SMD Tweezers - recommendations for manual pick and place tools - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Pat Pending
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 04:42:30 pm
content: Simply put, what are the good brands/styles of SMD tweezers for 0603 sized devices?I don't understand how tweezers can be marketed as ESD safe - anyone?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 05:59:04 pm
content: If you mean a dual solder iron: forget about the one from Aoyeue. The tips are utter UTTERUTTERcrap.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 07:46:07 pm
content: Quote from: Pat Pending on March 11, 2013, 04:42:30 pmThe ones marketed as ESD safe are just conducting. I think metal ones are also safe though perhaps they are too conducting (i.e. the ESD safe onesrepresent some resistance so safely conduct any static to ground, assuming the user is grounded).I guess non-conducting plastic tweezers are the ones that are ESD Unsafe.

author: LyTeo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 07:59:31 pm
content: assuming the user is groundedI don`t think you can make that assumption in amateur/home labs...

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 08:33:54 pm
content: Quote from: Pat Pending on March 11, 2013, 04:42:30 pmHand tweezers (I presume this is the case) or soldering tweezers?If hand tweezers, are you looking for styles, or brand as well (some brands may call the same/equivalent profile by a different P/N)?What's your budget?Quote from: jpb on March 11, 2013, 07:46:07 pmIf the metal is coated with either epoxy or foam, the materials are resistive (10^6 - 10^8 range for example, usually via carbon mixed in it). Bare metal is conductive, so I suspect for it to actually be ESD compliant, the user must be resistive grounded (i.e. 1M resistor in the wrist/ankle strap).Some of the plastic tweezers also use carbon in the mix to make them ESD compliant, but you're correct that the insulative versions are not.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 08:39:24 pm
content: ESD safe usually means a grounded tip (or heating element), or at least a path to ground and static dissipative parts on the soldering station.Also, fromDoctor SolderQ: What is the meaning of "ESD-safe" in soldering stations?A: "ESD-safety" guarantees that static energy from your body (hands, etc.) will be "dumped" to ground via the plastic soldering iron handle or solder station plastic housing. Otherwise, the ESD would transfer to the soldering tip, thus destroying the IC you're soldering. The solder station essentially discharges your body's static charge to ground every time you pick up the soldering iron. (Naturally, you should take additional ESD precautions if you're handling *extremely* sensitive components -- and not rely on the solder station for all ESD-safety in the lab!)Finally, there is a standard, apparently:This is from the attached PDF:"EOS ESD Technical Note 2009"

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 08:57:54 pm
content: This is my favorite tweezer shape - slightly curved :http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ebest-Precision-Electronic-Stainless-Tweezers/dp/B00BGWZNYY

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 10:18:35 pm
content: If it comes to hand tweezers I got fed up with the cheap ones that bend too quick. I've got one of these to work with SMD components. Even 0402 is no problem at all:http://uk.farnell.com/erem/7sa/tweezer-120mm/dp/1014360?Ntt=7-SA

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 10:53:57 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 11, 2013, 08:57:54 pmBy the way, which mains-controlled pick do you recommend?

author: StevenB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2013, 11:44:56 pm
content: I recently populated some 0603's with these and like them:http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006RBANAS/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1363045215&sr=8-2&pi=SL75They are stainless steel.

author: Pat Pending
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 12:27:20 am
content: Thanks everyone for your replies.It looks like its a tie between Vetus and Aven brands.Digikey stocks Aven but prices get crazy real quick.I'm favoring the curved style. I imagine that three knuckles would be resting on the bench during placement and that couldbe potentially, a more stable pose. The forceps style tweezer held in a pen pose, only has the little finger resting on the surface - is that less stable?.These tools are only a few bucks each, so one of each style is not out of the question.Actually what I'm look for is eyelash tweezers and on ebay some of those are ESD rated! Who knew.

author: eliocor
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 01:39:11 am
content: I suggest you to take a look at the following thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/on-ebay-lindstrom-tweezers/My preferred ones are the SM-108 (I use them with 0603 and 0402, but they can manage 1206 and bigger cases).Take also a look at some of the pictures I have made near 0402 components...

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 05:16:15 am
content: Not a fan of the cheap tweezers at all. For example, the best pair of Pakistani tweezers I have (recently re-discoverd I had them), has rusted, even though they're supposed to be stainless.My more recent stuff is Lindstrom (Ideal-tek = the actual manufacturer), and is of far superior quality. They're not cheap, but good tools rarely are (type of thing you could literally buy once in a lifetime). Just a thought anyway.I've had access to Dumont as well, and they're really good too. But for specialized electronics profiles, Ideal-tek has a lot more styles available than Dumont or Lindstrom (both are Swiss made).Slightly less expensive, but still excellent quality, would be VOMM (German; ODM for Wiha if you can't find them otherwise).BTW, Vetus is Chinese FWIW.

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 06:16:45 am
content: I got 2 pairs from ebay they are antistatic and pretty good at their work.And they are pretty cheap.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 09:50:34 am
content: In the UK VOMM isn't that easy to get, unfortunately.Some pretty usable tweezers are made by CK, but CK don't have some of the useful shapes. However, the quality is good.If only more German tools were available in the UK...

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 02:50:19 pm
content: Quote from: img on March 13, 2013, 09:50:34 amCK is probably rebrands them from another manufacturer, just as they do with their electronics cutters (which are made by Schmitz BTW; they sell directly from their own online store FWIW).You might want to look for Ideal-tek (Swiss made), which is the ODM for other companies, including Lindstrom. They're available in the UK from Farnell, so there is at least one source for UK residents.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 06:25:16 pm
content: Quote from: img on March 13, 2013, 09:50:34 amConrad sell 22 models of VOMM tweezers eg:http://www.conrad-uk.com/ce/en/product/800538/Precision-tweezers-VOMM-3C-SA-Specification-Made-of-steel-anti-magnetic-with-a-fine-tip-Length-110-mm?queryFromSuggest=trueI have no connection with Conrad other than ordering some stuff off them. They are a little slow on standard delivery but generally I'm pleased with their service. BUT if you have a dog (I have two) beware of their green packing - it is made from corn starch and my dog scoffed the lot in about 3 seconds - I had to take him to the vets and I got a bill for £120!!!

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 08:45:37 pm
content: Quote from: jpb on March 13, 2013, 06:25:16 pmGod, that's scary. Hope the dog is OK and stays away from evil Conrad stuff from now on.Personally, i just read tool-related threads for enjoyment. Tweezer-wise, i am well stocked up with Lindstrom at the moment. A while ago i made a good-sized order to Schmitz and have been VERY happy with the products.However, one can NEVER have too many good tools. Thanks, jpb and nanofrog!

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2013, 11:00:46 pm
content: Quote from: jpb on March 13, 2013, 06:25:16 pmOUCH!I hope your furry friend is doing fine since the visit to the vet.Quote from: img on March 13, 2013, 08:45:37 pmDidn't recall you had the Lindstroms (Ideal-tek) tweezers, or had actually gotten the Schmitz pliers/cutters.Excellent tools IMHO, and should last a very long time, hopefully a lifetime for hobbyist use.BTW, if you find an ODM for a particular tool, please post it, as it could help save someone fund their electronicsaddictionhobby.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 07:10:07 am
content: Quote from: nanofrog on March 13, 2013, 11:00:46 pmAbsolutely!As for the tweezers/pliers order, i think there was a discussion here a while ago, where some kind soul found a US dealer with good prices on Lindstroms, and I got a few from that dealer. Then either in the same or a concurrent thread the discussion turned to cutters, Schmitz was discussed and photos shown, and then a chunk of my bank account went to Schmitz.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 10:10:56 am
content: The dog was fine - the vet gave him a very expensive injection to make him sick because we thought the packing beads were polystyrene (we couldn't understand why the dog had eaten them, the vet was worried the dog might be going senile). The vet then noticed the few beads the dog hadn't eaten smelt of corn.It turns out that Conrad use biodegradable corn-starch packing beads - generally I approve, but I e-mailed them to say they aught to issue a warning as apparently small children as well as pets are attracted to them, and though they are not toxic and are more digestable than polystyrene they are not a food stuff.Conrad responded that they do issue a notice on the packing sheet - it turns out that they do, at the end of the list of items, but who reads packing sheets! I generally don't unless what arrives is not what I'm expecting.Anyway, now I empty all the packing material into the outside bin as soon as I get it (though I'm careful not to leave any small components/tools etc among it)!

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 10:23:38 am
content: I'm a fan of jaycar's non-magnetic pair, i use a pair for rewinding resistance wire onto bimetallic gauges, wire that is commonly mistaken for human hair strands,http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=TH1754for a given contact area they grip far better than any other pairs i have available to me, and can be used right at the tip, the grip is also quite good on them,

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 11:57:48 am
content: Vacuum tweezers? that is what I use.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 12:02:29 pm
content: I bought a selection of tweezers from DX a year ago, most of them had crap tips which bent easy or became magnetic.However these ones worked pretty wellhttp://dx.com/p/pro-skit-1pk-101t-120mm-stainless-steel-anti-magnetic-round-insulated-tweezers-green-193169I dunno how they compare to expensive brands though.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 02:43:49 pm
content: aggreed, DX tweezers which have gooilogo on them (GOOT fake?) are total crap. They deform easily, are not precise and feel very light (in the bad way).I use Xytronic tweezers, which i bought like 2 years ago: XY-2A-SA and XY-7-SA. They are good quality, surface finish is fine, and they are precise. Never magnetized and there is no sign of corrosion on them.At work, I saw some "OHM" branded tweezers, made by this company:http://www.ohm-werkzeuge.de/englisch/index.htm. They seem to be manufacturing tweezers only, and quality is really awesome, but I was unable to find any big distributor that carries those.

author: Kilroy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 05:53:58 pm
content: You could try bamboo tweezers. Don't conduct, don't magnetize, don't transfer heat, and they actually hold unto small components better than metal tweezers...and you can sharpen/shape them with sandpaper. Favorite tweezers ever.Hozan makes some good ones.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 07:29:24 pm
content: Quote from: img on March 14, 2013, 07:10:07 amI've bought from him as well, and he's a member on another forum I'm part of (Garage Journal).Found Precisiontool's blog review, and it enticed me to enquire with Schmitz directly. Which then led me to make an order as well. And when cutters/pliers came up, I posted about the company, so I suspect I may bear some responsibility for your temptation to go with Schmitz.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 08:01:34 pm
content: I have one of these:http://uk.farnell.com/ideal-tek/sm2/tweezer-smd-handling/dp/3480537Ideal-tek SM2, they're superb quality and ideally shaped for handling 0603, 0805 and similar sized components. Recommended without reservation.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 08:17:24 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on March 14, 2013, 11:57:48 amAm I the only person using vacuum?

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2013, 08:43:40 pm
content: I've used a vacuum pick-up tool on QFPs before, they're a very good way to avoid bending the legs.For smaller parts I'm not sure I see the benefit, though.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2013, 02:01:08 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on March 14, 2013, 08:17:24 pmRob, what specifically are you using?I ask, as I looked into a good one from Virtual Industries, and found it to be a tad expensive for hobby use. Figured for ~$240, that could buy at least 6x pairs of good quality tweezers (figuring $40 per), some of which may do a better job for small passives.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2013, 02:09:53 am
content: Quote from: nanofrog on March 15, 2013, 02:01:08 amI got a barely used Gast industrial double diaphragm vacuum pump for $75.00 and then I made my own tweezer style valve handle. Like you, I didn't want to pay for a commercial unit.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2013, 02:21:31 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on March 15, 2013, 02:09:53 amThanks.I'd have thought that type of pump would be overkill.Probably a lot more reliable than an aquarium pump with it's valve inverted though, and much better performance to boot.

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 19, 2013, 01:22:53 am
content: Really happy with the Lindstrom tweezers, far better than the ripoff DX tweezers I was using (the blue one, yes its a fake)

author: Pat Pending
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:41:50 am
content: http://www.vetustweezers.com/A link for Vetus - they have an interesting array of products, bamboo tweezers for glass lens, wafer handling tweezers, etc.It seems that ebay is almost 100% full of Vetus fakes.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 06:21:06 pm
content: Quote from: Pat Pending on March 21, 2013, 08:41:50 amVetus isn't Swiss, and never was (always been Chinese made). The term "Swiss Style" doesn't mean Swiss made (although any confusion that a potential buyer has over the matter is intentional IMHO).Weitus branded models are true fakes, as they're neither made in Switzerland, nor have anything to do with Regine (which is a genuine Swiss Tweezer manufacturer) as claimed.

author: Pat Pending
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 09:17:11 pm
content: Thanks Nanofrog that's news to me.I'm using Selecta (Pakistani made stainless steel) straight tweezers, very sharp, nicely finished and truly non magnetic.The same cannot be said for my Indian made 'stainless steel' tweezers to which a magnet has no trouble sticking.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 10:51:03 pm
content: It depends on the type of stainless steel whether it can be magnetized or not. I strongly recommend spending a fair bit of money on good tweezers. Its well worth it.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 01:12:52 am
content: Quote from: Pat Pending on March 21, 2013, 09:17:11 pmAs mentioned, not all stainless is the same, and the material used in tweezers is typically distinguished by the last two letters in the P/N.For example:S = Stainless (non-corrosive, but magnetic)SA = Stainless, Anti-magnetic & Anti-acidTA = Titanium (anti-magnetic & anti-corrosive to most chemicals)NC = Nickel Chromium (harder & heavier than SA; anti-magnetic & anti-corrosive)So a 7-SA tweezer, means swiss pattern #7, Stainless-Anti-magnetic/anti-acid (SA = minimum for electronics use). NC and TA are even better, but usually cost more (fewer patterns available in most cases as well).Now you can get these from Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese suppliers (S & SA for sure), but I'm withnctnicoon this, and don't recommend cheaping out on tweezers. Just a few pairs will do for most anything (can opt for the specialized versions if you find you need them later), and should last you a lifetime (i.e. buy once, and be done if you don't abuse them).Try checking out brands such as Ideal-tek (ODM for Lindstrom & others), Dumont, Erem for Swiss made, and Vomm if you don't mind German (ODM for Wiha).

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 07:57:20 am
content: It's good having a small selection of cheap china tweezers.It means you have something to use for non electronic tasks and it keeps your good tweezers from getting damaged.

author: img
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2013, 11:29:36 am
content: Quote from: Psi on March 22, 2013, 07:57:20 amVery true.