Desoldering Tools Suck

[Technoguy3]

I hate my desoldering tools. My flimsy plastic solder pump broke, and my desoldering bulb is clogged with gunk and I can't get it unstuck.

The last thing remaining is desoldering wick, which is RadioShack brand, and it will barely absorb any solder! Is it the brand I'm using or is it usually this difficult?

[t.j.]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

you usen flux with the braid?

[ratdude747]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

you usen flux with the braid?

ratshack braid isn't pre-fluxed. its also a poor weave as well... I get pre-fluxed braid with a tight weave... given sufficient soldering iron power, it works great.

[t.j.]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

yup, why i asked! hate the cheap braid from crap shack!

[Technoguy3]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

Is that the problem? Can you point me in the direction of a decent quality braid?

[mariushm]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

For example this:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...1063-ND/949508

browse the whole category here:

http://www.digikey.com/product-searc...d-wick/1311239

Pick something with no clean flux or something with low/mildly active flux so you won't have to worry about the flux that remains after usage... with the ones with high power flux (rosin based) you might need to clean the boards after with isopropyl alcohol to remove the flux residue.

Choose the best braid width + length combo for your budget, and in principle I'd stick to name brands such as MG Chemicals, Multicore etc

Also, I generally like to put a drop of liquid flux on the areas I want to suck the solder from, just to have the flux break down the thin layer of oxides at the top and make the braid work better.

Also, sometimes it's better to just apply a bit of solder and then apply the braid over... the additional solder makes it easier to suck the solder from holes into the braid and transfers the heat better to the old solder.

Last, if you're really into desoldering, working on lots of hardware, a Hakko 808 would be great investment:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ARPULW...RHNYMV52ZHWMG&

[twbranch]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

Try one of these. Its not the best but not the worst either. A step up from braid and suckers. You will still need some braid around for certain task. But this is a cheap desoldring tool.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/thsudest

[smason]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

I've had the same plastic Soldapullt desoldering tool since the 80s.
A couple of replacement tips over the years, and lubing the o-ring now and then and it still works great. It works so well that often the caps just fall out onto the bench.

[gilly1984]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

Are these any good? I have been working without a desoldering tool, its a pain for things with more than 2 legs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-D...item53ed9d3ea4

[twbranch]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

What is that about 10US? I would try it just to see if it works. I am not the richest person on these pages but I am willing to toss 10US to see if works.

[mariushm]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

I've tried one of those, they're useless.

There's very little sucking because the heating element takes too much space in the tool.

Here, found the thread where I posted pictures with my sucker, looking similar to that one: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...highlight=tool

[larrymoencurly]

Re: Desoldering Tools Suck

Are these any good? I have been working without a desoldering tool, its a pain for things with more than 2 legs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-D...item53ed9d3ea4

What do they mean the power rating is up to 250W ???

The closest I've seen on the US market is the 45W Radio Shack #64-2060 desoldering iron with manual suction bulb, $13:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062731

With leaded solder it works great on 1-sided boards, pretty good on 2-sided boards, and could use a bit more power for multilayer boards (reportedly an extra 5VAC with a variac can help a lot). There are some articles about improving its suction (vacuum tank, electric pump, foot operated tire pump), and I found it can put out more heat if the area behind the tip is wrapped in insulation and the vacuum tube is cut close to it and silicone tubing inserted for a thermal break.

I think Chemtronics.com gives out free samples of solder braid. Their regular rosin wick is good, but I think ChemWick worked better -- finer weave, maybe knit instead of weaved. Also I cut off braid right after it's used, even if it doesn't soak up any solder, and bad wick can work much better if coated with rosin flux.