Kevin, You're in luck, it just so happens that I spent 4 years in a circuit board manufacturing facility by the name of Plexus Corporation the solder starts out as a paste that is silk-screened on the board then light adhesive is applied to the places where parts will be seated on the board and then hot air is applied to the board to change the paste thermally into the solder you see as the perfect joint. solder splash happens when you solder b y wave process and board is contaminated Please check the link below I worked for them from 1990- 1994 and they back then had downsizing on the brain and laid me off so now I work for Pierce Manufacturing Inc. wiring the Cabs with all the latest technology for systems control etc. Click here: Plexus | The Product Realization Company Click here: Fire Apparatus from Pierce Manufacturing, making and refurbishing custom and commercial fire trucks, pumpers, resc Joe Svatek Owner Svatek's Electronics (est. 1982) 227 Marten St. Neenah, WI 54956-2520 Phone: (920) 751-8937 Fax : (920) 751-3727 Cell: (920) 420-8837 email: JSvatek227@xxxxxxx In a message dated 9/14/2003 2:19:48 AM Central Daylight Time, kevintv@xxxxxxx writes: Does anyone know how surface mounted components are placed on to the circuit board and then soldered on? I am guessing they are done by robots because the solder points look too perfect to be done by humans. I just repaired a CTC202AA5 with solder splash on one of the surface mount resistors that was causing the set to have audio but no HV. What would cause solder splash? Thanks. Kevin Wilks Kevin's TV & Video Repair Penticton BC Canada kevintv@xxxxxxx ***************************************************************************** Classifieds! Buy or Sell! http://sell.tech-assist.org The Tech Address Book: http://www.tech-assist.org/secure/tip/contact.htm Add a Repair Tip Here, or Change/Remove your Email Address: http://www.tech-assist.org/secure/tip/main.htm Lost Password: http://www.tech-assist.org and select "Lost your Login Info?". Email Archives: //www.freelists.org/archives/techassist/ ***************************************************************************** Classifieds! Buy or Sell! http://sell.tech-assist.org The Tech Address Book: http://www.tech-assist.org/secure/tip/contact.htm Add a Repair Tip Here, or Change/Remove your Email Address: http://www.tech-assist.org/secure/tip/main.htm Lost Password: http://www.tech-assist.org and select "Lost your Login Info?". Email Archives: //www.freelists.org/archives/techassist/