DEsoldering tool/iron

[John]

Has anyone used this type? I am even less than a hobbyist than Sluckey   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}

[sluckey]

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...





But for occasional use I just grab my DS017 SOLDAPULLT tool shown in the upper left of this pic...

[eleventeen]

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.

[John]

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.

[John]

The copper braid I'm familiar with, but I don't know any slot-car guys around here.

[Ed_Chambley]

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

[John]

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.    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....   

[John]

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.

[Ed_Chambley]

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.

[John]

but I will find out if you want me to.

Hmm, let me check my pocket money.




uh, no!!

[super&plexi]

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

[G._Hoffman]

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