Is all solder wick created equal?

[aliasdck]

I have a project on hand that requires the use of solder wick. I don't find myself using solder wick much... usually use solder sucker when it is safe to do so.

I have some solder wick I purchased from radioshack years ago and I was trying to use it today. Noticed this solder wick isn't really doing the trick... the solder doesn't seem attracted to it much.

I always assumed all solder wick was created equal but I'm beginning to wonder now. I can remember years ago using some solder wick and I recall it working much better. I'm figuring the stuff I bought at radioshack is probably crap.

[stj]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

no, each brand uses different flux.
some work a lot better than others.

[pfrcom]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

You get what you pay for

I made the mistake of buying Dick Smith branded solder wick - Dick Smith being a large Australian electronics retail chain

Dick Smith solder wick is absolute garbage - just doesn't do the job, and also leaves residue which has to be cleaned off

Then I bit the bullet and paid around 50% more to get Goot branded Japanese solder wick

What a difference - the solder just flows into the Goot wick, and leaves almost no residue

[Krankshaft]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

Go for Techspray wick their flux is great.

Radioshack wick is complete crap I remember that the wick was debraiding when I used it. Not to mention the copper strands seemed very coarse. I have no idea what type of flux was in it either. They recently switched OEMs for the wick the old stuff was better.

Not as good as Techspray but hills over their current OEMs crap.

Check my post here:

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8596

I put a link there on a good deal on 50 feet of the Techspray braid about 19 bucks shipped. A lifetime supply for infrequent use.

I bought a few rolls of it and love it.

50 feet seems to last me about 1 year to a year and a half. I'm the exact opposite I use braid for everything and my solder sucker rarely.

[stj]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

you should try to keep it in an airtight container like a tobacco tin,
the flux will absorb moisture from the air over time & not be so good.

[Krankshaft]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

These come in vacuum packed bags from the factory. Their packages are pretty tight fitting as well.

[ss627]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

I have yet to use a 'good enough for me' solder wick. I prefer various sized suckers, some extra solder and some flux for repairs.

After buying MULTIPLE wicks from ebay,radioshack,digikey and mouser, I've given up on these stupid things. With newer products using leadfree solder, all they did for me is soak up a pathetic amount of solder and fubar the plated holes.

[Pyr0Beast]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

Leadfree solder eats a bit of copper the moment it has contact with. Removing of the pads might be also due to high temperature of soldering iron.

Personally, I use wick made from wires/cables. Dip it into flux for a bit and it is perfect for the job.

[Krankshaft]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

Well there is a technique to using wick it's just like soldering.

It did frustrate me at first but once I learned to work with it I never went back.

When working with lead free I tend to wet the joint with some leaded solder to help suck up the stuff.

[larrymoencurly]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

Bad wick can be made to work better by coating it with rosin.

[aliasdck]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

Thanks for the tips guys.

I'll look into getting some better wick then.

My desoldering skills probably could use a little practice - with wick that is - as I haven't done it in years. Been using the solder sucker ALOT and have gotten very good/comfortable at it... but with this current project I definetly would say wick is the way to go.

I'm trying to solder a smd component with a lot of tiny pins which are very very close together... can't see any way to solder it in place other than to solder all the pins as best I can and then clean up the pins that will get inadvertently bridged together with some wick.

[stj]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

there are tricks to that,
one is the "gravity-flow" trick.

you cover the pcb with masking tape to protect it - other that the chip.
then hold or stand the board on it's edge and solder the vertical sides from top to bottom very fast - gravity will pull the excess solder from each pin to the one under it tell the last few.
then a big blob will fall off - why you taped it up!

sometimes that's 100%, sometimes the last few pins are still bridged.

[NxB]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

Old wick probably oxidized too. The radio shack stuff works fine for me. But.. I always dip it in flux first.

[Pyr0Beast]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

I have it coated with flux. Once it oxidizes the ordinary flux does not work anymore. You would have to use a stronger (Acid based) one.
That's why I make fresh from the wire

[hardwareguy]

Re: Is all solder wick created equal?

As others have stated...NO!

Radio Shack braid is OK for a month after its opened then it goes bad and its messy. I use TechSpray No Clean wick and love it. (and its made in Texas!)