Turtlerock Forum

Anyone here worked on surface mount gear? Is it as bad as it sounds?
Thinking of replacing some opamps. I only have a normal soldering iron, do you need a special secret agent one?
Thanks.

Anyone here worked on surface mount gear? Yes

Is it as bad as it sounds? Yes

Thinking of replacing some opamps. I only have a normal soldering iron, do you need a special secret agent one? Yes

It takes quite a bit of specialised equipment and training to be proficient at SMD soldering. Not something to be undertaken lightly.

Thanks Bob, I thought the rumors might be true.
Cheers.

well tip soldiering iron? they're pretty cool.

If you ask me it's DISE,.....pronounced dicey.
Do It Somebody Else.
....there's my daggy offering for the day

I find hand soldering SMD parts is about as tricky as splicing 1/4" tape... it takes is patience, a steady hand (no coffee!), a very fine chisel tipped soldering iron, tweezers and a flux pen. A magnifying lamp is also helpful for small parts (0603 size). Like many things in life it's daunting at first but becomes easier with practice and experience....

I've used SMD parts in little circuits quite a few times (good for phantom power circuits inside old mics that run T power/12v etc) with a normal iron. Fiddly but fine. The trick is to coat the pads first, lay the SMD part on top, and then just quickly heat up the pads on the SMD.

The times someone has asked me to fix something with SMD parts on it I've put it in the too hard basket! Installing SMD is fine, removing SMD is bloody tricky without the right tools.