In all the Sonic Impact T-amp threads about capicitor upgrades..people speak of "lifting pads" "splitting pads" and doing critical damage to the amp if not done properly. Even after viewing pictorals all over the web I still have no clue what people mean by this and how to avoid it?
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the help!
I have these to work extremely well with lifting smd components without damaging the pads. I already have the CS1 soldering station so it work well with what I have. They are SMD hot tweezers for only around 30 dollars. I hope this helps. http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7509
You want the pads to stay... pads are the small areas of solder coated copper on the board where the legs (leads) of the components connect to the board... pads, GOOD... lifiting pads, BAD.
Lifting a pad means you have actually removed/torn/or loosened the copper foil on the board. The copper is just a thin sheet, about 0.001-0.002" inches thick. This "foil" is glued to the board... too much heat... or tugging and pulling to get a component free and you'll "lift the pad".
If you are removing a Surface Mount Device with 2 terminals; is is generally best to 2 soldering irons with sharp tips (the hot tweezers in the link above are WAY cool). Place the irons on each end of the device and try to lift it away or slide it off to the side if you have room. Then clean up the area with solder wick and you're ready to install a new component.
Components with 3 or more terminals should just be cut from board. Do NOT cut the board... use a brand new single edge razor or EXACTO and cut the lead of the device right where it meets the body. Cut all the leads until you can lift the body away; then swipe away the remaining leads and clean up with wick. There are ways (hot air & big special de-soldering tips) of removing this type of part without ruining it... but they are big bucks and come with thier own set of issues...
Whenever you put an iron to a board, especially with a small component, start a 5 second timer in your head. After 5 seconds remove the irons, if not sooner, whether you are done or not. This keeps things, like the foil from getting too hot and coming off the board.
If you don't have much soldering experience; a surface mount board is not the place to learn.
Hold your hand about 5 inches from your face; in you can't focus perfectly on your palm print; buy yourself some +2.00 or +3.00 reading glasses... ` $10 @ Wal-mare. These are big help.
Lifting a pad means you have actually removed/torn/or loosened the copper foil on the board. The copper is just a thin sheet, about 0.001-0.002" inches thick. This "foil" is glued to the board... too much heat... or tugging and pulling to get a component free and you'll "lift the pad".
If you are removing a Surface Mount Device with 2 terminals; is is generally best to 2 soldering irons with sharp tips (the hot tweezers in the link above are WAY cool). Place the irons on each end of the device and try to lift it away or slide it off to the side if you have room. Then clean up the area with solder wick and you're ready to install a new component.
Components with 3 or more terminals should just be cut from board. Do NOT cut the board... use a brand new single edge razor or EXACTO and cut the lead of the device right where it meets the body. Cut all the leads until you can lift the body away; then swipe away the remaining leads and clean up with wick. There are ways (hot air & big special de-soldering tips) of removing this type of part without ruining it... but they are big bucks and come with thier own set of issues...
Whenever you put an iron to a board, especially with a small component, start a 5 second timer in your head. After 5 seconds remove the irons, if not sooner, whether you are done or not. This keeps things, like the foil from getting too hot and coming off the board.
If you don't have much soldering experience; a surface mount board is not the place to learn.
Hold your hand about 5 inches from your face; in you can't focus perfectly on your palm print; buy yourself some +2.00 or +3.00 reading glasses... ` $10 @ Wal-mare. These are big help.
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