12 Aug
2006
12 Aug
'06
9:55 a.m.
Ethan Dicks wrote:
I guess I just got lucky enough to get into SMT
projects in the early
1990s and didn't really worry about it. I can recommend that if you
are going to be doing a lot of them that the proper tools really make
things easier. I did a stint with a Dremmel-sized hot-air soldering
gun and an RF soldering iron and a foot-activated solder paste pump,
and I have to say that it was _nice_, but I don't own those tools
myself (wish I did). Even so, you can still do a lot with SOTs and
1206 resistors and a 1/32" soldering iron tip and tools that you
_ought_ to own for through-hole projects.
I bought a pneumatic solder paste pump for $75, and two different
very high-end hot air pencils for $50 and $120, all on eBay over the
past several years. The stuff is out there. $50 for an air pencil
which will likely run for decades is not a bad investment in my opinion.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
Cape Coral, FL