Best way to desolder?

[Leonard Caillouet]

Not true at all. We remove components all the time with a heat gun. The
solder is a much better thermal conductor than the case of the component.
The problem with a heat gun without the right attachment to direct the heat
is damaging the board if you heat it too long. For SMDs just turn the board
over and let is fall off and that is not even a problem unless the component
is glued on.

Leonard

 

[meirman]

In sci.electronics.repair on Wed, 09 Mar 2005 20:08:15 -0800 Isaac

Takes too long to heat up to solder-melting temperature. Long before
that, the components will be cooked.

My original question was about relays. I don't think they cook
easily, no? And they're the ones I've had the most trouble with,
because if there are only one or two wires, I can do that pretty
easily. (I don't remove IC's because I don't do volume work or work
on the same device, so I can't reuse IC's.)

I actually have a heat gun, but I forgot that I got it broken. I
replaced the fan and it worked. Tonight it worked for 2 or 3 minutes
before the fan stopped.

I'll probably buy a new heat gun soon.

I have to try my soldapullt too. I replaced the O-ring today and it
has far more suction. The old O-ring was a full half-millimeter or
more smaller than the cylinder it was in. Maybe no suction at all.
It had a lot of vaseline or something, that the Soldapullt maker
recommends, and I believe him that it won't ruin things quickly. But
after a while, vaseline will ruin latex. The thinner the quicker,
which is why they recommend against it for condoms. O-rings aren't
that thin, and they might not be latex, but in another thread
somewhere, I saw vaseline recommended precisely because it made rubber
soft. In some situation it made things fit or seal better. If I end
up lubricating this o-ring, maybe I'll use KY jelly.

And the propane torch.

And the liquid flux with the solder-wick.

Four things to try!!

Thanks a lot you guys.

Isaac

Meirman

 

[Travis Jordan]

It had a lot of vaseline or something, that the Soldapullt maker
recommends, and I believe him that it won't ruin things quickly. But
after a while, vaseline will ruin latex. The thinner the quicker,
which is why they recommend against it for condoms. O-rings aren't
that thin, and they might not be latex, but in another thread
somewhere, I saw vaseline recommended precisely because it made rubber
soft. In some situation it made things fit or seal better. If I end
up lubricating this o-ring, maybe I'll use KY jelly.

Don't use a water soluble lubricant - silicon lube is best for the
O-ring. That's what Soldapullt includes with the rebuild kit.

 

[meirman]

In sci.electronics.repair on Fri, 11 Mar 2005 12:28:15 GMT "Travis

in another thread on *another* subject.

Don't use a water soluble lubricant - silicon lube is best for the
O-ring. That's what Soldapullt includes with the rebuild kit.

OK. I have that too.

But I'm pretty sure also on the soldapullt webpage they recommended
vaseline for some reason.

http://www.hvwtech.com/pages/products_view.asp?ProductID=444

Yeah, it does. I wonder why:

"1. Open the unit (it simply twists apart) and remove any solder that
has collected inside.
2. Use a cloth or paper towel to clean the o-ring, the plunger
assembly and the chamber.
3. Inspect the o-ring for wear -is the side worn flat where it touches
the chamber wall ? If only slightly worn, cleaning and regreasing the
unit will be sufficient. If not, replace the o-ring
4. Smear a small amount of Vaseline around the o-ring
(strictly-speaking, you shouldn't use a pertoleum product like
Vaseline on a rubber o-ring but we've been doing this for years with
excellent results).
5. Reassemble the unit and test for proper suction. If the suction is
not satisfactory, you can try a little more Vaseline on the o-ring. If
that helps, then the o-ring should really be replaced.

For removing surface-mount devices, we suggest ChipQuik"

Meirman

 

[motsco_ _]

What is the best way to desolder?

I have tried solder wicks, single bulb solder suckers, pen-like solder
suckers, solder suckers with integrated soldering irons, and I've
tried heating the item and shaking off the solder. <SNIP>

--------------------
In a pinch, I've used a B.B. gun to blast the solder off a mouse circuit
board.

Hey, I had no tools along . .:-(

motsco.

 

[Travis Jordan]

But I'm pretty sure also on the soldapullt webpage they recommended
vaseline for some reason.

http://www.hvwtech.com/pages/products_view.asp?ProductID=444

Sorry, but this isn't a Edsyn (manufacturer of Soldapullt (tm)) web
page. Use the instructions you see here at your own risk. Once again,
I'd recommend silicon lube.