It doesn't need to be kept cool.  My
> one syringe of it has been in use for over a year and still seems fine
> to me.  Unfortunately, the place I got it from doesn't offer it any
> more.


i'm looking at different online stores and websites and that one looks
pretty well.. there are a lot different solderpaste types with
different shelf-life's, cooled/uncooled, lead-free, no-clean.. best
would be if it's uncooled to avoid having to store it with food heh :)
no-clean, uncooled and not-lead-free seems to be the best choice

thank you for the tips, infos and advices!