Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

hi all, i'm new on this list :) i want to jump from through-hole to SMD and i see there are a lot new things you have to deal with!

is it easier/cheapier to solder with a hot air gun or with a modified cheap oven?

if you have SSOP and that kind of small ic's you have to use soldermask to avoid a big soldermess don't you? well, you only have to buy a cheap laminator (20-30€) and get some dry-film soldermask, expose it, cure it and voila, doesn't seem to be very complicated

do you buy solderpaste in any electronic component store or do you have to buy it online in a US store like digikey? (i'm in europe and the problem with soldermask is you have to keep it cool)

are there any hints for a SMD-newbie or typical errors you do when starting?

regards

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