Hi everyone,

I’m relatively new to soldering, and I’m planning to work with surface-mount components (SMD) for a project I’m building. I’ve done a bit of through-hole soldering before, but I’ve never attempted SMDs, and I’m looking for some tips to make the process smoother.

Here are a few specific questions I have:

What tools should I invest in? I’ve read that a fine-tipped soldering iron and possibly a hot air rework station might be necessary, but I’d like to know what would be ideal for beginners.level devil 2
What’s the best way to hold small components in place while soldering? I’m guessing tweezers are helpful, but are there any other methods or tricks to avoid parts shifting while I solder?
Are there any tips for avoiding solder bridges or issues with tiny pads lifting off the PCB?
Is it better to use leaded or lead-free solder for SMD work, especially if I’m just starting out?
Also, any general advice or resources (like tutorial videos or blogs) you think would be helpful for someone new to SMD soldering would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much for your help! Looking forward to hearing your experiences and tips.