clearing solder tubes

[pentium]

I have NEVER had a single recap go without at least one hole end up partially filled in a way that makes regular use of the iron and a solder sucker impossible.
I have a board here in the shop that needs to be finished before Tuesday and it's just my luck that I have two holes with this problem. I have tired several times unsuccessfully to clear the hole and I have no soldering braid and I won't be able to get some any time soon. What should I do to clear the holes?

[zandrax]

Re: clearing solder tubes

What should I do to clear the holes?

Did you try toothpicks?

Zandrax

[willawake]

Re: clearing solder tubes

work both sides with a needle
add solder also to both sides

[pentium]

Re: clearing solder tubes

Thanks you two.
I got it now.

[Krankshaft]

Re: clearing solder tubes

While on the topic about desoldering braid I bought a 100 foot spool from Newark for around 50 bucks and I'm still using it for over a year three quarters of it is gone mind you.

But I haven't been getting ripped at Ratshack for 10 feet of it anymore either.

Buy one of these and you'll never need to worry about running out.

[ant3202]

Re: clearing solder tubes

Did you try toothpicks?

Zandrax

thanks for a great tip

[bgavin]

Re: clearing solder tubes

Will's needle technique works every time for me. Use stainless... 450C is required at the iron.

[zandrax]

Re: clearing solder tubes

thanks for a great tip

Well, thanks i4004 for it: I simply linked his experience.

Zandrax

[Bookworm]

Re: clearing solder tubes

I've _never_ managed to get solder wick to work worth a hoot. I use a desoldering iron for some, and a solder sucker for the rest.

Sometimes I have to use the 'stainless steel pick' method. but if I can brace the board well, I've found I get almost a perfect record at clearing holes with the sucker - the cleaner the hole, the less likely it is you have to worry about ROHS vs lead solder.

[arneson]

Re: clearing solder tubes

Like every other thing, there are times when a good braid with flux is exactly the correct method.
Occasionally I just gently smack the board on my knee, believe it or not that works quite well for me.

[Krankshaft]

Re: clearing solder tubes

I remember when I first started using braid I could solder well but soldering and desoldering are two different beasts.

After I got the hang of it though I can't live without it.

I still do get those tough dog traces that plug up with solder.

In some predicaments the braid just won't work.

I like to heat up the solder and use a sewing needle.

If that doesn't work I fill the hole with solder and insert the cap into the hole melt the solder and press down lightly until the component is seated.

I then add a bit more solder on that connection for good measure.

This only works if you already have one of the holes desoldered though.

In worse predicaments I have trimmed the caps leads down to about 2 inches and walked the cap into the holes melt one lead push melt the other and so on but that is not fun and its time consuming.

[bassbindevil]

Re: clearing solder tubes

As a last resort, I've used a very small drill bit (around #70) to clear a hole. I chucked it in an X-acto knife handle and turned carefully it by hand. Since the hole was partly clear, hopefully the bit would stay centered and just remove solder, not the through-plating.

[ratdude747]

Re: clearing solder tubes

hate to revive, but i recently bought some braid.

i have tried it for some things, bu i have no idea how to use it on pcb's... how do you use it?

[brethin]

Re: clearing solder tubes

Dunno if I do it the correct way but I do this.

Heat joint with iron.
Remove iron.
Lay braid on joint.
Lay iron on braid.
Heat braid with iron thus heating joint under braid.
Watch braid get hot and suck solder from joint.
Drink a Beer and repeat.

That or I use my delsolder/sucker iron.

[severach]

Re: clearing solder tubes

If the solder is good and the board doesn't take much heat then the Hakko 808 can clear it in one shot. Since the tip of a desoldering gun is always solder free a little fresh solder helps move more heat. If the board pulls too much heat away I add more with the SMD station. The nice thing about the station is I can heat as long as I want to without damage then when the desolderer touches the joint it doesn't take much more heat to melt the solder all the way through.

[ratdude747]

Re: clearing solder tubes

the hakko 808 is pricy though... i use my sucker when i can, bu t i know people who swear by braid... found the good kind cheap...

[PCBONEZ]

Re: clearing solder tubes

I have NEVER had a single recap go without at least one hole end up partially filled in a way that makes regular use of the iron and a solder sucker impossible.
I have a board here in the shop that needs to be finished before Tuesday and it's just my luck that I have two holes with this problem. I have tired several times unsuccessfully to clear the hole and I have no soldering braid and I won't be able to get some any time soon. What should I do to clear the holes?

Get an exacto knife handle with a metal chuck collet and the aluminum handle.
[Not the cheapie plastic collet.]
- Dunno about where you are in the Great White North but down here in the Land of Scorpions and Cactus our Home Depot has the handles [individually, not in a kit] with the metal collet for not too much.

Chuck in an appropriate sized Stainless Steel sewing needle.
Heat solder hole on one side.
Push needle in from other side as the solder melts.
[Don't push hard, just sort of feed it as the solder melts.]
[When needle is part way through touch it with the iron to carry heat.]
Use solder braid to sop up the solder around the needle.
Gently rotate the needle to make sure it's free of the via then remove needle.
[If it's not free heat the needle until it is.]

The handle is a big enough heat sink that you won't burn your fingers [unless maybe you grab it at the chuck end].

.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: clearing solder tubes

hate to revive, but i recently bought some braid.

i have tried it for some things, bu i have no idea how to use it on pcb's... how do you use it?

If you bought the cheap dry kind you need to add flux to the braid.

The Navy always gave us the cheap dry kind.
.

[brethin]

Re: clearing solder tubes

Get one of these if the hakko 808 is too expensive for you, I did and it rocks. Toasty recommended it and I couldn't be happier with it. Plus I got a free Digital Multimeter as gift for ordering it.

Good stuff

[ratdude747]

Re: clearing solder tubes

Get one of these if the hakko 808 is too expensive for you, I did and it rocks. Toasty recommended it and I couldn't be happier with it. Plus I got a free Digital Multimeter as gift for ordering it.

Good stuff

still out of budget...

idk if my braid is dry or not... it might have had flux in it... it's gc brand.