SMD Soldering Tutorial - with LEDs!

I love those little SMD soldering kits for practicing manual surface mount component soldering. They are only 2-3 EUR each and you can practice your skills before you try and repair you precious vintage hardware or broken modern console or laptop. This time I got a nice kit from a Chinese seller which includes (Chinese) instructions and actually can be tested without a testing harness, simply by looking at the LEDs. So let’s do some soldering!
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[@paulfitzgerald4933]

Great video. I did one of these last year and lost one of my capacitors. After watching the video and seeing the schematic just bridged the missing one (since that's a reduction in in just one) and fired it up. (usually I'd just put a finger over it) I made mine starting with a heat gun as part of my soldering station but it kept blowing components off. That's how I lost one of the caps. Finally resorted to the soldering iron. However when you get the heat on these semiconductors the right way after having a little solder on the pads, they just automatically shift and line up perfectly. So for some of them they turned out amazing from using the heat gun. Broken: I did notice that I had to flex the board to get the final white LED to light up, as there's obviously a break in the trace. All in all it was a fun build and a great trainer. I've also seen a video where one guy used an upside iron as a reflow oven. Which isn't a bad idea, as it would be nice to have a table top hot plate to place a board on and have the solder take.

[@root42]

Turn down the airflow then, or put the gun further away. Should help with components flying off. :)

[@paulfitzgerald4933]

@@root42 well said, and thank you. That’s why it’s a practice board! Ha!

[@johnknapowski7494]

Nice video, as possible securing the PCB, so only have only have one moving part (the device you are soldering), will make it easy for the small stuff

[@codebeat4192]

Push on top of component with tweezers and then start soldering. Solder one leg (if two sides on both sides) and after this do the rest of it.

[@ddistrbd1]

You gave me all the confidence I would need to tackle SMD soldering, I just ordered a clock but wondered if I could solder without a rework station, now I know it'll be hard but manageable.

[@root42]

Awesome. You will manage! And mistakes will be made. But that’s ok!

[@keivank1701]

Thats why i use hot air gun and solder paste ;)

[@root42]

It’s on my shopping list if I have enough space. I do this too rarely to justify the investment currently.

[@keivank1701]

@@root42 True i think i have used my once so i understand your answer haha

[@olDirdey]

@@root42 you can get used hotair stations for 25-35€. they are suitable for small jobs like this. you can´t solder high copper mass circuitboards, but thats another level of soldering with hot air.

[@MHTSAPAS]

What brand of paste would you recommend for a complete novice? My soldering skills are very good but I have never done any SMD work and I see so many mixed reviews that I keep shelving my SMD kits and playing with other projects. Any info or advice from someone with experience would be very well appreciated. Oh and I should add that I have all the tools besides a heating plate. I have replaced the odd SMD part using a hot air station but that is the most I have done.

[@jumbo999614]

Did you use microscope while soldering?

[@root42]

Actually, no. But a good microscope will probably help.

[@ITWorksSoftware]

Do,you have to use leaded solder? Can you use rosin core no lead solder?

[@root42]

Of course you can. It’s a matter of practice. Leaded solder is slightly easier to work with.