Homebrew PCBs

Hi,

I am currently starting to make my first PCBs and would like to make my 
own Eagle library to work with (mainly for photo-etch boards and hand 
soldering) because the build in one is not easy to work with. I am full 
of questions now as this is the first time I really need to go into 
detail about packages and solder pads.


What is a good source to find information about the solder pads required 
for the most common packages? It is quite easy to find for e.g. SO8 and 
stuff, but the info on 0603, 0805, and 1206 resistors and SMT and 
through hole capacitors is harder to find. The only thing I could find 
for resistors was here: http://www.mouser.com/catalog/625/478.pdf and 
these pads are way smaller then the ones in the default Eagle libraries.

About capacitors. Are there default sizes as with resistors? I can't 
seem to find a list of available capacitor packages. I've also looked 
for through hole capacitors and there seems to be a lot of difference in 
packaging to.

I've been told that SO8 from one manufacturer is not the same as from 
another one. Don't these kind of packages have default sizes then?

About SMT resistors again. The 0603 etc give a clue about the size in 
hundredths of inches, but most information I find on the net is in 
metric measurements. Are the 0603 packages rounded to 1.6mm x 0.81mm 
these days or are there two kinds of 0603 resistors around?


About through hole pad sizes. I've read somewhere that for through hole 
components a drill size of 0.8mm is recommended, with a round copper pad 
of (at least) 1.3mm. Is that big enough for hand soldering? Why would I 
choose a round pad above a octagonal shaped one? Some documents advice 
to use oval pads for DIP packages, is that true and why is that?


Of course all other information you think might be interesting for me is 
welcome to. Let me also note there is another yahoo group called 
"EagleSVN" that had the intention of creating an Eagle library. It isn't 
really active at the moment, but I hope to contribute some of my 
libraries soon. Those interested in helping us out, please feel free to 
join the group.


Anyways, thanks a lot in advance.



greetings,

Ronald