How-To: Pointer weight for SMD soldering

Gerrit points out this simple yet quite helpful tool he made for keeping squirrelly surface mount parts in place for soldering –

This simple tool will change your life. I was lucky to learn how to solder surface mount from a master. He had crafted a tool very similar to this for himself and used it daily. The design is simple, a weighted pin is attached to a piece of round stock and this holds the part down on the board. Using this tool I soldered an entire surface mount board with no errors on my first try.

Very cool – perhaps teaching your family to solder surface mount parts is the logical next step? ;) Head over to Gerrit’s blog for the basic instructions.