Homebrew PCBs

On Fri, 26 May 2006 03:06:21 +0200, Trevor Matthews  
<trev.matthews@ozemail.com.au> wrote:

> My next attempt with scrap was going to let the skillet go higher and
> see what happens, but I've tried to melt it with my soldering iron -  I
> can move it about and see bright tin underneath, but it doesn't change
> the consistancy of the crust at all.  I thought I might try to reflow
> the paste with just my soldering iron and see what happens then as well.
>  Unfortunately, I can't run my skillet much higher than 180C without
> leaving the lid on, which means I can't see what happens to the paste as
> it melts, so I can't check to see if the crust is there straight away,
> or if it forms over time (as it would if it melts, then oxidises as
> temperature rises and as time increases)
> thanks for your help
> Trev


OK, if the crust does not melt/reflow when heated with an iron directly,  
at normal soldering temperatures, i'm pretts sure something is wrong with  
the paste.
I can assure you "working" SMD paste does not form a crust, it will reflow  
with a shiny surface and some flux residue.

ST