Re: gEDA-user: Free Dog meetings at MIT starting this September!

[Dave McGuire <mcguire-atMUNGEDneurotica_dot_com>]

On Aug 22, 2004, at 12:53 PM, Samuel A. Falvo II wrote:
>> Where can I buy one piece of this one in Prague? I would be genuinely
>> interested :)
>
> You may or may not be able to.  I don't know.  I know I can get them 
> from
> http://www.insight-electronics.com
>
>> It doesn't matter - you have to give up on thru-hole on modern CPU's
>> anyway :)
>
> It does matter.  Through-hole parts are way easier for a complete
> neophyte to solder.

   I must strongly disagree with this statement.  The notion that 
through-hole soldering is easier than soldering surface-mount devices 
is, and always has been, a myth.  Personally, any more, I *hate* 
soldering through-hole parts.  Sure it takes a steadier hand due to the 
finer pin spacings and such, but give me an SOIC over a DIP any day.

   Perhaps a part of the problem is that people want to be able to 
solder with a cheap soldering iron they bought at Radio Shack for $12 
that has a tip as big as their finger.  To that, I say "use crap tools, 
get crap results".  With quality tools, good lighting, and a little bit 
(maybe a few hours) of practice, I'm convinced that nearly anyone can 
solder wide-pitch SMT with no problem.  Don't want to shell out a few 
bucks for a quality temperature-controlled iron?  Don't try to solder.  
It's as simple as that.

              -Dave

--
Dave McGuire             "...it's a matter of how tightly
Cape Coral, FL             you pull the zip-tie."       -Nadine Miller