Tom, >From R.J. Klein Wassink, Soldering in Electronics, pp. 429-431 The solder thieves are located at the trailing edge of the component to prevent solder-bridging of the last few pins as they exit the wave. They would NOT work if they were covered with soldermask. Gary P. --- Gary D. Peterson _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES _/_/_/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ P.O. Box 5800, M/S 0503 _/_/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ Albuquerque, NM 87185-0503 _/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ Phone: (505)844-6980 _/ _/_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ FAX: (505)844-2925 _/ _/_/ _/ E-Mail: [log in to unmask] _/_/_/ *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * ***************************************************************************