Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> again the same topic.
> Last time i asked someone suggested glycerine and IPA.
> (sorry for forgetting your name)
> Tried it, in varying ratios of glycerine/ipa -> always bad results.
> As soon as i mix _anything_ into the paste, regardless of how 
little it  
> might be,
> the components literally jump off the board as soon as i heat it. 
It also  
> doesn't
> matter how slow i heat it.
> 
> It almost makes you cry when you have just placed 30 or so SMD 
components,  
> heat
> up and all start jumping like popcorn at a certain temperature.
> 
> The paste is rather dry, and it is impossible to dispense because 
it just  
> isn't tacky
> enough to stick to the board (it sticks to the syringe tip). I'm 
VERY sure  
> i'll NEVER
> EVER again buy smd paste at ebay. Well it did only cost 1 or 2eur 
instead  
> of 10 but
> it isn't worth the bother at all.
> 
> I admit i didn't store it in the fridge, and it was slightly better 
when i  
> got it.
> 
> What do you think, is there anything i could try to thin it?
> 
> Is it vital to keep it in the fridge? What are your experiences 
with that?
> 
> I'd really hate throwing away this almost full syringe, but if it 
doesn't  
> work out
> i'll have to.
> 
> I'm more and more into SMD now, and i MUST get that working.
> I have seen it work when i got the paste, and it was tacky enough 
to work  
> with it.
> Ii is so much easier than hand soldering and looks nicer too.
> 
> well, ideas welcome.
> 
> ST

If you have a production board, considder etching a thin piece of 
sheet metal and using that as a solder stencil and then like silk 
screeen, squeegee it on.

Dave