Soldering secrets for surface mount components

[@JoePkSpearfishing]

Fascinating and informative tutorial in insane quality thank you Grant. Definitely good practise for the breath holds. I have a question though. Using the tweezers as a heat sink. Is this suggested to transfer heat away from the component during the soldering process, to protect the component? please excuse my ignorance I was here for the breath holds on the whole.

[@GrantWyness]

Thanks for the fab feedback Joe🍹 In my case, the ceramic tweezers are used purely to hold the component in situ with negative heat sinking. Holding a surface mount component with metal tweezers increases its surface area exponentially - more heat can be applied before any potential damage - this is a desirable safety net if your soldering ‘style’ means you tend to linger with the iron. I myself, prefer to get the iron on the component hot, and leave quickly - having a heat sink would be counterproductive for my style.

[@JoePkSpearfishing]

@@GrantWyness ahh - Makes Crystal Clear sense. Thanks.

[@GrantWyness]

It doesn’t in the video - I will endeavour to clarify it in the next soldering vid. Great feedback 👍🏻👍🏻

[@davido.hamilton3254]

Thank-you Mr. Wyness...you were very 'candid' in your video, and I was happy to learn from you. Bless Your Bunions!

[@GrantWyness]

Thank you for your kind words David. The bunions are now considered, blessed 🧘🏼‍♂️

[@americanmultigenic]

I am just starting out my electronics "journey" . . also in large part thanks to Mister Paul Carlson (he is a real "inspiration" . . . and what a GREAT Canadian accent he has!! :-) ) ). My first project is going to be to solve an actual problem I have with a power brick refusing to "stay awake" under a very light load of a pair of USB speakers. So I will be making Mister Carson's "Load Pulser" circuit, although I am going to use larger components as this is my very first project and I don't want to dabble with any tiny surface-mount parts at this early stage! Thank you for this video: it is very helpful to see your tools. I also found your one about making circuit boards extremely helpful, although that is down the line a ways for me as yet. ---Mike.

[@GrantWyness]

Hi Mike, thanks for your kind words and it makes me happy to see the vids doing some good. All the very best to you 🍻

[@thomasrice2888]

My hands have become shaky in the last few years. You gave me the courage to return to electronics! Thanks!

[@GrantWyness]

Thomas, this has made my day. Thank you! Ladies and gentlemen, all the reasons to make videos, right there 🥳🍻

[@WardCo]

Thanks Grant. You make video production look easy and I know it is not. Have all the parts for Paul's cap tester piled up here but can never seem to get to it. Thanks for the tip about RA flux getting under the insulation. Never considered that and you're absolutely right.

[@GrantWyness]

Hello Sir, Thank you for your encouraging words, it means a lot🍻 The RA flux conundrum to me is how they advertise it as inert and harmless to components (non corrosive)? No, it’s not nitric acid, but it is still chemically active both before and after heating. All the best to you

[@soulrobotics]

in 13:31 i can see a transistor labeled 2A something, which could be a 2N3906.,... which by the circuit presented the emitter goes to 0v,... which is wrong because is a PNP. The right transistor should be a NPN,... anyway, is well soldered! :-)

[@GrantWyness]

Hello Internaut - you get a ⭐️ for your eagle eyed discovery. In order not to rub Mr C’s rhubarb the wrong way I put the wrong SMC’s in random places. All the best to you and yours🍻

[@nicuvaleriumalcota5520]

How calibrate this device?

[@stevegibson4703]

I notice that you don't tin your boards. What are your thoughs on this?

[@GrantWyness]

Hello Steve, thank you for subscribing 🍻 In regards to tinning I would recommend it wholeheartedly - it serves several purposes beside the nice aesthetic. I didn’t use it purely for the lack of having any. I do have a silverplating fluid which would be pointless as silver tarnishes just as badly as copper. All the best

[@bobweiram6321]

This is easy soldering compared to today's microscopic components.

[@frankpitochelli6786]

Why not use a hot air rework station and solder paste, the hot air will melt the paste and the components will slide into position and the hot air fan can be turned down so it doesn't blow the parts off the trace. Hot air stations are very inexpensive nowadays.

[@GrantWyness]

Hello Frank, thank you for your recommendation 👍🏻 There are certainly other ways to get good results, my favourite will always be the hot pointy stick method, for the shear fun it gives me. My other video ‘making a PCB’ is another example of different ways - I like using laser paper, others like using toner transfer paper. I guess it all comes down to which tool [s] grip our niblets. All the very best to you 🍻

[@frankpitochelli6786]

@@GrantWyness you did a fine job, whatever works for you is the best, truthfully, I always used the point and stick method as I only got a hot air station 7-8 yrs ago. So, for the 30 plus yr before that, I did and still do the soldering iron technique. Good job.!!