Collin's Lab - Surface Mount Soldering

Enter the intricate world of surface mount components and learn to solder on a smaller scale. Once equipped with the right tools and a bit of patience, you'll be soldering minuscule parts like a machine.

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[kletsgoo]

I agree on this video about 'anchoring the first pin' - but drowning the pins with solder and suck it off afterwards is not really how I handle these SMD / TSSOP devices;

- Just add a little bit of flux to the PCB traces for the device you want to solder.
- Carefully place your device on the fluxed traces.
- yes, anchor the first pin like in this video but keep in mind the technique below:

- Put a small ball of solder on your (preferred chisel-tip) welder and just place it on the outer area of the PCB trace. The solder will follow the trace to the pin and the all ever beautiful cohesive power will suck the solder underneath the pins of the device, making an instant clean solder, no bridges; clean.

Just a dot of solder on your welding tip will probably allow you to nicely connect about three pins of the device.

It's a much more economic way to use your solder too!

[simonhopkins]

More Colins lab please. This man inspired me to give hobby electronics a try.

[sriramradhakrishna]

I didn't realise how good this guy really is until I tried SMD soldering for myself

[Afrotechmods]

The thumbnail for this video is a work of art.

[mjmeans]

Watch out for the QFP chips with a central bottom pad. While some of those center pads are just for thermal dissipation others actually are important ground connections. On those that have important grounding requirements,  your technique will not provide reliable results. On those where the central pad is only for thermal reasons, you may have to watch out for heat dissipation. Getting that bottom center pad actually soldered is nearly impossible using only a soldering iron. But one technique that could work is instead of soldering the single corner pin, use a low temperature solder and lightly tin the bottom pad on the PCB and the pad on the chip. A very thin coating. Then heat the PCB from the under side to re-melt the solder and make that the first connection to a QFP, not the corner pin. If you can get your hand on a small tube of solder bearing paste, then use a small drop of paste on the PCB pad instead of tinning the PCB pad and the chip. Still very difficult to make that solder connection with a soldering iron. if the PCB has thermal vias the transfer heat quickly through the PCB to the pad, that will make it easier. But the whole process will be quite a bit easier to do with a hot air gun. With a hot aid gun you can also do BGA chips. If you're doing a lot of QFP chips, buy a hot air gun and a small tube of solder bearing paste. You'll eliminate a lot of problems. Keep the solder paste in the fridge so it doesn't go bad (it will separate if you don't) and use it for those special chips.

[mateuszkubala]

You're the only reason I'm subscribed to this channel.

[baffa]

No no no, don't solder like this! Use flux and don't go over all the solders with that solder wick it will damage the pads, pcb and the risk of shorts are really high.

[jonivanart]

I personally think you did great! If you think about it, flux is to move the heat across the solder surface point rapidly to get the solder to flow across that point. The points of heating are so small here that the only difference it would probably make is making a mess to clean up. Keep up the good work and I do like the comedy added. If anyone noticed?? LOL!

[NickFarrow]

I was told by a hand pocket watch maker, "never drink caffeine when dealing with small parts." It allows you to be more precise in your body movements.

[MithatKonar]

I use painter's tape cut into thin strips to hold down large multipin devices before soldering. This lets you reposition and align the device before applying any solder at all.

[specy_]

I’m very noob about soldering, just two questions. 1) what solder do you use? (If you could link one) 2) what temperature do you use for solder wires! Chips, desoldering?

[willofthemaker]

I've been a long fan of Collins videos. they're very well done and clear

[springwoodcottage]

Super useful, always been terrified of surface mount despite cost advantages, but this video has inspired me to have a go. Thank you!

[MANOJKUMAR-zsyg]

After a long time a video from Collin's Lab
Please upload a video of Collin's Lab regularly every one week or two week

[jdavis]

It's quite relaxing, Mr. Anderson.

[justDIY]

Your very steady hands help a lot too. Great video Collin :)

[ehafh]

this de-soldering pump is really nice looking, i ended up buying one.
could you maybe consider doing a video on de-soldering?
(if you haven't already)
maybe including some of the other methods like electronic/powered vacuum pumps?

[redakaminekloc]

1206 - I could do it
0805 - Still fair...
0603 - It's getting tricky
0402 - Where did it fly now?! It's the fifth component that did this this hour!

[mystevie]

Wow! Thank you for this video! I'm blown away... I wish I saw this video before I started connecting my neopixels!

[nikolaosvasalakis]

The best tutorial in electronics!great video!!