23 Jan
2012
23 Jan
'12
1:06 p.m.
On Jan 23, 2012, at 12:44 AM, Dave McGuire wrote:
On 01/23/2012 12:30 AM, Chuck Guzis wrote:
I learned to solder in the late 1970s; did a bit of tie strips but mostly perf board and
through-hole PCBs. (home-etched and kits) It's weird...I enjoy soldering, and I guess
I still like through-hole soldering as much as I used to, but SMT is just so much faster
and easier that I groan when I get to the inevitable through-hole connectors and such.
If I had proper tools (which, once we make this move which will hopefully be the last one
for a while, I will start doing), I'd probably like SMT more. As is, I've had
good luck with the toaster oven method (which isn't *that* different from the
industrial reflow process, just a little less controlled) and there wasn't much
cleanup with leaded solder.
I enjoy soldering, though. I feel like it's been a productive day when I can't
get the smell of burnt rosin out of my nostrils. It's a smell that brings back as
many fond memories as the smell of burnt gunpowder, which just smells like mischief. :-)
- Dave