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

Just open the window and you will be fine.
SMD soldering doesn't release more fumes than regular soldering, just all at once during reflow.

There are again significant differences between the pastes, the Syntech from Amtech (SMD291 from Chipquick) smells much less offensive than the paste from Martin SMT.

There is of course the lead, to be taken seriously because the lead is finely ground up into a powder (actually small balls).
This makes it somewhat easier to ingest, possibly even inhale if you dry the paste and let the dust get around.

With a couple of simple rules you can eliminate the lead hazard completely.
Keep track of the paste. Anything you dispense either goes on the PCB, or on a scrap board (say to clear the dispensing nozzle).
Just reflow the scrap board too when you are done and the solder powder is bound up safe as a solid.

Don't put any paste anywhere else, not on a piece of paper, not on your bench, not on a rag, your hands, etc..
Anything that does get contaminated for whatever reason should be washed without delay or discarded properly so you don't forget.

Compared to the solder and oxide dust that accumulates under your soldering iron sponge this is nothing.
Regular good housekeeping will take care of it just fine.



As Harvey says you will get bridging and defects no matter what.
The nicer you work, the fewer the defects, but personally I rather spend a little time checking and reworking the boards than a lot of time getting it just right before the reflow.

ST