Elecraft

OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

Classic

List

Threaded

7 messages Options

Edward A. Dauer

OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

I am thinking about trying my hand at building a kit with a bunch of SMDs. I don’t yet know the gauge. Any suggestions about the brand or type of hot air soldering gun I should buy? Any other tools I’ll need, like narrow-gauge solder, wicks, whatever?

Thanks,

Ted, KN1CBR

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Bill Frantz

Re: OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

I got a hot air rework device from SparkFun. It does a fine job
of heating SMT parts so they can be removed and replaced. I did
the KPOD power upgrade to my K3 using it.

It is currently in the hands of the moving company which is
moving our stuff from CA to NH as part of our move to
Peterborough, so I can't give a lot of details. But the invoice,
which is stored on my computer shows it as:

Hot-air Rework Station - 303D
TOL-10706 1
$114.95

73 Bill AE6JV

On 10/20/19 at 3:33 PM, [hidden email] (Dauer, Edward) wrote:

>I am thinking about trying my hand at building a kit with a
>bunch of SMDs. I don’t yet know the gauge. Any suggestions
>about the brand or type of hot air soldering gun I should buy?
>Any other tools I’ll need, like narrow-gauge solder, wicks, whatever?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz |"We used to quip that "password" is the most common
408-356-8506 | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said
users haven't
www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Kevin McQuiggin (SFU)

Re: OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

In reply to this post by Edward A. Dauer

Hi Ted:

I wanted to get into some SMD building and tried the hot air approach initially. It was difficult and unreliable, and I messed up more than I had success.

The best decision I made was to invest in a modestly-priced infrared SMD oven from Amazon. This works perfectly for me and I have now successfully made well over 100 boards with the device.

Price range was under $200. There is a lot of negatively about some of these ovens as they are made in China, but despite the poor English in their documentation I found that they work just fine. Put your pasted board inside with properly placed components, and “voila!” - a working circuit board in 7 minutes!

While the English in the documentation for my particular oven was poor, one can easily figure out what the writer means. Similarly, the user interface on my oven leaves a bit to be desired, but one can easily figure out what the screens mean, and get the job done.

The oven has about 5 pre-programmed heating cycles for different types of solder and different heating profiles. I just use the default cycle as it matches my configuration (lead-based solder paste).

Another suggestion is to invest in aluminum solder paste stencils for the boards you are building, if they are available. These are about $8 from a place in Utah. They beat trying to squirt paste onto closely-spaced pads with a syringe or other tool!

Hope this info helps, 73,

Kevin VE7ZD / KN7Q

> On Oct 20, 2019, at 12:33 PM, Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I am thinking about trying my hand at building a kit with a bunch of SMDs. I don’t yet know the gauge. Any suggestions about the brand or type of hot air soldering gun I should buy? Any other tools I’ll need, like narrow-gauge solder, wicks, whatever?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ted, KN1CBR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Mark Goldberg

OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

In reply to this post by Edward A. Dauer

I have a well used hot air gun (OK Industries SMT-1160) but I use my Metcal
iron and hot tweezers a lot more. They have an infinite selection of tips
for almost anything. They are expensive though, even used.

For us old farts with unsteady hands and bad eyes, a vacuum pickup, lots of
tweezers and a binocular microscope are a huge help. A flux bottle with a
dispensing needle tip and a bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol are musts too. I
have some tiny solder, solder wick and solder paste for my reflow oven. The
reflow oven is the bees knees if you are building a lot.

Youth and delicate hands also helps, I have neither but I get by.

Look at my qrz.com page for my setup and links to more info.

73,

Mark
W7MLG

On Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 12:33 PM Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am thinking about trying my hand at building a kit with a bunch of
> SMDs. I don’t yet know the gauge. Any suggestions about the brand or type
> of hot air soldering gun I should buy? Any other tools I’ll need, like
> narrow-gauge solder, wicks, whatever?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ted, KN1CBR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Kevin Cozens-2

Re: OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

In reply to this post by Edward A. Dauer

On 2019-10-20 3:33 p.m., Dauer, Edward wrote:
> I am thinking about trying my hand at building a kit with a bunch of SMDs. I don???t yet know the gauge. Any suggestions about the brand or type of hot air soldering gun I should buy? Any other tools I???ll need
Solder paste, small non-magnetic tweezers, a good source of light for the
area, and possibly a magnifying glass that you can use hands free while
soldering (if soldering the parts by hand). Another option would be one of
those inspection type microscopes. Your need for either of the last two
items will depend on your eyesight and how often you will be doing SMD
related work.

--
Cheers!

Kevin.

http://www.ve3syb.ca/ | "Nerds make the shiny things that
https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens | distract the mouth-breathers, and
| that's why we're powerful"
Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 |
#include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Gwen Patton

Re: OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

In reply to this post by Mark Goldberg

I was a backer for the ReflowR computer controlled SMD hot plate a few
years ago. I had to cough up a little extra for shipping because the
creator munged up his figures and didn't leave enough for shipping, and was
selling the things on Tindie to build up cash to send units to his backers
-- which caused people to get really cheesed off at him. I did get my
ReflowR, however, one with built in Wi-Fi for control with an app, or it
has a bunch of preconfigured profiles in it for most reflow jobs. This was
before ovens like the one you got were available so cheap, so there's only
a LITTLE buyer's remorse.

It DOES work pretty well, though. Combined with my I-Extruder pen for
applying solder paste, it makes SMD work much easier. The I-Extruder can be
used as a vacuum pick-and-place tool as well, or for applying flux in
controlled amounts. Since I don't work a lot with SMD yet, I use it for
applying Amtech Tacky Flux (Thank you, Louis Rossmann!) to my thru-hole
components for good soldering with much less flux application mess.

I also have one of those cheap Chinese WEP hot air reflow stations. Cost me
$60 on Amazon, and it works like a champ. I use it primarily for
heat-shrink, though. Used with that marine-grade heat shrink that's lined
with hot glue, it's a total wizard's tool.

73,
Gwen, NG3P

On Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 7:01 PM Mark Goldberg <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> I have a well used hot air gun (OK Industries SMT-1160) but I use my Metcal
> iron and hot tweezers a lot more. They have an infinite selection of tips
> for almost anything. They are expensive though, even used.
>
> For us old farts with unsteady hands and bad eyes, a vacuum pickup, lots of
> tweezers and a binocular microscope are a huge help. A flux bottle with a
> dispensing needle tip and a bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol are musts too. I
> have some tiny solder, solder wick and solder paste for my reflow oven. The
> reflow oven is the bees knees if you are building a lot.
>
> Youth and delicate hands also helps, I have neither but I get by.
>
> Look at my qrz.com page for my setup and links to more info.
>
> 73,
>
> Mark
> W7MLG
>
>
> On Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 12:33 PM Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > I am thinking about trying my hand at building a kit with a bunch of
> > SMDs. I don’t yet know the gauge. Any suggestions about the brand or
> type
> > of hot air soldering gun I should buy? Any other tools I’ll need, like
> > narrow-gauge solder, wicks, whatever?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Ted, KN1CBR
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

--

-+-+-+-+-
Jenny Everywhere's Infinite: Quark Time
http://quarktime.net
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Byron Servies

Re: OT - Hot Air Soldering Guns for SMDs

Years ago QST had an article on calibrating and using a toaster oven
and a multi-meter with a k-type probe for reflow soldering. I have
been using that successfully for years, for about $35.

73, Byron N6NUL

On Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 5:16 PM Gwen Patton <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> I was a backer for the ReflowR computer controlled SMD hot plate a few
> years ago. I had to cough up a little extra for shipping because the
> creator munged up his figures and didn't leave enough for shipping, and was
> selling the things on Tindie to build up cash to send units to his backers
> -- which caused people to get really cheesed off at him. I did get my
> ReflowR, however, one with built in Wi-Fi for control with an app, or it
> has a bunch of preconfigured profiles in it for most reflow jobs. This was
> before ovens like the one you got were available so cheap, so there's only
> a LITTLE buyer's remorse.
>
> It DOES work pretty well, though. Combined with my I-Extruder pen for
> applying solder paste, it makes SMD work much easier. The I-Extruder can be
> used as a vacuum pick-and-place tool as well, or for applying flux in
> controlled amounts. Since I don't work a lot with SMD yet, I use it for
> applying Amtech Tacky Flux (Thank you, Louis Rossmann!) to my thru-hole
> components for good soldering with much less flux application mess.
>
> I also have one of those cheap Chinese WEP hot air reflow stations. Cost me
> $60 on Amazon, and it works like a champ. I use it primarily for
> heat-shrink, though. Used with that marine-grade heat shrink that's lined
> with hot glue, it's a total wizard's tool.
>
> 73,
> Gwen, NG3P
>
> On Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 7:01 PM Mark Goldberg <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
> > I have a well used hot air gun (OK Industries SMT-1160) but I use my Metcal
> > iron and hot tweezers a lot more. They have an infinite selection of tips
> > for almost anything. They are expensive though, even used.
> >
> > For us old farts with unsteady hands and bad eyes, a vacuum pickup, lots of
> > tweezers and a binocular microscope are a huge help. A flux bottle with a
> > dispensing needle tip and a bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol are musts too. I
> > have some tiny solder, solder wick and solder paste for my reflow oven. The
> > reflow oven is the bees knees if you are building a lot.
> >
> > Youth and delicate hands also helps, I have neither but I get by.
> >
> > Look at my qrz.com page for my setup and links to more info.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Mark
> > W7MLG
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 12:33 PM Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > > I am thinking about trying my hand at building a kit with a bunch of
> > > SMDs. I don’t yet know the gauge. Any suggestions about the brand or
> > type
> > > of hot air soldering gun I should buy? Any other tools I’ll need, like
> > > narrow-gauge solder, wicks, whatever?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Ted, KN1CBR
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________________________
> > > Elecraft mailing list
> > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> > >
> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > > Message delivered to [hidden email]
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
>
> --
>
> -+-+-+-+-
> Jenny Everywhere's Infinite: Quark Time
> http://quarktime.net
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

--
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2020
- www.cqp.org
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]