The little bits of sealant that you clip from IP68 LEDs make really good anti slip feet. Just add some double sided tape to the (conveniently) flat side.
See photos (if they work) and check video...
Ipad photos are too big you have to crop them to under 1 Mb size.
Boardburner2:
Ipad photos are too big you have to crop them to under 1 Mb size.
It wasnt the size...iOS labels them "jpeg"...same as jpg, but not recognised here.... fixed now and uploaded.
The old SMD hold down tool worked well but it was a bit tall and moved too easily.
This new hold down is much better and puts more pressure on the SMD devices.
The SS rod is made from a 2mm bicycle spoke.
A 3/4" magnet gives more holding power.
The work surface is a 403 stainless steel sheet.
The hold down works better with 3/4" magnet.
For such jobs I've normally used solder paste, hotplate, and a hot air gun.
Works well.
Alan
allanhurst:
For such jobs I've normally used solder paste, hotplate, and a hot air gun.Works well.
Alan
Yes, hot air is great at soldering SMD boards.
For one small PCB, it can be effective to solder it with an iron, some magnification and the hold down tool.
Note:
When mounting parts on the opposite side of the board, it may be easier to hand solder them.
Hi,
@larryd where do you put the kitchen sink mate.... 
TomGeorge:
Hi,
@larryd where do you put the kitchen sink mate....
Kitchen sink???
Oh! You mean the PCB etching tank...
Henry_Best:
Kitchen sink???
Oh! You mean the PCB etching tank...
No surely you mean the PCB leaking tank.
Making a high-quality Flux applicator.
A 2 in 1 White-Out bottle makes an excellent flux applicator tool.
These bottles have a spring-loaded metal point that seals off the contents when not pressed.
- clean out the old white paint with IPA.
- cut off the applicator brush at the location shown.
- rinse bottle and cap with Varsol.
- once again, clean the assembled unit with IPA until no white is seen in the alcohol.
Let dry, then fill 3/4 full of liquid flux.
You can easily apply a single drop of flux to the location needed or run a bead the length of a trace.
Make one of these for IPA and oil application too.
I was hoping this would be a good applicator for solder paste but the paste is too thick to work in this setup.
Larry,
A syringe of solder like this
can be cleaned out when empty (I just use alchohol) and then refilled from a tub of solder paste.
I'll pick some up.
Thought it might be nice to have a small palm held unit that you squeeze between thumb and pointer finger.
Those syringes are difficult to use reliably , they normally require a specially designed screw drive mechanism or 'rachet' 'for accurate dispensing.
something like this perhaps
larryd:
I'll pick some up.Thought it might be nice to have a small palm held unit that you squeeze between thumb and pointer finger.
I have seen similar , they looked a bit like micropippet dispensers the biology guys use.
No idea where to find though.
Were expensive i think.
I use one of these.
Quite versatile but you do need a compressor as well.
