[coreboot] smd work

[Alberto Bursi]

If it's a one-off thing, then soldering iron with small tip (and possibly some temperature control), solder, thin solder wick, then watch some youtube videos to see how to use them for smd work.

Basically you blob solder on all pins to have the thing heat up all the pins together so you can then remove the chip. For soldering you solder without caring too much about bridging pins with solder, then apply solder wick and soldering iron to suck up any excess solder. You basically waste a ton of solder.

Solder wick is magic stuff. Very recommended for any fine soldering job.

If you want to do this more than a few times, then get a hot air rework station, which is a box with an air pump connected to a tool with a tube (many also have a temperature-controlled soldering iron with a small tip) or hot air desoldering gun. SMD rework tools with hot air must have some kind of temperature control for their airflow, that's what makes them different from DIY-oriented hot air guns (those used to strip paint).

Without temperature control on the airflow it will likely burn the board or the components. Again watching youtube videos helps, as you will have to heat up well the part, and don't pull with any real strenght, if some pin isn't fully unsoldered you will ruin the trace on the board and then it will get fun to try to fix that.

-Alberto

On 12/28/2017 06:47 PM, ron minnich wrote:
A friend of mine wants to do some SPI rework. He wants a  16M part in his chromebook, not 8M. (hmm, so do I). Given the huge expertise of this group, I wonder if you have advice about equipment he should get.

Soldering irons? hot air guns? magic wands?

thanks

ron



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