So I decided to give SMD soldering another go but this time I used hot air with the popular 858D hot air station. I also decided to skip the cheap boring kits and had a custom PCB made. This was my first time ever ordering a custom PCB - I've always made my own in the past - and I was very pleased with what I received. JLCPCB is not a sponsor of this video, but they delivered an excellent product!

If you want to make some of these boards, you can download the Gerber files on GitHub

https://github.com/Kaouthia/LED-Sampl...

Soldering SMD with hot air definitely has its challenges - like not melting your components - but it's a lot more fun than doing it with a soldering iron. I've done some more practicing since making this video and I think I've finally figured out how to solder those LEDs without liquefying them!

858D Hot Air Station (220V) - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DcI...
Mechanic 63/37 183° Solder Paste - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFS...
SMD LEDs in various sizes and colours - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeL...
Eventek KPS1505D 30V 10A benchtop variable power supply (US) - https://amzn.to/3xFxgTV
Eventek KPS1505D 30V 10A benchtop variable power supply (UK) - https://amzn.to/3BWPN0l

TS100 Soldering Iron - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dks...
Pinecil Pine64 Soldering Iron - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBo...
AIM 62/36/2 Solder - https://www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail...
MG Chemicals 835 Rosin Liquid Flux (US) - https://amzn.to/49bTtJR
MG Chemicals 835 Rosin Liquid Flux (UK) - https://amzn.to/49awe32

Like the music in this video? Visit https://www.hooksounds.com/ and enter code "johnaldred" on checkout for 10% off your monthly or annual subscription.

00:00 Introduction
00:29 Why learn to solder SMD?
01:09 The SMD LEDs
02:03 My first ever custom PCB order!
03:05 Supplying power to the board
04:40 The resistor/LED layout
05:28 Mechanic Solder Paste
05:46 80s Retro Cocktail Sticks
06:04 The correct USB-C socket
06:42 LED Polarity
09:48 I hate yellow LEDs!
10:32 Applying the solder paste
11:25 Bring on the hot air!
13:05 Testing the LEDs on the board
13:47 I still hate yellow LEDs!
14:11 It was at this moment, he knew he...
15:24 But what about that breadboard LED?
16:40 Figuring out the resistors
17:50 Forward voltage and current
20:21 The Maths (sorry!)
22:02 More LEDs made wrong!
22:29 Melting LEDs
23:44 Soldering the resistors
26:07 First test!
26:26 Soldering Type-C USB Port
27:53 Soldering Type-B USB Port
28:10 Firing it up
29:29 Wrapping up

Gear used or mentioned in this video series...

US Links
Panasonic GH5 - https://amzn.to/3UwEsht
Panasonic G85 - https://amzn.to/49awgYI
Panasonic GX85 - https://amzn.to/4bxMjkK
Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD - https://amzn.to/4bBTngf
Rode NTG5 shotgun microphone - https://amzn.to/42ENNWn
Feelworld FW279 - https://amzn.to/4byq1iL

UK Links
Panasonic GH5 - https://amzn.to/49uI0Vx
Panasonic G80 - https://amzn.to/3SRubLw
Panasonic GX80 - https://amzn.to/4bvU9eN
Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD - https://amzn.to/4bxMe0q
Rode NTG5 shotgun microphone - https://amzn.to/3OFbDvg
Feelworld FW279 - https://amzn.to/3SRINun
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