A quick and easy SMT hold-down
SMT refers to Surface Mount Technology which home builders shouldn't be afraid of. I find that magnification along with good quality solder wick helps a lot. One thing the builder may need is a way to hold parts in place while soldering them to a circuit board.
In industry this isn't usually a problem because solder paste is printed onto the board prior to placing the components. This paste does "hold" the parts in place while they are being placed. Then the board with mounted parts is heated until the solder melts. One bonus is that the surface tension of the melted solder will align slightly misplaced parts. But solder paste does have problems, mainly a finite shelf life, if not used before expiration the result is just a lump of solder stuck in a container. Also sellers of solder paste like Digi-key will insist on rapid (expensive) shipment, the strong recommendation is to store it cold. So I still use regular wire solder for SMT work but to keep parts aligned I use a simple hold down made from a test probe, pliers and a rubber band from a bunch of broccoli:
The test probe was from an inexpensive DVM. The probe wire broke off and there was no way to re-connect it. It appears to have been molded in place after the wire was attached.
But it's a probe with a sharp point that's perfect for holding down small SMT parts. The pair of pliers is used to hold the probe and provide stability. The broccoli rubber band holds the jaws of the pliers tight on the probe.
This could also be done with something like a bamboo skewer or an awl if an old test probe isn't available. But the flange on the test probe is handy, it gives the pliers something to "lean" on.
After placing and aligning the part to be soldered the point of the probe is gently applied to the part top. Then the part can be soldered in place without a chance of misalignment:
Not shown is some good quality solder wick to "police" up any excess solder and also to clear any shorts on non-soldermasked boards.
Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY