Comments on: Erase Your Electronic Mistakes With A Desoldering Pump http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:42:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-59574 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:11:58 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-59574 I use both. Since braid works with surface tension, it's incapable of removing solder that's between a surfacemount lead and a board pad, for instance. But if you're lucky and get the angle just right, you *can* remove that solder with the fast-moving air from the sucker. The sucker also wins on through-hole components, where surface tension between the lead and the side of the hole can prevent the braid from removing some solder. Wiggle the component while sucking, and it comes right out. But braid is good to have around, for cleaning up pads (I use it like a mop) and stuff. There's also a surfacemount technique where you gob tons of solder onto a device (PQFP for example) and then remove everything you can get with braid. Since it won't touch the solder directly under the pads, you're left with a perfectly soldered connection. (Credit to Ingo Cyliax and Circuit Cellar for this one.) I use both. Since braid works with surface tension, it’s incapable of removing solder that’s between a surfacemount lead and a board pad, for instance. But if you’re lucky and get the angle just right, you *can* remove that solder with the fast-moving air from the sucker.

The sucker also wins on through-hole components, where surface tension between the lead and the side of the hole can prevent the braid from removing some solder. Wiggle the component while sucking, and it comes right out.

But braid is good to have around, for cleaning up pads (I use it like a mop) and stuff. There’s also a surfacemount technique where you gob tons of solder onto a device (PQFP for example) and then remove everything you can get with braid. Since it won’t touch the solder directly under the pads, you’re left with a perfectly soldered connection. (Credit to Ingo Cyliax and Circuit Cellar for this one.)

]]> by: Stuart http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-57309 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 02:08:26 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-57309 braid is better... braid is better…

]]> by: benjamen http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-57287 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 01:34:19 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-57287 Nothing beats a real vacuum desolding system, but as a cheap alternative I use this Radio Shack desoldering iron (64-2060) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062731&cp=&sr=1&origkw=desolder&kw=desolder&parentPage=search It works pretty well, but sometimes it can be flaky. I like using this type of tool becaue I hate heating a lead then trying to move the end of the solder sucker into the work while trying to mover the iron away. I find braid works better for removing surface mount components and a solder sucker works better for through-hole. Nothing beats a real vacuum desolding system, but as a cheap alternative I use this Radio Shack desoldering iron (64-2060) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062731&cp=&sr=1&origkw=desolder&kw=desolder&parentPage=search
It works pretty well, but sometimes it can be flaky. I like using this type of tool becaue I hate heating a lead then trying to move the end of the solder sucker into the work while trying to mover the iron away.

I find braid works better for removing surface mount components and a solder sucker works better for through-hole.

]]> by: Adam http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-57235 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:20:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-57235 I kinda prefer the pump over the braid, especially for larger-scale operations... It's not as neat, but it works quickly and it's easy to do one handed. I kinda prefer the pump over the braid, especially for larger-scale operations… It’s not as neat, but it works quickly and it’s easy to do one handed.

]]> by: Stuey http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-56939 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:15:57 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-56939 I've used one of these for years. There are a few good things about it and a few bad ones. It's very easy to use as you guys mentioned. But these tools usually come with a plastic tip, which, while replaceable, will get damaged if you put it too close to the heat. Also, it sometimes takes me several pumps to suck up the solder from a very small circuit board connection. It's great for soldered wires and componentry which are not attached to a board, but then again you can usually just heat those up and pull them apart manually. Another disadvantage: the internals get all kinds of gunked up due to the solder slivers and lube. Hence I clean mine very infrequently. I like to use it in conjunction with desoldering braid. I use the pump to suck up the bulk of the solder, and use the braid to remove the residue that's still holding onto the components. Radio Shack carries these but for ~$8 these days. Mine has lasted about a decade now with usage every few months. I’ve used one of these for years. There are a few good things about it and a few bad ones.

It’s very easy to use as you guys mentioned. But these tools usually come with a plastic tip, which, while replaceable, will get damaged if you put it too close to the heat. Also, it sometimes takes me several pumps to suck up the solder from a very small circuit board connection. It’s great for soldered wires and componentry which are not attached to a board, but then again you can usually just heat those up and pull them apart manually.

Another disadvantage: the internals get all kinds of gunked up due to the solder slivers and lube. Hence I clean mine very infrequently.

I like to use it in conjunction with desoldering braid. I use the pump to suck up the bulk of the solder, and use the braid to remove the residue that’s still holding onto the components.

Radio Shack carries these but for ~$8 these days. Mine has lasted about a decade now with usage every few months.

]]> by: Fong http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-56933 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:10:09 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-56933 I used to solder/desolder small boards everyday for about a year. My boss was one of those OCD guys that would get irritated if my leads weren't all the same size and the stripes were all facing the same direction. Needless to say, I learned about desoldering early and often. Personally, I like the braid's better. You can pinpoint the heat over the braid exactly where you want to desolder. The pump does work but it's not as consistent and it's just easier to pin the braid down with the iron than hold a pump in your other hand. I used to solder/desolder small boards everyday for about a year. My boss was one of those OCD guys that would get irritated if my leads weren’t all the same size and the stripes were all facing the same direction. Needless to say, I learned about desoldering early and often. Personally, I like the braid’s better. You can pinpoint the heat over the braid exactly where you want to desolder. The pump does work but it’s not as consistent and it’s just easier to pin the braid down with the iron than hold a pump in your other hand.

]]> by: Roy http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-56902 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:18:32 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/26/erase-your-electronic-mistakes-with-a-desoldering-pump/#comment-56902 Desoldering wick (AKA desoldering braid) is pretty handy too. Desoldering wick (AKA desoldering braid) is pretty handy too.

]]>