DIYer SMD of TSSOP ICs possible without soldermasked PCB

[MR COFFEE]

I know some of you guys around here mention using SMD parts in builds, and I am considering doing a circuit that uses an IC that is only available in a teensie-weensie TSSOP package. I can imagine soldering it to a PCB, but I'm feeling a bit dubious about whether I can really pull it off with a DIY PnP Blue type board. Can PnP be accurate enough? Or do you have to go photo? Or get a PCB service to make it for you so you can get solder mask?

Will surface tension actually allow soldering stuff that small without a solder mask to help separate tightly-spaced pins from bridging to each other?

And do I need "thin-foil" PCB stock (one-half or one-quarter ounce copper)?

Please share your experience, good or bad.

Thanks

[Gurner]

I can't comment on the press n' peel (never used the stuff) - I use a homemade UV box (actually an old eeprom eraser!)

What I can say, that a TSSOP is a challenge but not insurmountable. even using a solder paste dispenser syringe I get bridging - what I'd say is if it's a one off.....worry not about the bridging....it's easy to sort.....copius amounts of liquid flux and copper braid will get rid of any bridges easily enough. In fact I'd possibly even go so far as to say, just flood the pins with solder & then debridge them with the flux & braid ....at leas this way you can be sure all the pins have a good solder connection under the pins.

In summary I'd say soldering TSSOP - it's more of a mental hurdle than a physical one.

[defaced]

In fact I'd possibly even go so far as to say, just flood the pins with solder & then debridge them with the flux & braid ....at leas this way you can be sure all the pins have a good solder connection under the pins.

And to add to that, here's a page with two videos that show doing just that. 
http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/96

As for getting boards done if your PnP doesn't work, I have used BatchPCB.com several times and find their price to performance ratio good.  Their delivery time is slow, but for small runs of small boards, even one offs, their prices are agreeable. 

[MR COFFEE]

Gurner,
So you used DIY photoPCBs, and can't say about PnP. But you had success with TSSOPs.
I guess that means they did OK without solder mask on the PCB?
Did you use 1 oz. copper foil PCB stock? Or thinner foil?

defaced,
Thanks for the link and recommendation. I'd just as soon not have to use solder paste if I can avoid it.
Do those PCBs come with solder mask or are they bare copper?

Thanks

[Gurner]

Gurner,
So you used DIY photoPCBs, and can't say about PnP. But you had success with TSSOPs.
I guess that means they did OK without solder mask on the PCB?
Did you use 1 oz. copper foil PCB stock? Or thinner foil?

Correct on all fronts ....I used standard FR4.

[defaced]

BatchPCB is full on professional boards (solder mask, silk screen, double sided, vias, the works).  To do business wth them, or any board house, you will need to use "real" PCB designing software, be it their own (like ExpressPCB does) or third party like most board houses.  What software you use then is entirely up to you.  Eagle is very popular and what I use, but others use Diptrace, KiCAD, and many others with success.  It's all up to you and will likely be a big, but important, learning curve. 

That said, if I didn't already know how to design boards and have them fabricated for me, I'd look into seeing if it's possible to do fine pitch SMD using DIY boards.  From what I've seen with solder wick, I dont' see why you wouldn't be able to do find pitch on a board without solder mask using this technique.  It might take a few tries to get the technique down, but I think it's definitely worth it. 

[MR COFFEE]

Thanks for clarification, Gurner and defaced.

Has ANYONE pulled off TSSOP with PnP Blue, or is it just inadequate for such fine resolution?