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  • Author Author: cstanton
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What (metric) size have you managed to hand-solder ?

When it comes to electronics solder/repair, there's a very good reason why we have pick and place machines, and ovens to effectively bake our hardware. However if you're in a pinch and don't have this kit available, you're often forced to do it yourself by hand, frankly the sizes of some of this kit require a microscope!

 

Still, what is the smallest size (in metric) that you've managed to solder yourself by hand?

 

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This poll is featured in Round-Up and Review - Videos, News and Polls!

  • Was it not NASA who messed up and had a rather expensive mistake when a satellite crashed because they got their units mixed up in their orbit calculations...

     

    So, I am wondering how many were like me and simply clicked on the 0603 option, not realising that the poll categories are actually in metric... I mean who uses metric for SMD anyway, right? image

     

    As such, I suggest changing the title to at least inform the user that the categories are in Metric, otherwise this poll will be erroneous.

  • I am pretty much the same as others. I have standardized on imperial 0805 but can handle 0603.  I avoid smaller stuff although a friend of mine routinely uses 0402 with stencils and a toaster oven without problem.

  • Just to more complete that comparison photo.. I've added an 0201 resistor next to the stripboard.

    It's so small I think a dozen could be packed inside the stripboard hole..

    Just to be clear, I'd never use this part normally.. I got it for an RF purpose but in the end used 0402.

    image

  • While I can handle smaller sizes, I stick with 0805 (imperial) whenever possible, because I have a complete stock of values in this size and the values are printed on the resistors. There is never quite enough incentive to invest in a complete stock of 0603 or smaller components. If I was designing commercial complex space-constrained circuits it would be different, but when designing PCBs that other hobbyists might tackle, sticking with bigger, easier components has wider appeal.

  • Size comparison left-to-right of Imperial 0805, 0603 and 0402 resistors respectively, compared to stripboard.

    0805 and 0603 can be straddled between tracks if prototyping on stripboard.

    0402 however falls through the holes : )

    (Edit: 0603 falls through the holes too but nevertheless is substantially larger than 0402 and so it's easier to handle).

    My fave tweezer for SMD is the middle one, it has squared off ends, and it's rare for a component to go pinging in the air. The pointy ones on the left carry that risk. The tweezer on the right is sometimes useful too, can get great positioning of parts with it, although when prototyping it's not necessary for it to look absolutely spot-on : )

    I think the middle tweezer is not manufactured any more, but I can measure the dimensions if anyone wants the info. (EDIT: I think Wiha 32325Wiha 32325 looks very similar. The one in the photo is 'VOMM PSF SA ESD').

    image

  • Ah, you have to love the metric/imperial confusion again.

    0201 (imperial) is possible and I can do 0402 imperial all day long. As said, good magnification (3x to 5x) for doing the work and up to 10x for inspection is the most important thing to have. The other most important thing is good and plenty of flux, then it almost does not matter how much solder is on the tip. If parts looks too bloody, I add more flux and hit them with hot air, they do center themselves when all joints are melting at the same time. I can do everything with a nice Arduino Hot Plate - What's for dinner?image

    - W.

  • also down to imperial 0402 (1005 metric). Barely.

    I can do QFN with / without center plane.

    I haven't done BGA yet

     

    To practice, I desolder components from waste PCBs and place them back. Focusing on improving solder skills. Not on getting things working again.

    It's a good opportunity to try out different options without breaking the bank.

  • Same here : )

    (Imperial) 0603 and 0805 I feel are are pretty much equally straightforward to hand-solder with an iron, although 0603 soldering can cosmetically look blobby unless very thin solder is used : )

    And 0402 is bearable when needed but not as a default.

    Everything has got simpler since I started using the nerd-glasses!

    image

  • in reply to Fred27

    I agree, so much so that I forgot to say which I meant image

     

    I did mean Imperial size 0402 - I can't hand solder the metric ones !

     

    MK

  • I voted 1005 because I can go down to 0402 (imperial) but prefer 0603/0804 (imperial) if possible.

     

    I think the poll might confuse people a bit - but the picture helps. Despite being from the UK and thoroughly metric, I think the imperial sizes are for more commonly used for SMD. If you say "0402" I think 99% of people will be thinking of the imperial rather than the metric size.