Homebrew PCBs

I think the trick here is to flux the whole board, I use just a little
paste flux and smear it over the whole board with my finger, and then
just a little solder like a well tinned tip on and iron or a little
puddle on the board that can be smeared around. It takes a very small
amount, just enough to wet the traces. They should look like silver
traces if done right with no lumps or puddles on them. Less is more
here. Laying the tip sideways on the board covers a larger area pretty
quickly. The paste RA flux works ideal if you can still find it.  I do
this on all my boards right now and it works well even on the SMD
stuff with TQFP chips on them.

I think this is probably a step down from tin plating but I read mixed
results on that method.

- Phil (KA0HBG)


-
> 
> As a follow up, I hand-tinned all the traces and pads with solder. It
> worked, but was a royal pain and wasted a whole lot of solder and
> desoldering braid. I don't think I'll do it this way again.
>