Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Stathes" <newphreak_16@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 6:54 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Question about soldering double sided boards.


>
> Ok, so now I have this lovely double sided board that
> I just etched and drilled. (good old TT and dremel
> drill press)
> What is troubling me now is I don't know how to solder
> the top side of the board.
> There is a 10 & 20 pin connector and a 40 pin dip ic
> socket that have traces on the top side of the board
> covered with plastic. I would have to melt into the
> plastic of the sockets and connectors in order to
> solder the top of the board.  Is there a "poor man's"
> way to plate through the hole so i can just solder
> everything on the bottom?
>  Any tips or tricks for double sided boards would be
> welcome.

You should have designed the board with vias next to each of the pads, and
connected the top and bottom via pads with wire. Failing that you can use
turned-pin sockets and raise them slightly so that you can solder the pins
on the top and bottom of the board. That might not work with the headers.

Leon