On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 11:22 AM, Bob Albert wrote:
I just don't have the visual acuity, steady hand, and tiny soldering tool needed.
Howdy Bob,
I don't know if it would be worth the cost, but cell-phone repair techs are always fixing those tiny connectors. There's some youtube videos.
Most don't use a tiny-point iron for fine-pitch devices; they clean the pads, smear solder paste (with flux) across them, set the device in place, then hit it with the hot-air gun. The solder paste melts and surface tension pulls it apart and under the pins, all at once. If done right, no bridges. They also have a microscope!
I have your same afflictions. Last year I got a cheap imported hot-air & soldering iron rework station ($50), a USB microscope on a stand ($45), and a practice board with some SMT chips. It works! The hot air gun takes practice; smallest nozzle, very low air flow, and right temp for the paste used. The hard part is not blowing away the part... :)
73, --KV5R
