SSOP? I do these all the time. I use a WSL iron with the WMP soldering pencil, and the sharply pointed micro tip. I run the iron usually at 700 F I use a stereo zoom microscope at 8 power (I could actually use less, but that's as low as it goes). I use 6" tweezers with curved tips to hold the chips.
I have 2 ways to do them. For small chips, I use .010" solder (really hard to get, usually .015" is as small as it comes.) I put solder on one corner pad, and solder the chip to that pad. I then check alignment of all pins, and twist the chip slightly if the opposite side is a little off, then solder the diagonal corner pin. If it is still out of line, I can melt the solder at one corner at a time and reposition. I then solder the rest of the pins.
For larger pins, I use some solder paste in a syringe. You are supposed to keep it in the fridge, but that is too much hassle. I have to stick a paper clip in the syringe every 6 months to re-mix the suspension. I put a #18 needle with a 45 degree angle ground on it on the syringe, and deposit a thin thread of paste along the pads. I place the chip with tweezers, and do the corner pins as above. When the chip is properly positioned, I then gently wipe the iron down the rows of pins, soldering them all.
I've done hundreds of 144-pin, 0.5mm chips this way. If I apply too much solder, then I need the wick to remove it. I have trained several people to do this, and they all got the hang of it. The microscope is pretty necessary. Some people can do a few with the naked eye, but they soon get eyestrain.
Jon