Hi Rod



 RG> Tis an acquired skill.  I actually did a six week rather intensive

 RG> training course on soldering techniques, etc a few years back. I went

 RG> at the companies expense, thinking it was gunna be a good bludge,

 RG> after all, I'd been soldering for years.  Boy was I wrong, I never

 RG> knew there was so much to know/learn about such a 'simple' task.



Be careful how you advertise this, btw. The boss was on his high

horse one day, arguing with Mike about soldering, and said

pompously "Well, I spent 3 months learning how to solder." Mike,

always quick on straight lines, replied "That's funny, it only took

me a few hours." Years later, everyone remembers that line.



Regarding smd replacement skills, though, I'm not sure how much I

need to know. Two and three terminal devices I have little trouble

with, but small and large ic's are a different kettle of sardines.

I know you can't compress six weeks into one para, but how much

hardware and knowhow am I looking at to do (say) a 16 or 20 pin dil

smd ic?



Cheers



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