"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 usin

"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.