Switched to flux pens instead of paste for SMD work

I tried one on a whim after fighting with paste bridges on a router board last Tuesday, and the difference in control is night and day. Has anyone else had good luck with these for fine pitch stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron_palmer1mo ago

Started using flux pens about six months ago and honestly it's like the difference between cooking with a spray bottle versus a squeeze bottle. You just get so much more control and less mess. Funny how small tool changes can flip your whole workflow.

miller.eva1mo ago

Oh I don't know if I'd call it night and day exactly. I mean sure, flux pens are fine and all but paste still works great if you're not making a huge mess. @cameron_palmer I get what you're saying about control, but if you're getting bridges that often with paste, maybe the issue is your technique or your iron temp (just saying). I tried a flux pen for a QFN package once and honestly I still ended up with bridges I had to wick off anyway. It's a tool, not a magic fix. People act like switching to a flux pen is some kind of religious experience and I'm just not seeing it.