You kids and your fancy paste…
At work I typically only do one or two boards. My boardhouse doesn’t offer
stencils. So I tin a pad, heat it and slide the components into the tin to
tack it down. I also avoid using BGA that’s an important tip.
We have a reflow oven at the space but I guess I didn’t have a ‘do not
hack’ sign on it and someone took out all the thermal protection.
(Forbidden cotton candy) I have used a hot air rework station, but I turn
down the fan speed. I did watch a student use a heat gun once that made for
an entertaining afternoon.
Don’t underestimate the power of copper braid. Get some of that liquid flux
I keep at the space put it on the braid not the board. A little goes a long
way. Get one of them vape juice bottles and use it to keep the flux in. Put
the braid on top the bridges and heat the braid with the iron. Don’t push
down you need heat not pressure. That braid will suck it right up. That
flux in the space is water solvable too so you can clean it with some
water. Same with the flux in the solder down there. The yeller stuff. They
make a red that’s a bit thicker, need to get a pound for the space, just
haven’t. At work we use water and a mild detergent and then bake it at 125c
for 20min or so. Rework in general is an artform, even solder techs shy
away from it. So don’t feel bad if you make a mistake worse.
I hand solder 0402 and sometimes 0201. Just takes time and patience.