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IAve been doing some engineering changes on a batch of boards. TheyAre
super low noise preamps for induction coil LF receivers, with negative >capacitance and noiseless damping, so the high intrinsic Q of the coils >doesnAt limit the bandwidth.
The rework is to accommodate a new batch of coils with improved >characteristics. But thatAs not what I want to ask about.
The rework involves replacing several 0603 passives on each board. My
Metcal hot tweezers are a pain for this.
The usual method is to pull the old part off, tin the pads and touch them >with a flux pen, then pick up the new part with the hot tweezers, drop it
in place, and press on. When this works, itAs easy and reasonably fast,
and it leaves a good-looking result.
I can desolder them fine. However, when putting in the new part, the Metcal >tweezers squirm around enough that itAs hard to ensure that both ends
contact the pads the same way.
Have any of you got a favorite brand of hot tweezers for small SMTs?
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
I?ve been doing some engineering changes on a batch of boards. They?resuper low noise preamps for induction coil LF receivers, with negativecapacitance and noiseless damping, so the high intrinsic Q of the coilsdoesn?t limit the bandwidth. The rework is to accommodate a new batch of coils with improvedcharacteristics. But that?s not what I want to ask about. The rework involves replacing several 0603 passives on each board. MyMetcal hot tweezers are a pain for this. The usual method is to pull the old part off, tin the pads and touch themwith a flux pen, then pick up the new part with the hot tweezers, drop itin place, and press on. When this works, it?s easy and reasonably fast,and it leaves a good-looking result. I can desolder them fine. However, when putting in the new part, the Metcaltweezers squirm around enough that it?s hard to ensure that both endscontact the pads the same way. Have any of you got a favorite brand of hot tweezers for small SMTs?Cheers Phil Hobbs -- Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC /Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
I find hot air easier, but it takes longer to do.
Cheers
IAve been doing some engineering changes on a batch of boards. TheyAre
super low noise preamps for induction coil LF receivers, with negative >capacitance and noiseless damping, so the high intrinsic Q of the coils >doesnAt limit the bandwidth.
The rework is to accommodate a new batch of coils with improved >characteristics. But thatAs not what I want to ask about.
The rework involves replacing several 0603 passives on each board. My
Metcal hot tweezers are a pain for this.
The usual method is to pull the old part off, tin the pads and touch them >with a flux pen, then pick up the new part with the hot tweezers, drop it
in place, and press on. When this works, itAs easy and reasonably fast,
and it leaves a good-looking result.
I can desolder them fine. However, when putting in the new part, the Metcal >tweezers squirm around enough that itAs hard to ensure that both ends
contact the pads the same way.
Have any of you got a favorite brand of hot tweezers for small SMTs?
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
On Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:38:38 -0000 (UTC), Phil Hobbs ><pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:
IAve been doing some engineering changes on a batch of boards. TheyAre >>super low noise preamps for induction coil LF receivers, with negative >>capacitance and noiseless damping, so the high intrinsic Q of the coils >>doesnAt limit the bandwidth.
The rework is to accommodate a new batch of coils with improved >>characteristics. But thatAs not what I want to ask about.
The rework involves replacing several 0603 passives on each board. My >>Metcal hot tweezers are a pain for this.
The usual method is to pull the old part off, tin the pads and touch them >>with a flux pen, then pick up the new part with the hot tweezers, drop it >>in place, and press on. When this works, itAs easy and reasonably fast, >>and it leaves a good-looking result.
I can desolder them fine. However, when putting in the new part, the Metcal >>tweezers squirm around enough that itAs hard to ensure that both ends >>contact the pads the same way.
Have any of you got a favorite brand of hot tweezers for small SMTs?
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
You can't go far wrong with HAKKO ones, Phil. Even I can use them to
good effect.
On Fri, 29 Aug 2025 20:37:54 +0100, Cursitor Doom
<cd6699@notformail.com> wrote:
On Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:38:38 -0000 (UTC), Phil Hobbs >><pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:
I?ve been doing some engineering changes on a batch of boards. They?re >>>super low noise preamps for induction coil LF receivers, with negative >>>capacitance and noiseless damping, so the high intrinsic Q of the coils >>>doesn?t limit the bandwidth.
The rework is to accommodate a new batch of coils with improved >>>characteristics. But that?s not what I want to ask about.
The rework involves replacing several 0603 passives on each board. My >>>Metcal hot tweezers are a pain for this.
The usual method is to pull the old part off, tin the pads and touch them >>>with a flux pen, then pick up the new part with the hot tweezers, drop it >>>in place, and press on. When this works, it?s easy and reasonably fast, >>>and it leaves a good-looking result.
I can desolder them fine. However, when putting in the new part, the Metcal >>>tweezers squirm around enough that it?s hard to ensure that both ends >>>contact the pads the same way.
Have any of you got a favorite brand of hot tweezers for small SMTs?
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
You can't go far wrong with HAKKO ones, Phil. Even I can use them to
good effect.
The Hallo 1003? It's crap. It's like trying to use chopsticks when
all your fingers have been cut off.
JM <sunaecoNoChoppedPork@gmail.com> wrote:
On Fri, 29 Aug 2025 20:37:54 +0100, Cursitor Doom
<cd6699@notformail.com> wrote:
On Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:38:38 -0000 (UTC), Phil Hobbs
<pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:
I?ve been doing some engineering changes on a batch of boards. They?re >>>> super low noise preamps for induction coil LF receivers, with negative >>>> capacitance and noiseless damping, so the high intrinsic Q of the coils >>>> doesn?t limit the bandwidth.
The rework is to accommodate a new batch of coils with improved
characteristics. But that?s not what I want to ask about.
The rework involves replacing several 0603 passives on each board. My
Metcal hot tweezers are a pain for this.
The usual method is to pull the old part off, tin the pads and touch them >>>> with a flux pen, then pick up the new part with the hot tweezers, drop it >>>> in place, and press on. When this works, it?s easy and reasonably fast, >>>> and it leaves a good-looking result.
I can desolder them fine. However, when putting in the new part, the Metcal
tweezers squirm around enough that it?s hard to ensure that both ends
contact the pads the same way.
Have any of you got a favorite brand of hot tweezers for small SMTs?
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
You can't go far wrong with HAKKO ones, Phil. Even I can use them to
good effect.
The Hallo 1003? It's crap. It's like trying to use chopsticks when
all your fingers have been cut off.
I'm using Weller WXMT MS / WMRT MS (have both WXR3 and WR3M stations) with different tips and quite happy with those.
Probably should buy their new WXMTS and WXUTS tweezers but quite happy with older ones that I have a whole bunch of tips for.
WXUTS might be nice sometimes but for those bigger parts small size is not all that critical so my old WTA50 tweezers are totally adequate. It is a fancy feeling when you work with a tiny tool with a heavy tip and lots of power like e.g. my rarely used WTP90 and WXP90. The iron is tiny and very light but with a proper tip it melts solder on heavy capacitor leads on multi-layer boards in no time. Very fancy :)
Sergey Kubushyn <ksi@koi8.net> wrote:
JM <sunaecoNoChoppedPork@gmail.com> wrote:
On Fri, 29 Aug 2025 20:37:54 +0100, Cursitor Doom
<cd6699@notformail.com> wrote:
On Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:38:38 -0000 (UTC), Phil Hobbs
<pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:
I?ve been doing some engineering changes on a batch of boards. They?re >>>>> super low noise preamps for induction coil LF receivers, with negative >>>>> capacitance and noiseless damping, so the high intrinsic Q of the coils >>>>> doesn?t limit the bandwidth.
The rework is to accommodate a new batch of coils with improved
characteristics. But that?s not what I want to ask about.
The rework involves replacing several 0603 passives on each board. My >>>>> Metcal hot tweezers are a pain for this.
The usual method is to pull the old part off, tin the pads and touch them
with a flux pen, then pick up the new part with the hot tweezers, drop it >>>>> in place, and press on. When this works, it?s easy and reasonably fast, >>>>> and it leaves a good-looking result.
I can desolder them fine. However, when putting in the new part, the Metcal
tweezers squirm around enough that it?s hard to ensure that both ends >>>>> contact the pads the same way.
Have any of you got a favorite brand of hot tweezers for small SMTs? >>>>>
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
You can't go far wrong with HAKKO ones, Phil. Even I can use them to
good effect.
The Hallo 1003? It's crap. It's like trying to use chopsticks when
all your fingers have been cut off.
I'm using Weller WXMT MS / WMRT MS (have both WXR3 and WR3M stations) with >> different tips and quite happy with those.
Probably should buy their new WXMTS and WXUTS tweezers but quite happy with >> older ones that I have a whole bunch of tips for.
WXUTS might be nice sometimes but for those bigger parts small size is not >> all that critical so my old WTA50 tweezers are totally adequate. It is a
fancy feeling when you work with a tiny tool with a heavy tip and lots of
power like e.g. my rarely used WTP90 and WXP90. The iron is tiny and very
light but with a proper tip it melts solder on heavy capacitor leads on
multi-layer boards in no time. Very fancy :)
Thanks, all. I just got a set of the Sequre HT140 ones, which look like the >business.
IAll try them out tomorrow when IAm in the lab.
Cheers
Phil Hobbs