On Wed, 14 Feb 2018 16:13:29 +0000, Gareth's Downstairs Computer wrote:

Starting out late in life as an SMD convert, what are the tricks,
techniques, hints and kinks that you use for assembling them?

I use a USB microscope, got it for under UKP 20 from Lidls.

It takes some practice to actually watch the monitor rather than the
board but after a half hour or so it becomes natural.