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Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:13:34 +0100
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Subject: Re: [geda-user] Cheap solder paste source?
From: Russell Dill <Russ DOT Dill AT asu DOT edu>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
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On Tue, Oct 15, 2013 at 1:58 PM, Rob Butts <r DOT butts2 AT gmail DOT com> wrote:
> Please don't top-post!
> What do you mean by top-post?
>
> You need smaller solder particles (more $$) for smaller holes in your paste
> stencil.
>
> This begs the question, where do you get your paste stencils?  From the fab
> shop who makes your boards?
>
> I've also seen some videos showing for ic soldering a strip of solder paste
> along the top of the pins works for non-stenciled.

I get my kapton stencils from oshstencils.com, no reason to not get a
stencil at those prices.

As far as solder paste, I use lead-free paste as most components now
are made for the lead-free process, and with some components, like
BGA, it'd be really, really bad to mix the two processes. The paste I
use is:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/SMD291SNL10/SMD291SNL10-ND/2057272

It has a leaded equivalent:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/SMD291AX10T5/SMD291AX10T5-ND/3972568

CHIPQUIK has water soluble variants too, if you are into that sort of thing.

Easiest way to use the syringe is without the needle, applying it to
the edge your squeegee as you would toothpaste to a toothbrush.