would you recommend desoldering wick/braid, if so recommendation on brand?

[Mad_Professor]

I never use a desoldering wick/braid before.

I use a wellers ec3000 25w pencil soldering iron/station. It works well for what I need. I typically remove solder with using the "apply new solder to remove older solder" technique follow by using a mechanical sucker, which is great if you can get to the solder ball before it cools down or trying to share the space with a soldering tip. But from time to time, it gets a bit messy and sometimes I have to do it over again, or I successfully remove the component, only to watch the hole fill in with solder.

So I was thinking... that a desoldering wick/braid would be more useful then a mechanical sucker. But I could be wrong.

Your thoughts?

Also if desoldering wick/braid would be good additional to my limited set of soldering tools, which brand or type should I buy?

[mockingbird]

Re: would you recommend desoldering wick/braid, if so recommendation on brand?

Any brand is ok as long as its fluxed. Go to the hardware store, they sell small rolls of it for 2 and a half dollars. Should last you a while.

[Mad_Professor]

Re: would you recommend desoldering wick/braid, if so recommendation on brand?

I'm gonna buy some off digikey when I order my caps.

Whats the difference between Rosin (Mildly Activated) vs Rosin Non Activated and which one should I get?

[jbrittonjr]

Re: would you recommend desoldering wick/braid, if so recommendation on brand?

I use Chem Wik or Chem Wik lite if I have a choice and access to my toolbox.
Otherwise it's whatever's available at the nearest Radio Shack.
For fine printed circuit work you'll probably be happier with rosin coated wick.