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  • Author Author: baldengineer
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Quick: what's your best desoldering braid/wick tip or trick?

baldengineer

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Since last March 2020, I have been live-streaming three days a week. My streams are all electronics related but include retro computer repairs, soldering kits, Arduino coding, explaining measurements, and other electronics stuff. Several of the recent Workbench Wednesdays episodes have been a result of a live stream. Another outcome from these streams is that my soldering skill has increased significantly. Not just because I am practicing more, but because constantly being watched and critiqued creates motivational awareness!

 

The other day, someone commented that I am a "solder wick magician." Of the things I get called online, I consider that one a compliment. Though, unlike the other names, it may not be entirely deserved. At least, I don't think so. However, as the animated GIF above shows, I occasionally get an excellent wicking action when using desoldering braid.

 

There are only a few tips and tricks that I (think I) actually know. So, I thought I'd ask the community about yours. Getting started, here is something obvious to me now, but people usually get the ah-ha look on their faces when I show them. Unless the wick is brand new, I'll dab it with a flux pen before using it. I find flux on the joint I'm trying to remove, plus the extra flux that wicks into the braid, is very effective. (And a great way to use up old braid.)

 

What are some tips or tricks you have when using desoldering braid (or wick)?

 

  • Slightly different topic, sometimes the board is Pb-free and you only have an old lower temperature soldering iron - there's no way that solder will melt. However adding a small amount of leaded-solder to the joint prior to using the braid will work.

  • in reply to baldengineer

    That's my experience with the guns as well James.  When they work well, they make it easy.  What I have found is that whilst you may not get it totally free, after sucking out most of the solder, flipping the board and using an air pencil to heat up the underside lets it fall out or be extracted easily - which is why I never bend the pins on through-hole components as they fall out way easier.  For two lead parts, such as resistors and capacitors, If you are very careful, you can use a soldering iron and tweezers to free one leg at a time but there is danger of damaging the pad and track if you're too enthusiastic.

  • in reply to baldengineer

    Oh, I remember that low temperature solder. But, they aren't very common. Here's EEVblog's ChipqQuick desoldering video https://youtu.be/UmD7F0--7Lc

    It's soo satisfying to see big Spartan FPGA pluck out Relaxed️

  • in reply to Gough Lui

      wrote:

    But using them is apparently as simple as "apply to joint, wait a little until the solder melts, pull the trigger".

    When they work well, they work great. But if you don't heat the joint up enough or it cools while sucking the solder through (since you are pulling cool air with it), then you have to start over.

     

    But when you have a lot of through-hole pins to remove, they are a huge time saver, overall.

     

    When removing ICs, I use a desoldering gun with a vacuum pump. Then on the stubborn pins, I'll apply some low-temp bismuth solder to them. And use wick to clean up that stuff after the chip is out.

  • in reply to baldengineer

    Ain't that how life is? A constant battle between not having enough and having too much ...  everything is best in moderation ... heat included.

     

    I suppose knowing the right amount of heat is important to making good solder joints and then desoldering them ... to me somehow that made intuitive sense ... but for those who might not like desoldering braid or solder suckers, there's electronic desoldering guns as well (for those with deeper pockets) ... those apparently work great with through-hole components and I've been eyeing a few. Just never had enough boards to repair to justify the cost. But using them is apparently as simple as "apply to joint, wait a little until the solder melts, pull the trigger".

     

    - Gough