Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: John on March 25, 2014, 10:15:11 am
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Has anyone used this type? I am even less than a hobbyist than Sluckey :icon_biggrin: but it seems I spend a lot of time desoldering. I've been using the braid, and it works fine, but gets expensive and you need 2 hands.
{Mod. Edit: Image resized}
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/56kAAOxy4jxSJVnP/$(KGrHqJ,!ogFI(i4wSpzBSJVnO)bM!~~60_57.JPG)
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I have something similar. My PACE has a foot switch operated vacuum pump connected to the desoldering iron rather than the manual 'suck-it" button on the handle. It also has interchangeable tips for a variety of PCB work. I use it whenever I am working on a PCB (rarely anymore) or have a lot of sucking to do. Here's a pic...
(http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/warbler/w_110.jpg)
But for occasional use I just grab my DS017 SOLDAPULLT tool shown in the upper left of this pic...
(http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/warbler/w_04.jpg)
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I have one of those blue soldapullit things and I consider it invaluable. It's not so good for very fine 2-sided PC stuff (though it's fine for single-sided boards until you wear the tip too open but it's very good for tube-sized connections. The thing is at least 35 years old, have to replace the tips (about $3 at Fry's) on occasion and clean it out (easy to do) maybe every 20 pulls if your pulling big blobs of solder. It does a great job. I have never liked the wick, myself, others do. I would love to have a much more sophisticated desoldering tool like Sluckey has but I can't justify the cost for as much as I use it. I have pulled every part off big boards with this thing, unsoldered 200+ parts at a sitting.
Unless you have a pedal-controlled something, you have to use two hands no matter what.
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Well, I received the item, and so far it works great for PCB stuff, even the tiny stuff in a Behringer pedal. For point to point, I still prefer the wick though. For only $12, not sure how long it's going to last, but it's a cheap test drive anyway.
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The copper braid I'm familiar with, but I don't know any slot-car guys around here.
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I have a pump and one from radio shack that heats up. It is called a deslodering iron. Had it for years and just got a new one. They are now cheeeeeeeeeeeep, but seem to work well.
Here it the link
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062731&filterName=Type&filterValue=Desoldering (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062731&filterName=Type&filterValue=Desoldering)
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Ed, I have the same exact one and I hate it! The only way to get it hot enough is to plug into my AC supply and crank it up to 140 or so. When it gets hot enough I can smell it, it works fine. :icon_biggrin: Plus, ya gotta hold in that bulb and not hit anything with the long barrel, which while barely hot enough to melt solder sure will burn through caps, resistors, insulation.... :laugh:
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No, I meant I kept bumping it against everything. It's awkward, at least for me. But you're right, I bought little brass colored clips and soldered a short length of wire to them, and they work great for heat sinks.
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No, I meant I kept bumping it against everything. It's awkward, at least for me. But you're right, I bought little brass colored clips and soldered a short length of wire to them, and they work great for heat sinks.
I have not used the newer one enough to really give a good report on it. I am sorry. The other one I had was ancient and very heavy duty, but finally burned out. Man it got hot. I mostly use my weller iron and a pump. I guess the new one I got is crap. Maybe I will look into one you posted. There is a place near me that repurposes and recycles electronics and they use then a lot. I asked about them and the guy said they cost almost $500. I din not ask anything else, but I will find out if you want me to. :l2:
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but I will find out if you want me to.
Hmm, let me check my pocket money.
uh, no!!
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Been using solder wick, and blue anodized 5-10 dollar suckers. I never thought the tips would last as long as they have. sometimes a combination of both works best for me.
As far as solder wick alone goes, I don't have a great deal of luck with super tiny (width) braid. Like 1/16".
I seem to do a lot better with 1/8-3/32 whatever the not thinnest sizes are, on up to 1/4'' & larger.
used it for ground strap, and attached it to/and by alligator clips for temporary heatsink also. Heck, I think I heard Bogner uses thin stuff to floss with.
Bet you could make one of those foot actuated jobs for under 20$ at Harbor Freight. And maybe red & chrome Roto Vibe foot pedal shell for coolness factor
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Hakko 808. Somewhere in the $200-250 range, and made for the job. A little more cumbersome than the desoldering stations, but they also cost about a third of the cheapest stations. At any rate, a properly controlled temperature, a continuous vacuum, and a fairly reasonable price.
Gabriel