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I'm not sure why "too much" solder paste is needed to make this work. I've done something similar on quite a few occasions, but using regular solder. Just put a

I'm not sure why "too much" solder paste is needed to make this work. I've done something similar on quite a few occasions, but using regular solder. Just put a slightly generous amount on each pad, but not enough to create any shorts. Add flux (ideally, something rosin-based that will last longer in the heat of the next step). Heat up the whole footprint with the hot air gun, and gently place the IC on top. This method saves blasting the IC with hot air while heating up the whole lot.

dragontamer 2y ago
"Way too much solder paste" is a codeword for "I didn't buy a solder-stencil", which is reasonably common on cheaper projects in my experience. Instead of using a solder-stencil to deposit a carefully calibrated amount of solder onto any location, you can buy a solder-paste syringe and squeeze the solder-paste into place. This almost *always* results in too much solder, because its a hand application process, and its often better to have more-solder + cleanup than too little solder in my experience. ----------- https://www.amazon.com/Solder-Bi57-6-No-Clean-Lead-Free-Temperature/dp/B0195V1QEI/ref=sr_1_8 https://www.amazon.com/Solder-Bi57-6-No-Clean-Lead-Free-Temp... Obviously if you had perfect hand-control (ex: a solder paste robot... or a solder stencil, or other methodology), that's preferred. But if you're doing these cheap designs you'll need to plan for the "too much solder" situation. In fact, "too much solder" is the default choice and quite fine, albeit with a simple cleanup step. (Ex: swish around a small piece of solder wick in my experience while the solder is still hot, or while the solder-wick is touching a soldering iron, etc. etc. Plenty of cleanup methods available). Do it dirty then clean-up is just the default mode of operation in hobby-level manufacturing / solder paste / soldering. Its surprisingly effective.
granra 2y ago
I don't know if it's equipment or a skill issue but I had trouble with putting an even amount of solder on the pads this way. I have seen this approach on YouTube.
- dsalfdslfdsa 2y ago
  Assuming you have the thinnest tips, solder, and solder braid you can find (they shold be comparable to the pad sizes you are soldering, for this kind of work), honestly it's probably a skill issue. There's a "feel" for how much solder the pad needs, and it's a bit less than the most it can take, as it'll get displaced outwards when the IC is applied.
  - dragontamer 2y ago
    If we're talking solder paste here, I doubt its a skill issue. Its super easy to grab a toothpick and pull out excess solder paste on a per-pad basis. Just do it before you heat the board up (solder paste is applied cold, so there's plenty of time to "correct" things if they look bad). The "problem" is that this whole exercise is an unnecessary waste of time in my experience. Just live with the excess solder and solder-wick it up at a later point. Swishing around a solder-wick is way easier than tooth-picking the solder-paste on each pad to the right size.

dragontamer 2y ago

"Way too much solder paste" is a codeword for "I didn't buy a solder-stencil", which is reasonably common on cheaper projects in my experience. Instead of using a solder-stencil to deposit a carefully calibrated amount of solder onto any location, you can buy a solder-paste syringe and squeeze the solder-paste into place. This almost *always* results in too much solder, because its a hand application process, and its often better to have more-solder + cleanup than too little solder in my experience. ----------- https://www.amazon.com/Solder-Bi57-6-No-Clean-Lead-Free-Temperature/dp/B0195V1QEI/ref=sr_1_8 https://www.amazon.com/Solder-Bi57-6-No-Clean-Lead-Free-Temp... Obviously if you had perfect hand-control (ex: a solder paste robot... or a solder stencil, or other methodology), that's preferred. But if you're doing these cheap designs you'll need to plan for the "too much solder" situation. In fact, "too much solder" is the default choice and quite fine, albeit with a simple cleanup step. (Ex: swish around a small piece of solder wick in my experience while the solder is still hot, or while the solder-wick is touching a soldering iron, etc. etc. Plenty of cleanup methods available). Do it dirty then clean-up is just the default mode of operation in hobby-level manufacturing / solder paste / soldering. Its surprisingly effective.

granra 2y ago

I don't know if it's equipment or a skill issue but I had trouble with putting an even amount of solder on the pads this way. I have seen this approach on YouTube.

dsalfdslfdsa 2y ago
Assuming you have the thinnest tips, solder, and solder braid you can find (they shold be comparable to the pad sizes you are soldering, for this kind of work), honestly it's probably a skill issue. There's a "feel" for how much solder the pad needs, and it's a bit less than the most it can take, as it'll get displaced outwards when the IC is applied.
- dragontamer 2y ago
  If we're talking solder paste here, I doubt its a skill issue. Its super easy to grab a toothpick and pull out excess solder paste on a per-pad basis. Just do it before you heat the board up (solder paste is applied cold, so there's plenty of time to "correct" things if they look bad). The "problem" is that this whole exercise is an unnecessary waste of time in my experience. Just live with the excess solder and solder-wick it up at a later point. Swishing around a solder-wick is way easier than tooth-picking the solder-paste on each pad to the right size.