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

I've found that a very fast and reliable way to solder SMT
resistors is as follows:

a) Make a simple hold-down, e.g., from a block of wood
and a bent piece of wire. The wire is attached at one end and
bent so that the other end presses firmly on the top surface
of the wood:


_______ Wire
/ \ hoop
/ \
/ |
| |
| |
+--+---------------------+
| |
| Wood block |
| |
+------------------------+

(The wire can be pushed into a hole, or screwed
to side or top of the the block. Or to your bench...
It's best if the wire has a flat end (use a file) rather
than a point.)

b) Now place the circuit board and the resistor under
the free end of the wire, using the wire to hold the
resistor exactly where you want it:

| | <-- Wire end
| |
|_|
+-----+ <-- Resistor
+-----+
==== ==== <-- copper pads
+------------------
|////////////////// <-- board
+------------------
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX <-- wood surface
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

c) Now you have both hands free to apply
solder and soldering iron in the usual way. A fine
the (roughly the dimensions of the resistor/pad at the
tip) is necessary.

Mike Cowlishaw