Replacing SMT Passives with SOldering Tweezers.. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 08:15:57 am
content: So, lots of videos showing removal of SMT passives with Tweezers, but not so many showing if people using tweezers to put them back on.Can you put parts back on with Soldering Tweezers.

author: trophosphere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 08:31:18 am
content: You could. Just make sure the part doesn't stick to one side of the tweezer when you are trying to release as there would be nothing holding the part down as the solder is molten. In addition, if your tweezer is always heated then you are now prolonging the time your component is exposed to heat as you try to grab it and transfer it to the board.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 02:42:30 pm
content: In addition to what trophosphere said, you also have to manage to pick the new part up with the hot tweezers in the first place.What you could do is hold the new part in place with a pair of regular tweezers and use the hot tweezers to reflow both pads at once. This saves the trouble of clearing the pads of old solder, but you will definitely want to flux the pads first and maybe add some additional solder depending on how much came away with the old part.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 02:51:00 pm
content: I've tried doing this. The result is usually the same. The part sticks to the tweezer, impossible to release, no space to poke in with regular tweezers, and even if you manage to do it, it is crooked and bad.I dont know, why people buy the tweezers in the first place. If you have a two pin component, you can heat up both sides in 5 seconds, and remove the component with the regular iron. Usually tweezers even cost a lot more, for being able to do less.I mean maybe it is useful for one handed pirates repairing 0402 high density boards...

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 06:02:19 pm
content: Tweezers are still faster than heating both sides with a normal iron, especially for 1206 and larger where you can't just use a blob of solder on the tip to catch both pads at once. With the right tips tweezers can also pluck an entire IC off the board in one go, although the cost of such tips generally means they're only worthwhile for high volume or high value rework. Tweezers definitely have their place, although it does require a decent amount of usage to really justify the cost, which probably isn't sensible for a typical hobbyist.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 09:10:54 pm
content: I use SMD tweezers where they are the best tool for the job. This is almost as often as a blue moon, in my own work. For passives, I find a knife tip works better wherever it will fit, which is almost everywhere. I know several people who prefer to use tweezers... but I notice they don't have knife tips.^It's not cost. It's the hassle of getting it out. And with the larger ones that "can lift entire IC's," I find best they can do is 8 pin SOIC or maybe slightly better; at least the attachments for a regular station, which if your station has 100W that is a lot, but your hot air has 400+W of power and is ready to go in 10-20 seconds.And that's after waiting for them to heat up and fidgeting with them. So I agree, best left for volume rework, but due to setup time as much as cost. I can see breaking them out to salvage rare IC, rather than trying to fix the PCB.QuoteOh, my, you must expand your horizons. I can swallow 1206, whole, using several tips, including the one that is on my iron 99% of the time. K tip already mentioned. But just about any bevel/hoof larger than 1.5mm will do it. Even fine-pointed BR tip will make short work of 1206. Or big chisel tip, if twisting/turning the pcb to exact angle is your thing. I use a normal conical tip or chisel tip like... never?IF I were to use SMD tweezer to place highy position-sensitive passives on used pads, I imagine I would do it just like a regular iron. I'd hold part in regular tweezers with left hand. Tack one end down using the hot tweezers. Tack other end. Then open the hot tweezers to flow both ends. Plenty of flux so the part self-aligns. Pointed tweezers tips, so they don't pull the part off when removing them. (Unless it's an LED under a light pipe, or something like that, I wouldn't really care if it's totally flat and/or straight, though.)