On 07/07/2015 06:54 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
...
> Tweezers are a great tool, but be cautious with their use.
Rather than tweezers I prefer an Exacto knife. You can use it to push
the part into place and then use the knife blade to hold the part down
while you put a blob of solder on one terminal to hold it in place.
Then solder the other terminal(s) and finally go back to the blob and
solder it correctly.
If you have 65-year-old eyes like mine you will need a good, strong
light and magnification. I bought a good-quality, brand-new, binocular
microscope on the Internet for about $300, but a good magnifying glass
or eye loupe would probably work also.
It's like anything else; it gets easier after you've done it a few times.
Alan N1AL
I can vouch for what Ed has said. Much of the problem is with the fear
of small parts. If you have 'eye problems', a magnifying headband can
be a great help.
Tweezers are a great tool, but be cautious with their use. Too much
grip on the part can send it flying to parts unknown where it becomes
vacuum cleaner food. A touch just light enough to secure the part is
what you want. I prefer straight tweezers while others prefer the
angled type - it all depends on how you hold them to determine which is
best for you. If you naturally put the main body of the tweezers in
your palm, then the angled ones will work best for you. I leave the
main body 'sticking up in the air', so straight tweezers work best for me.
The prior advice about tinning (putting a small pool of solder) on one
end of the existing capacitor is correct. Heat that solder while
sliding the added capacitor atop the existing one - when it 'sticks', go
solder the other end, and then come back and dress up the soldering on
the first end.
I don't know about the calming effects of Whisky or tobacco for
"mellowing", but if you have some technique for calming "the shakies",
use it.
Age is doing its thing on me, and I am beginning to feel the effects of
'tremors'. I find I need to support the heels of my hands on the board
or the bench surface to counter that problem. Despite that, I am able
to solder SMD components as small as 0603, and I am fortunate that my
eyes allow me to do that part without magnification - I then inspect the
work with magnification afterwards and make corrections as needed. Use
magnification at the start if you are not so fortunate. If you need
"Microscope" enlargement, then a webcam on your computer may be the
answer to your problem - that is a 'cheap hams microscope'.
In other words, with these hints, give it a try. I wish you success.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 7/7/2015 8:46 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
OK, brace your self, but I told you so (a few weeks ago) - not
specifically you, Emory.
Surface mount work takes skill and calmness. I compare it to the
process precision shooters use. Breathing in/out and out half-way and
hold will calm nerves. Mental thinking to calm yourself vs saying "do
not shake" is some of the zen stuff that works. Resting the heel of
your hand on something helps holding still. Whisky or some of that
tobaccy that will mellow you...but you might get munchies so caveat
emptor! (legal in only three states)
Bees wax or putty with a toothpick are beginners methods.
Professionals get a fine jeweler's tweezer to hold sm. Use what works
for you.
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