What is a mechanical solder sucker?

[johnnyh55]

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]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

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

[stj]

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]

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]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

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

[SteveNielsen]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

ignore that.

Ignore what?

[SteveNielsen]

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.

[stj]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

ignore that.

[johnnyh55]

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?

[ChaosLegionnaire]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

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!

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.

[diif]

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.

[johnnyh55]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Also what size solder should I be using? And can I use the very end of the tip of the iron to solder or you have to use the side? It's kind of awkward to use the side with a chisel tip on something small, maybe I would need to use a conical tip?

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.

[johnnyh55]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

That seems too high, i have my cheapo iron set to 400c, turn it down and hold it on until the solder melts. Maybe practice on some scrap boards. It took me a little while to get my soldering right.

Oh, I was following the recommended temperature listed here:
https://www.badcaps.net/index.php?pageid=cap_removal

i use a safety pin instead of a dentist pick that is the same thickness as the hole. have a few safety pins of differing thickness for different sized holes. never seen the solder adhering to the safety pin. it must be made of stainless steel too.

never ripped out a via or trace after fully recapping three boards. (that means i've cleared over a hundred holes with the safety pin) never burnt myself either holding the safety pin to clear the hole. if the pin gets too hot, it means u are overheating the board with the iron!

Good idea, I never though of using a safety pin. When I was removing the capacitor I was feeling it getting hot in my hand, was I overheating the board?

[ChaosLegionnaire]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

i use a safety pin instead of a dentist pick that is the same thickness as the hole. have a few safety pins of differing thickness for different sized holes. never seen the solder adhering to the safety pin. it must be made of stainless steel too.

never ripped out a via or trace after fully recapping three boards. (that means i've cleared over a hundred holes with the safety pin) never burnt myself either holding the safety pin to clear the hole. if the pin gets too hot, it means u are overheating the board with the iron!

[diif]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

That seems too high, i have my cheapo iron set to 400c, turn it down and hold it on until the solder melts. Maybe practice on some scrap boards. It took me a little while to get my soldering right.

[johnnyh55]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

I have the iron set at 842 degrees Fahrenheit, is that hot enough?

[diif]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Maybe you haven't got your iron hot enough ?
I use a chisel tip and mechanical pump. I add a little solder, heat the hole then slide the iron to the rim so the hole is exposed with the molten solder in. I get the pump in tight to the iron and click the pump, this should clear the hole.

[johnnyh55]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

Well I was able to remove 4 capacitors but I was only able to get one hole completely cleared from the solder. I have tried using a piston type solder sucker and solder wick to no avail. I also had to add a little bit of solder to get the caps removed but some overflowed and are now touching the metal lines beside it. What would be the easiest way to clean those up? I am using 1.2mm solder, maybe that's too big?

Also any ideas how I can clear the solder from the remaining holes, I don't have a dentist pick on hand. I am using the chisel tip on my hakko fx-888d maybe I should be using a conical tip? Here are some pics of what I have done so far

[SteveNielsen]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

I've look at vac gauges online too.

[stj]

Re: What is a mechanical solder sucker?

weller DS80 used a pump very similar to an airhorn,
very fast to get 1Bar negative!

that's the other thing, fit a vac guage on a T piece so you can see how your pump is performing and spot blockages.