SMT hobby projects (was Re: group buy for homebrew CPUs?)

[Dave McGuire]

Ethan Dicks wrote:
> I guess I just got lucky enough to get into SMT projects in the early
> 1990s and didn't really worry about it.  I can recommend that if you
> are going to be doing a lot of them that the proper tools really make
> things easier.  I did a stint with a Dremmel-sized hot-air soldering
> gun and an RF soldering iron and a foot-activated solder paste pump,
> and I have to say that it was _nice_, but I don't own those tools
> myself (wish I did).  Even so, you can still do a lot with SOTs and
> 1206 resistors and a 1/32" soldering iron tip and tools that you
> _ought_ to own for through-hole projects.

   I bought a pneumatic solder paste pump for $75, and two different 
very high-end hot air pencils for $50 and $120, all on eBay over the 
past several years.  The stuff is out there.  $50 for an air pencil 
which will likely run for decades is not a bad investment in my opinion.

           -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire
Cape Coral, FL