Micro pick set for PCB rewwork? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: pcm81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 01:11:47 am
content: I have been playing with microscope and teeny tiny components 0.25mm leg width. What tools do you guys use to work on such a small scale for pad/trace repair? I mean for things like picks, scrapers, cutters, glue application brushes, cleaning brushes? My standard acid brushes have bristles that are the same size as a 1/4mm pad, so seems like there bound to need be smaller brushes with thinner bristles.Thanks ahead

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 01:46:22 am
content: For tweezers: I buy any fine tipped stainless steel tweezers, adjust their tips with small pliers and sharpen them with sandpaper. I wouldn't worry about trying to buy ones that come perfect out of the box as they will constantly get bent & blunted, requiring the aforementioned treatment anyway.I don't know a good cleaning method with brushes. At my preferred 0805 scale I use a toothbrush and water soluble PCB cleaner, but it's far from perfect when I look under a microscope (solder balls, residue hugging gaps under parts). At smaller sizes I suspect the most reliable option is ultrasonic, but it's noisy as hell so you have to put the machine somewhere away from your work area.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 02:03:21 am
content: Quote from: Whales on September 03, 2025, 01:46:22 amThat's only because you did not see ones with very robust tips. Surprisingly the most robust I've seen so far are angled needle sharp titanium tweezers from TEMU. I abused them a lot as they're cheap but tips did not bend even a slightest bit. They have perfect tip alignment and are virtually indestructible.https://www.temu.com/lv-en/precision-titanium-alloy-tweezers-professional-repair-fingerprint-fly-line-phone-motherboard-antimagnetic-electronics-forceps-g-601100383623601.htmlDid not try straight ones but similar straight tweezers I bought at aliexpress are very robust too, although not quite as much as these.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 05:40:37 am
content: As you search for tweezers, remember stainless can be magnetic or non-magnetic (austenitic). Try to find tweezers that are non-magnetic.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 05:44:14 am
content: I quite like the Ideal-tek brand tweezers, they make cheaper ones and more pro/expensive ones.I recommend bent tweezers for really fine control of tiny things, "5B.SA" are nice. Like 5B.SA.0.ITU for example.I'm not saying they are the best tweezers, i've obviously not tried every brand, they're just nice ones I found and have stuck with.Just be warned, any tweezers that are good for ultra fine things will have CRAZY SHARP POINTS that will stab you very easily.I don't think I've used them on anything quite as small as 0.25mm though, so your mileage might vary. 0402 is usually as small as i go.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 06:15:42 am
content: I've been using the same pair of XCELITE tweezers I bought at Frys like 20 years ago now. Works great for 0402.A really sharp xacto knife blade is great for cutting traces and moving stuff around. The tip is crazy sharp/tiny when they are new. It's actually pretty easy to snap off the very sharp tip when cutting traces so be careful with the pressure.I have a set of really fine diamond files that I used to sharpen stuff like this. Nothing beats a new xacto blade through.

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 10:03:09 am
content: Ideal tek are nice. They have a ton of different models. Erem are my favourite tweezers though. It's not that pricey to try a few and find what you like. I use ultrasonic for cleaning, basic scalpels if I need to cut stuff.

author: Accu-Sembly
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 06:42:15 pm
content: I am a big fan of buy once, cry once when it comes to production tools. A lot of brands are actually rebrands and are using the same manufacturers for the tool anyway, so you can end up finding cheaper versions of the exact same tool if you dig around.For tweezers, I eventually landed on Hozan. I don't think they're very well known (outside of Japan?), but the quality of tweezer you get for the price is incredible. A $10 Hozan holds its weight against $30+ Swiss made Exceltas. Excelta has good stuff, but I've sniffed out several marked-up rebrands in their lineup.For quality cutters, I like Knipex with their electronics line. I have had great support from them with any issues too. Lindstrom is a close second in popularity here over Tronex. However, most of the heavy lifting is still done by the classic Hakko CHP-170 because the super low cost offsets the volume we go through for lead trimming.If you're looking for a basic "pick set", I use a Goot (Taiyo Electric) Solder Assist Set. Several manufacturers offer their brand of the same set, but the made in Japan ones seem to last longer.Oh, and for brushes, Gordon Brush has a great electronics/esd lineup. I like their 1005CK for precision cleaning.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 09:24:01 pm
content: Usually use a pointed xacto blade and Qianli or Maant grinder:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004139451259.htmlMuch easier than manually scraping.For glue application a small syringe with tapered tip:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007797971029.html

author: Accu-Sembly
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 09:58:26 pm
content: The blades are more expensive than a standard knife, but for precision cutting check out the X-Acto X3209Q.I never feel like I'm about to slip onto the blade when using it and I can store it in my smock's pocket protector with my tweezers, pen, and industrial sharpie.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2025, 12:40:24 pm
content: Good quality tweezers are the most used tool for me. I also have a few of the cheap chinese with white ceramic tips, and they can be good, but quality varies.I also once broke a tip of one of those chinese ceramic tweezers, and as a test I round the broken tip into a chisel (around 45 degree wedge), and it is a very useful tool for scraping. The ceramic is not very sharp, but that reduces the chance of scratching delicate surfaces, while it's sharp enough to cut off small pieces of copper or even FR4 (such as blunting the sides, not cutting though FR4).You can grind these tips with a "diamond disk".I also have a PCB holder that is a flat green metal plate with some square shafts on it and a spring loaded clamp. It's not great, but adequate for most purposes.I once also bought a set of 4 tools: 2 tweezers (one with "grabs") a small plier and scissors but I never really used them. They look beautiful but they're just too small for most work. I think the set was designed for micro surgery I think that set cost around EUR 40.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2025, 11:40:16 am
content: For scraping I usually just use a bad set of tweezers.Once they are ruined as tweezers you can keep re-sharpening them to an edge and use them for scraping stuff.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2025, 12:19:36 pm
content: For tiny SMD parts, I usually use a heat gun or hot plate. Picking tools are just fine-tipped stainless steel tweezers, and simple cleaning can be done with a soft-bristled toothbrush or sometimes an ultrasonic cleaner.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2025, 01:01:33 pm
content: These are my three main tweezers - though I’ve got a pile of cheap ones I use for the dirty work.I most often use the straight fine-tipped one, the other two are rarely used.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 11:10:24 pm
content: If you are doing a lot of rework that involves scraping or cutting PCB traces, I've found some fine cutting chisels/knives on AliExpress that I like. There are several types typically aimed at detailed carving or model making, usually found by search keywords like "gundam chisel" or "microcarving knife".The ones with walnut or similar handles are good for precision work, but I also like the ones which are solid carbon steel (or carbide) and wrapped in string. I am not such a fan of the ones that use a large aluminium handle, but the blades that come with those can be useful in some circumstances.Here is one current listing which allows buying them individually, but if you want more options they are available in sets sold in plastic boxes or fabric tool rolls.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001231681644.htmlI also find theses really handy for cleaning up 3D prints, especially when there are (non round) through holes needing to be cleared out.