Desoldering Techniques

T

tfischer

Active member
How do you all get desoldering done? It's always been one of my least favorite electronics things to do.

I've tried:
1) A desoldering iron I've had since I was a kid from Radio Shack. It's like a regular soldering iron, except it has a hollow tip and a bulb thing you're supposed to squeeze, heat up the solder, and let it suck it out. It kinda, sorta, but not really works. I've found it's too clunky for most modern board work and runs hot enough to cause board damage.

2) A standard spring-loaded solder sucker. I've found it too hit/miss as well. Seems that no matter how quick I try to be, the solder firms up too much before it sucks.

3) Desoldering wick. Again, I've found it hit/miss.

Most of the time I can get components with 2-3 legs done. But if I need to do something more complicated, it will remain frozen to the board.

Today I tried to remove an RJ-45 jack on a Falcon distribution board. Couldn't get it to budge. And I couldn't find my desolder braid which I think would have been the best of the three tools for the job. And I can't 'cheat' by cutting off the component legs and doing them one by one.

I'd love to buy one of the vacuum desoldering tools with the electric pump, but can't justify it for the little bit I do. Amazon has a version that's kind of a combo of my #1 and #2 above (soldering iron with built in solder sucker) but I'm not convinced that's worth the $36 they're asking either.


So school me, oh electronics gurus...
 
I have a real desoldering station I bought when all of the methods you described failed me. Having a temp control, tips with different sized holes and a real pump on a trigger makes all the difference.
 
I've always only used the solder sucker. Sometimes you need to add a bit of solder to get them to work well. Agreed that the one Martin describes is the best bet if you are going to do more than a piece or two.
 
rstehle said:
I've always only used the solder sucker. Sometimes you need to add a bit of solder to get them to work well. Agreed that the one Martin describes is the best bet if you are going to do more than a piece or two.
Click to expand...
Same here....solder station, with tempreture control and a sucker. As @MartinMueller2003 points out, if you are replacing a part, then you wnant the hole squeaky clean.

The biggest thing I wish i have is a thrid hand, so often i am also using clamps and locking forceps.
 
I do, dearly love, to solder. I somehow missed my calling, LOL!
I have a spring loaded sucker and braid on hand. I tried one of those cheap plug in vacuum suckers off Ali and it was just that, Cheap.
It only lasted a few sessions and was done. I wish I had invested in a good desoldering station (like Martin talked about) when I got started some years ago, And I still might. Hard to justify the cost, compared to how much I'll use it. One of those specialized tools that you need it when you need it, and that is only every now and then.
I have lifted a few pads in my time also. Ground pins are the hardest to get out/clean, for me. Depends on if I am trying to save the part or just get it out, as to how much heat I can apply. I try to get it out, them clean it up. Notice I said, TRY.
 
I used the old "solder sucker" for years and found it hit or miss as well.
I have since purchased one of these when it was on sale for 20$.
solder sucker.png
It Heats up quick and just place over hole and press. So far so good!
 
DrNeutron said:
I used the old "solder sucker" for years and found it hit or miss as well.
I have since purchased one of these when it was on sale for 20$.

It Heats up quick and just place over hole and press. So far so good!
Click to expand...

That's the one I alluded to at the end of my OP where I said "I'm not sure it's worth the $36 or not". Sounds like you say it is, and that's good to know!
 
MartinMueller2003 said:
I have a real desoldering station I bought when all of the methods you described failed me. Having a temp control, tips with different sized holes and a real pump on a trigger makes all the difference.
Click to expand...
So, if someone was to make the investment in one of these, what should someone look for in a good station? Brands? Are you satisfied with your station? Would you do anything different if you had to do it again? Inquiry minds want to know, or at least I do.
 
I second Yihua, had mine since 2012 and other than replacing a heating element still works fine.
I did opt to go for this one this year: Yihua T12
Purely because I wanted more airflow to fix PS5 HDMI ports. My old station used a small fan in the handle and was not producing reliable heat and good airflow, this one has a pump in the unit. I just unboxed it (xmas present), so I can't say if it is significantly better yet.
 
The best desoldering station I've ever used was an old Weller pen that used compressed air to create a venturi effect. We used house air that was at 100PSI. Those holes looked like they'd never been soldered. Heat, wriggle the pin in a circle and apply vacuum. Wish I had that ability still.
 
I have thought about getting a desoldering station but the few times I would need to use it I never feel like waiting.
I've found solder wick works great if you put flux on it before you use it. Most times I can get a nice clean removal. If not, I just load it back up with solder and do it again.
 
That's so counter-intuitive to me lol. I was watching a video on desoldering the other day where he kept doing that... he'd desolder, have the tiniest bit left, and be like "well we need to try again" and then added a ton of new solder. In my mind, it's like "oops, I missed a spot vacuuming, let's track in some more mud!" lol
 
It's like the old "prime the pump" saying for water pumps, you need enough solder to pull a vacuum through the hole and enough mass to keep it going. A good cleaning and a bit of silicone spray can do wonders for those suckers too. Before Solder Wick, I actually wore out the internal rubber ring gasket multiple times in a production setting.

If given the choice, I'd rather use a real desoldering iron though. But, I can still use the "get 'er done" sucker method.

If you need to add flux to solder wick, it's time to toss it and get a new one. I've done it with old wick (cheap wick) or just braided wire when I had to, but there is good and bad wick. There's also, "you get what you pay for" wick. Real Solder Wick brand always works, cheap stuff, sometimes not.
 
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