Homebrew PCBs

> It sure seems like there ought to be a much easier, "cleaner" way,
though.


I forgot to mention a little trick with 0.1" spaced double-row headers.

Don't know if your board layout will work with this. But if your PCB
substrate is thick enough, like the popular 0.06"-ish thickness, it is
possible to line up a 0.1" spaced row of SMD pads on the top and
bottom of an edge of the board. Then you can slide the double-row
header on the edge and solder it there, at right angles to the board.
There is usually a tiny bit of clearance left over so it's not an
exceptionally snug fit, but it is close enough to solder quite firmly.
The clearance can also be taken up easily by pressing the two rows of
pins towards each other with the barest squeeze in the jaws of a vise.

As I said before, don't know if edge-connecting will work with your
setup, but it's still a useful tip.