What is a mechanical solder sucker?

**diif** · 10-27-2015, 05:15 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Use which ever part of the tip you feel comfortable using. You will find that the chisel tip is better for motherboards due to the larger mass, it holds the heat better.
Don't remove the iron when you suck. Keep the solder molten then suck.

**ChaosLegionnaire** · 10-27-2015, 05:43 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Originally posted by johnnyh55

When I was removing the capacitor I was feeling it getting hot in my hand, was I overheating the board?

that is unavoidable esp when desoldering a cap from big ground planes. the datasheets for most caps say the tolerance to soldering heat is around 5-10 secs. so dont keep the iron on the board longer than that as a general rule of thumb even tho the cap u are desoldering may not be used again and is to be discarded.

if the cap is so burning hot that u cant keep your finger on it anymore, it is prolly a good idea to remove the iron and let the board cool a bit while u wipe the iron, add some solder and try again. desoldering is never about heating up the board or its components!

Originally posted by johnnyh55

Another thing I noticed is when I melt the solder in the hole with the iron, the solder comes up and follows the tip, as soon as I remove the tip the solder is already too solid to suck it up with the solder sucker.

thats why the boss said to use a pick and i agree with him and i said to use a safety pin. i tried it and its just too unelegant to use a sucker. firstly, u risk dmg to the board and secondly, the solder sometimes just wont come out of the hole!

prolly the ground plane keeps sucking the heat away and thus the solder has severe problems getting sucked out. personally, i've found using a pick/pin is a much faster method of clearing the hole.

**johnnyh55** · 10-27-2015, 06:44 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

ok and according to my picture, what would be the easiest way to remove that excess solder that was dragged across the pcb? Should I buy some flux and add it to the solder wick so the wicking will be a lot easier?

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**stj** · 10-27-2015, 07:26 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

ignore that.

**SteveNielsen** · 10-27-2015, 07:34 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

If the wick has flux already and it's enough to do the job you're ok. If not add flux but not too much, it gets messy fast and can obscure the work when it burns and turns opaque. Don't get the wick too hot and be gentle, you don't want to scrape the board or traces, just pick up the excess solder. Little bits of solder and burnt flux left behind wipe down with alcohol and pick the stuck bits off the board with a fingernail, plastic or wooden tool not metal that can damage board and traces.

I use a pin to clear vias too. Some multi-layer boards are real bitches to get the vias (holes) clear and clean up. Patience is important. Getting in a hurry screws stuff up.

**SteveNielsen** · 10-27-2015, 07:35 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Originally posted by stj

ignore that.

Ignore what?

**stj** · 10-27-2015, 07:40 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

the excess solder is only on areas that dont matter, there is no short.

**SteveNielsen** · 10-27-2015, 07:43 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Oh, ok. Yes they don't appear shorted but a tad sloppy is all. Depends on how much of a perfectionist one is. I've seen (and done) much worse

**stj** · 10-27-2015, 07:46 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

point is, those exposed strips are supposed to be loaded with solder to increase the current flow on the tracks.
you dont want someone cleaning them off with braid!

**SteveNielsen** · 10-27-2015, 08:07 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

That's true and a good point to bring up.

**johnnyh55** · 10-27-2015, 09:12 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Should I add solder to the holes before trying to clear them so it's easier for the heat to flow?

**SteveNielsen** · 10-27-2015, 09:28 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

No. Put enough solder on the soldering tip to make contact with the hole and the pin for heat transfer, as the pin and hole heat up and solder starts to soften turn and push the pin into the hole. Don't wiggle it sideways or the tip of the pin can poke into the metal lining the hole or catch on the side of a solder pad and tear it off. Be patient.

**johnnyh55** · 10-27-2015, 09:51 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Originally posted by SteveNielsen

No. Put enough solder on the soldering tip to make contact with the hole and the pin for heat transfer, as the pin and hole heat up and solder starts to soften turn and push the pin into the hole. Don't wiggle it sideways or the tip of the pin can poke into the metal lining the hole or catch on the side of a solder pad and tear it off. Be patient.

When I was tinning the tip yesterday, I had a blob on the tip, I assume this is too much? I then wiped it down on the sponge to remove a little bit, is that the correct tinning procedure?

**johnnyh55** · 10-27-2015, 06:42 PM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

How do these joints look? I know they are not too nice but are they acceptable?

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**ChaosLegionnaire** · 10-28-2015, 03:26 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

i also recall another fellow member saying that he uses a paper clip to clear the hole. cant remember his user name tho.

Originally posted by johnnyh55

How do these joints look? I know they are not too nice but are they acceptable?

wtf, it looks like an adjacent solder track has been bridged with solder. it also looks like u got a huge spherical blob of solder in the center and its also bridging an adjacent pad.

a good joint should look conical, bright and shiny like the ones on the left of the picture. it looks like u put too much solder on the center one. if u got a circular solder blob instead of a conical one, u have to desolder the cap, clear the hole again and try again. or if u are lazy, just try to use the sucker to remove some of the excess solder.

**johnnyh55** · 10-28-2015, 05:25 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Well there is something I am doing wrong, either too much heat(852F) or solder too thick(1.2mm)? When I apply the iron to a solder joint, it doesn't transfer heat to the solder it seems, I always have to add a little fresh solder. There is something I must be doing wrong every youtube video I checked they just touch the capacitor leads and the solder melts after 1 second.

I also notice when I apply heat to the pad and the lead, the heat never seem to transfer to the other side where I apply solder. I always need to apply a little bit of solder to the tip while touching the pad and lead and then it begins to melt on the other side.

**stj** · 10-28-2015, 06:23 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

that's an insane temperature now i converted it to 'c
455'c!! you shouldnt be over 350 (662'F)
if you ignore this, you burn the flux.
infact that temp is for lead free solder, if your using 60/40 you may need to go under 300 (572) because the flux is usually different

conversion done here btw. (incase it's wrong!)
http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm

show us the solder label btw.

**johnnyh55** · 10-28-2015, 06:47 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Originally posted by stj

that's an insane temperature now i converted it to 'c
455'c!! you shouldnt be over 350 (662'F)
if you ignore this, you burn the flux.
infact that temp is for lead free solder, if your using 60/40 you may need to go under 300 (572) because the flux is usually different

conversion done here btw. (incase it's wrong!)
http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm

show us the solder label btw.

Ok that would explain part of the problem I assume. Why would the tutorial say to set the iron at 450 degrees Celsius?
https://www.badcaps.net/index.php?pageid=cap_removal

I kind of figure it was too high. So if I lower the temp it should be easier to solder? Maybe I was burning all the flux off way too fast. I have attached a picture of the solder I am using.

Also, desoldering braid should be fluxed right? To help bring the solder in the braid? Because the one I bought isn't flux I think, and when I add solder to the braid it helps wicking the solder on the board. Maybe ill buy the MG Chemicals solder wick and try that instead.

Now by having the iron temperature too hot, do you think I damaged anything?

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**stj** · 10-28-2015, 07:00 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

damage would be obvious.
but i bet your tip was black and the solder didnt stick very well!!!
you oxidised it with too much heat!

i dont know who wrote 450' because they didnt put their name down ( i wonder why!

)
the solder is 60/40 with rosin-based flux - so looking at "real" brands for data.
http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equ...der-Wire-30236
http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equ...er-60-40-30459

so there's your temps.
braid has powdered flux in it and should just work - but most wont work on big lead-free stuff.

**johnnyh55** · 10-28-2015, 07:12 AM

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Originally posted by stj

damage would be obvious.

That means, I did damage something? Or I would see it, if I would of damaged something?

Originally posted by stj

but i bet your tip was black and the solder didnt stick very well!!!
you oxidised it with too much heat!

So is my tip no good anymore? Should I buy another one, or it's still good, I just need to re-tin and it should be ok?

What is a mechanical solder sucker?

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