[sdiy] SMD experiences

[Colin f]

> In my experience there's no need for liquid flux on anything 
> except for ICs, and there it is absolutely required for 
> drag-soldering.

I find it's absolutely essential for lead-free.
But no-one in their right mind would use lead-free on a DIY project.
You get a nicer looking joint with leaded.

I use a gel flux, but I don't apply it to the pads, I apply it to the
component.
I put a large blob of flux onto a metal weight that sits next to the piece
I'm working on.
As I lift each component with tweezers, it gets dabbed in the flux, then
soldered.
This approach regulates the amount of flux on each component. I found it
very easy to over apply gel to boards.
Plus it also saves me frequently leaning on the flux already applied to a
board, thus getting my hand all fluxy and needing to re-apply it.

For flux removal, I sloosh boards around in a plastic tub of Electrolube
Fluxclene.

Cheers,
Colin f