Mac Classic Logic Recal- ouch those small SMTs

[Mu0n]

Man! Just recapped the logic board of the Classic 1 as practice for installing surface mount tantalum capacitors that are...quite small. The machine I care more about is obviously my SE/30. I don't think I did a stellar job on the Classic:

-regular toothbrush removed some, but not all green corrosion on some of the pins of some ICs
-I think I removed a thin film of leakage around the old Al 47 uF caps
-my tantalums were installed unevenly and shoodily, sometimes with an embarassing angle. But they seem to stick. 

-I did test them all by slowly giving them charge by measuring resistance, then verified that their voltage dropped with a voltmeter. It's probably a way too basic test but at least they all behaved

-It booted (not that it had a problem of it now, but I wouldn't have let it stay in its state for long) And I seemed to have solved my too weak sound problem (even at max volume, the sound didn't sound much - that was a problem it had the day of its purchase while the previous owners let me do a boot test...in 2005)

 

[PotatoFi]

my tantalums were installed unevenly and shoodily, sometimes with an embarassing angle. But they seem to stick. 

Don't sweat it. Who cares if they're at an angle. Nobody will see them, and they work, which is the most important thing. And those are just tough. Here are some suggestions, keeping in mind that I'm a total novice so this is the blind leading the blind:

1. Tin one (only one) of the pads with a decent amount of solder
   
2. Position your replacement capacitor near where it needs to go, and grab it with your pliers
   
3. Heat up the tinned pad with one hand, and slide the new cap into place with the other hand + tweezers, getting it exactly where you want it
   
4. Remove heat from the tinned pad
   
5. Congrats, your tiny capacitor will now stay put! Heat up the other side, add a bit of solder, and you're done!
   

 

[Mu0n]

Here's the Mac Classic logic board, recapped, followed by the SE/30, recapped with some experience and tip following - thanks!