TIL I was using way too much flux on SMD work for years

I was fixing a Nintendo Switch board last week and kept getting bridges I couldn't clear. A buddy watched me and said, 'Dude, you're painting with that stuff.' He showed me his method: just a tiny dot of MG Chemicals 8341, no bigger than the chip itself. I tried it and the solder flowed perfectly on the first try. Has anyone else had a 'less is more' moment with a basic material?

3 comments

3 Comments

davis.iris22d ago

Totally get that moment of using too much flux, but honestly a dot the size of the chip is still a LOT for most SMD work. I use a tiny brush and basically just paint the thinnest layer you can imagine over the pads. The goal is just to break the surface tension, not drown the part. You really can get away with almost nothing and it still works perfectly.

schmidt.grace22d ago

Break the surface tension" is such a good way to put it. I used to slather it on but that phrase changed how I see it.

mason_flores216d ago

It's like that with so many stuff. People drown their food in hot sauce when a couple drops would do. Same with cleaning products, using half the bottle. We're trained to think more equals better results, but it usually just makes a mess. Getting the right tiny amount is a skill for sure.