Even thought this video is 5 years old. I have learned a lot that what i have learned in school. Thank you for sharing your knowledge sir 🙌

60 years of soldering experience here, and still ruining SMD components. I never heard about this low-melt alloy method. Will order the material this weekend. This is a great instruction video, well presented. Thank you so much.

Thanks Mike for teaching us the tricks of the trade.

i just soldered my first QFP-44 while watching this video. I had 2 solder bridges but used lots of flux and fixed them! Your tips really helped to solidify my techniques. THANKS!

after watching endless hours of tutorials showing how you're supposed to use reflow stations, custom tips, even preparing and heating up the solder with wire templates -- i come here and i learn i was holding it wrong the whole time. Somebody give Mike a medal. Please. How come nobody speaks of this. Pure genius. Wish i knew this before - would help me save a ton of time, frustration and a few PCBs..

When I was 8, my father started to teach me to solder. He was a life long Ham(radio amateur). Mum came into the workshop and said "Don't let him play with that soldering iron, he'll burn himself." Dad said "Yes, but only the once.". He was right!!!! By the way, dunk the braid in flux, much better.

I bought a 1 pound block of low-melt alloy from eBay a few years ago. I think it was about $15. It's about half gone and I use it daily. Compared to the cost of chip-quik, it's practically free. When I have big globs of it to remove after removing a component, I let it cool and then flip the board and remelt it. Most of it will just fall off the board ,and a light tap will even clear the through holes. It greatly reduces the amount of wick I need to use.

Thank you! As an old DIYer Jack of all trades, I often crudely desolder & resolder items. Just watching this has greatly improved the quality of my projects & expanded the range of what I'll tackle.

Mike, you are an excellent speaker / teacher. I viewed your video months ago as I was looking for learning how to remove a component (chip) on a rotor controller. I sent for the flux / allow and the component. When I received the flux / allow, I practiced on a sound card that I had in the jewel box. Removed several tiny components. Yeterday, I worked on the board that needed fixing. I practiced on the sound card again and then did the actual work. It went all well and the rotor card is working as it was new! Thanks for allowing me to experiment!

Always nice to see a true craftsman in action! Thanks a lot for explaining it so clearly!

Super tutorial Mike! Binge watching all your new videos...thanks!

Thanks for the Great video. I haven't done any "real" soldering since I left the Air Force too many years ago. I'm going to a job interview tomorrow for a position involving soldering. Thank you for giving me some insight into current techniques.

this has been SO helpful. I'm going to be doing my first solder job soon swapping two 8 pin ICs on a hard drive PCB. I'll have a lot more confidence now thanks to your video!

One of the best tutorials Mike. It's nice to see one for us that don't have fancy tool sets. The part about how to get rid of bridging was particularly interesting. FLUX, CLEAN, repeat. Works well when you need only a few cycles, but it seems you can't expect top do this too often. I used a paste flux, maybe the liquid flux has better chemistry for cleaning. However, removing a particularly stubborn bridge across 3 of the 0.5mm pitch leads of a FPC flat cable connector I ran into problems, after somewhere around 10 cycles. The Isopropyl alcohol seemed to mix with the paste flux and left something like goop in the hidden places of the connector. More Iso did not remove the goop. This caused me serious problems, because I could not get proper connection to the flat cable. I had removed the bridge, but had a connector that was not useable. I had to buy a new motherboard. My bad. Nobody else's.

Another well done video. I really like your teaching style. Thank you sir.

Mike: Of ALL your great and helpful videos I've seen from you in the past, this one in my opinion eclipses them all! Here, I'm thinking that I have to get all this equipment to properly do SMD work. Obviously, from what you have demonstrated here, I don't. I've already ordered the "de-soldering alloy rod" and "practice board." Bravo my friend! Tom PS More like this in the future would be greatly appreciated.

Personally I think you are the BEST tech teacher I have ever watched. Very easy to understand and you explain things very clearly. Thank you for that sir. Keep up the great videos.

I just learned about desoldering alloy by watching this video. Thank you! (I saw a video where a guy uses liquid mercury for this. Dangerous.)

Thank you for this actual real time video. Very informative and instructive. I'm just starting with SMD and will likely be needing to R & R components alot until I've got some good practice at soldering SMD parts. Thanks again!

I came for the desoldering tutorial, but ended up learning more about soldering than my father ever thought me... Thank you! You have actually given a remnant of a childhood nightmare a new life.... That little jar of ....that stuff... in the violin case, in the hall closet, that hasn't been opened in 20+ years.... Can be titrated into something useful?!?!!!! (I don't hate my Violin, I just hate the thought of Me playing it, turns out, my 'playing' is a violation of the instrument... Now that I look at the open case, minus the rosin, it brings a tear to my eye, I came to a conclusion, I will be donating it to the local Youth Orchestra tomorrow, I'm sure they have some extra rosen laying around...) Funny how a random UKposts vid on Soldering can spark such such emotion...

I'm getting into smd soldering and this is a huge help. Great voice, pacing, and information. Thanks Mike!

Hello Mike. This is one of the best videos to explain hot to solder and remove flea sized components. Thank you for taking the time to make the video and upload it, it really is an invaluable demonstration. Thank you & 73's de EI6DP

What the hell! I've been doing electronics since some 30 years ago, and never heard of this magic de-soldering material. Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Lotsa props for this one! I have a Sony S/W radio needing SMD capacitor replacement, and this is super helpful.

Sometimes ya just gotta say "Flux it !". Thankyou for your inspiring video. My shaky hands have had me intimidated by smd, If only there were tools to minimize that impact.

I didn't even know desoldering alloy existed. What a life saver! I have made a mess of quite a few SMD desoldering tasks because I'm being too frugal to purchase a full on hot air rework station. I'm going to have to get some of this stuff.

for someone who has no experience like me this is pretty cool. I have a key fob needing fixed and thought I'd see what I could learn and there is alot.i wish I had your experience sir you know your stuff.thank you for video.

You have no idea how much this video helped me. Thank you. I hope to learn more from you.

It doesn't get any better than this! You've taken it to the level that no one can go beyond. I've been soldering since 1959 and you go me looking at soldering with a new look. I really stopped the video and ordered the flux you recommended. Thanks so very much for the information.

Just wanted to say thank you! I had to replace failed op-amp in little phono preamplifier. Your video helped tremendously. Removing microcircuit was a breeze. I couldn't do all terminals in one run, had to remove a couple of bridges, but overall the repair was quick and clean. Flux flux flux!

I am very grateful that you show me this precious video specially about the SMC practical board and all the related soldering technical skill and materials..

Thanks for the great information on soldering and de-soldering. Using the fiberglass brush for cleaning is a very good idea since I use them in my watch and clock restoration and repair work. I have a bunch of electronic kits to put together and need all the help I can get! Thanks again.

mate thank you so much for your video. I was having a hard time to desoldering some ic's from a laptop board and couldn't figure out what was wrong. I learned something today. thank you!!!

hi thanks this is the one and only simple method for SMD THANKS

Man you are good. when you have learned how soldering works it is easy to know when someone knows what they talk about. you took me back to 1987 when i was in school with Mr. Maddox. I really appreciate you showing me what i have been doing wrong. it has been decades since i have done any soldering or repair. I really appreciate your presentation. You helped me to remember old stuff and taught me some new things. James

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Beautiful, well explained. You have helped me. My fear is now resolved.

I have been in the electronics manufacturing and engineering industry for about 14 years and never heard of that RSA solder until your video. I will definitely have to get some of that for work!

Thank you, now I understand why some of my pads came off the board when I was soldering and desoldering.

Wow. Fear be gone after watching this SMD tutorial video. Very fine mike. Thank you.

I just did the MARS mod on a brand new Kenwood TS-590SG. You have to unsolder one resistor. One itty bitty teeny weeny spec of dust of a resistor. Look away and you might not be able to tell what is dust and what is the resistor. The mod was successful, but I definitely prefer working on 1970s and 1980s radios due to the component size.

I am old school solderer who used to do thru-hole solder. I never got a chance to do surface mount soldering because of being electronics technician today doesn't do much component level repairs; it is more swapping boards. But I am getting ready for new job that does component level repairs involving SMD's Your and other videos are very helpful

I learned here, and I am a teacher, I want to thank you

Great informative video! I've never messed with surface mount, but plan to. I was trained in electronics in the Air Force in 1970, and dealt with through the board circuitry. The explanation of flux in Tech School was that as it vaporized with the application of the soldering iron heat, it created a small atmosphere envelope around the area to be soldered, preventing surface oxidation caused by oxygen, which forms on the metal and actually acts as an insulator against the flow of the solder to the metal component. And as you said, more is better with flux. Thanks for the demo.

That was worth watching ,keep these videos going!helped me tonight,man ,real good video!!

super video Mike! I agree in some situations this might be the best way....

Fantastic, saved me buying a hot air rework station. thank you!

Thank you for the tutorial especially about the solder bridges. The dry iron method makes perfect sense.

Great tutorial Mike. Simple and basic, just the way it should be. Flux it!

As someone just learning to solder this video is a lifesaver

I like your tutorials and other videos. Especially since they're mostly on ham and other radios, which I want to learn to fix and use. Great learning experience. The only thing is like to see is links to the products you use. I know that would probably take up more of your time, which that is why its not a big deal, and I'm grateful for what you have here. Thanks!

Great job very informative video. You need a steady hand for sure thanks for posting

Excellent video. I'm a printed circuit board man from way back when. Yep lots of flux and a bit of patience and a minimum amount of tools one can build or repair a lot of stuff or learn to make your own circuit boards. Thanks again for the refresher tutorial.

Excellent video and very well explained. I didn't realise it was that easy to do. Saved for future reference. Thanks!

Mike! That was just brilliant. Awesome actually. Just not only the techniques but the presentation. So inspiring and fascinating indeed. You are a gift from heavens. 😀 One of the best descriptive videos I've ever seen. Love ya. Thank you so much indeed. Hugs and good luck to you and yours. Cheers! 😍👍

Best SMD soldering video on the web!

Best tips I found on the tube to date ,I only ever used wick ,WOW ,thanks for making learning fun ! And passing on such wonderful time and money saving tips ,I'm just starting out ,I have a steep learning curve ahead of me ( done 1 year of soldering de soldering work and a little reverse engineering ,I've ripped pads off boards due to not knowing about this !!! Bless you for this video !.

Great video - without any loud intro or "Hot air" ;-) Thank you so much

Thank you! Now , with some practice first, I can add that CTCSS board to my Stryker SR-94HPC radio. The installation requires the removal of 2 surface mount resistors.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You helped me more than you could imagine!!! I ordered the needed parts as soon as I was done watching your unedited demo. Am trying to replace an LM4863 ic from a small amplifier.but I could not remove it with just a soldering iron and a soldapult. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Excellent basics for DIY enthusiasts that don't/can't afford the 'pro' equipment or are afraid to work on SMD components.

Thanks for the tip ! I burned so many components before !

I never knew that stuff even existed!? Thanks for the Heads Up. Did not know about the Practice Boards either! Lots of good stuff in this Video. Thanks for making!!!

Glad I saw this, to be honest I've completly avoided surface mount. I'm gonna have to start practicing on some practice boards. It would really be useful to be familiar with SM boards.

Had problems with smd soldering wish I saw this video before and ordered this practice boards

Thanks for posting. 👍 I just saved this to my *"PCB Design"* playlist.

Very good video Mike, Im in the beginning stages of electronic and soldering etc and this was something I have wanted to know how to do for some time now. Again, good stuff!!!

A good and needed video! :) And an interesting narration. Congrats and thanks. Even though I've repaired some SMT devices, including one laptop, I've learned something - these helpful nuances when someone presents his approach to rework. :)

Mike, Thank you ! excellent explanation with really good practical down to earth techniques. Even though I know about the importance of FLUX, the emphasis on the abundance of flux apparently makes the difference. observerms

you completely overlooked the fact as to where to get that desoldering alloy. the most important subject of your whole informative project

Great video, thanks. Worked for me - flux, flux and more flux, plus a really hot iron - the flux will absorb some of the heat.

wish I had seen this video before ordering my soldering/hot air station but thank you soooo much

EXCELLENT! Thank you for your knowledge. I, too, am very impressed with this video.

Thank you sir, always stressed with SMD's!!

Nice video, thanks for making it so simple.

Hi Mike a man after my own heart ,Flux,Flux,Flux ,thats how i was taught back in the 80s ,"any doubt Just REflux" flux 3 times solder once. thanks again for passing on great tips.Have a nice Christmas everyone ,Take Care for now, Mac

Thanks, Mike. I've been repairing and restoring tube receivers for about four years now. This year I'm challenging myself to get more technical and take my skills up a notch to the surface mount realm. You've cleared up alot of things in a 30 min video. Anyone ever tell you your voice sounds like Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon's)? Thanks again.

Fantastic! There is a customer’s board on my work bench that has been waiting for a miracle. I think thats what I just witnessed. Thanks Mike. I owe ya one. If you need to know how to change the spindle bearing on a mill or wire a three way switch, let me know.

Well! At last I have seen a great vid on this subject.Learnt more from this vid than all the others I have seen.Thanks for the vid.

Thank you so much. I learned more in this short time than a full semester of VoTech school.

Excellent, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Simple but very useful. Very practical. Really thanks Dr.kanagaraj, Chennai, southIndia

I love this video...so simple to understand...Thanks

Now I understand why Louis Rossmann uses so much flux !! And under the microscope, it seems even more. GREAT VIDEO Mike. Thanks for all the good advise 🙏🏽

Thanks for this, I'm going to immediately pawn my soldering station and pick up a crack habit since I don't need it

Thanks, Mike! It never occurred to me to hit the pads with a burnishing tool. I've had some intermittent problems stuffing PCBs in the past. I wonder if my pads were a touch tarnished. I'll burnish the next set of boards before I build them!

Fantastic primer for my first mosfet repair job. Now...I need to go get some flux! Lol

I like using an "irrigation syringe" to apply liquid flux. You needed to brush on 4 or 5 times, but with the syringe you can add as many drops as you want with one motion.

Thank you. Best video to find about those little details you want to know about. 👍

"A lifetime times ten" that's not what my father was thinking, I still got some of the stuff he bought back in the 70's, his soldering iron, multimeter, vice, wrenches, mics, other stuff I use without knowing the name of...

GREAT VID!!! After seeing this vid I think I can do at least some work on smd stuff. THANK YOU for the great vids that you make and put on you tube. A lot of us realy like them even if we don't say it. Again thank you. :) :) 73's to ya and yours.

Thanks Mike, very informative and instructive

Mike i've been soldering for many years and you taught me a few tips today. thankyou. The only thing you didn't cover . .vision or magnification ideas. thx.

MIKE: Nice little Video. ....some great tips. Thank You. !

Great video with perfect explanation. Thank you !!!!!!

Impressive. Thanks for sharing!

Good video, up to to point where the circuit was outside of the camera's frame. Could have been not so long. The flux has rosin, which contains tannic acid. This mild acid cleans the oxide and it keeps the air away, so the oxygen doesn't oxidize the solder and joint. I love the smell of rosin, sort of like a campfire smell. 👍 Thanks.

Brilliant demo, thank you sir.

MikesRadioRepair+ I like this method, but there's so many I even used a car light, a halogen bulb with a reflector and the oven, a toaster oven, a reflow hot air gun and a long bamboo stick to move it off the board. Liquid Solder works great for SMD and I solder the same pins as you do. I like you.

Thanks for a very informative and easy to watch video. I have looked everywhere on the internet for the removal alloy but can't find anyone selling it.

Great video, but just a tip - rather than use all that solder wick, whilst the unwanted solder is a blob, simply turn the board perpendicular to the bench and tap on the bench. The entire blob will just fall off onto the bench - for scraping up into the trash. Reduces heating of the board too.