group buy for homebrew CPUs?

[der Mouse]

> That said, the notion that surface mount is somehow "harder to
> solder" is nothing but a load of crap.  It is DIFFERENT...not harder.

I've never tried surface-mount chips.  But I've tried soldering things
of similar size, and for me, yes, it *is* harder.

Admittedly, that could be a lack of tools.  Given a stereo loupe,
pantographic waldos, and a really fine-point soldering iron, it quite
possibly wouldn't be all that tough.  But those ain't cheap, and I
think needing significantly more expensive equipment counts as
"harder".

Yes, there are other alternatives.  But a real SMT rework station costs
even more than the above. :-)

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