[ATM] soldering SMPs

[ks1u]

Dominic:
      If you are soldering onto bare copper pads, I put a small spot  
of solder on one pad and then, with tweezers lower the device onto the  
soldered pad while applying heat to the solder pad.  As soon as the  
solder melts, remove the heat and continue to hold the device in place  
with the tweezers.  After a few seconds, when the solder cools, you  
can solder the other end of the device to its pad.  This works whether  
you have two contacts as with resistors and capacitors, or more as  
with transistors and ic's.  I always use magnifying lenses.  If you  
are replacing a device, make sure you remove as much of the original  
solder as possible before putting the new part in place.  You'll need  
a very fine solder tip and preferably a heat controlled soldering  
station. Also, a very fine solder diameter is helpful. If you have  
only a standard soldering pencil, use only as much heat as necessary  
and be careful not to torque or bend the leads once they are in place.
      When placing the leads on the pad, I touch the soldering tip to  
the lead, but not on top of it.

George