de-soldering: braid, bulb or vac pump?

[Joshatdot]

I had to desolder R5 jumpers on my CMoy PCB, and I only had some copper braid. It worked, but I think it heated up the board & other components too much. So I want to get something else to desolder.

What is best? vac bulb thing, or the vac pump thing?

 

[TMM]

The Solder "suckers" are good for removing large amounts of solder, while the braid is good for a final clean up. I find multiple quick attempts is the best way to minimize heating up the PCB with braid. Also preheat the braid so it doesn't take long to start soaking up solder when its on the PCB.

 

[sejarzo]

My experience is limited, but in line with TMM. I like his suggestion of preheating the braid very much, because I ended up lifting some traces recently by applying heat too long.

TMM--do you heat until you see the flux start to smoke a bit, and then apply it to the joint? How do you judge when it's hot enough?

I don't have a bulb "sucker", but I do have a cheap spring loaded vac pump from Circuit Specialists, and for large joints it is great. Also seems to work well when I feel like I need a third or fourth hand to get braid positioned properly on a smaller joint in a bad position.

 

[holland]

I've never had that happen to me. I've done a fair amount of desoldering, swapping components for testing. Preheating doesn't hurt, but I've never had to do it.

Extra flux helps, depending on the braid.

I always turn the iron up higher. Upwards of 650F-700F. For SMT pads, I apply flux, do a visual and watch the solder flow into the braid and then roll off with little pressure applied to the braid (roll it off with the iron).

Through-hole takes a few tries to empty the hole. Hit it once, once the smoke comes, roll off and look. If it's not clean, apply more solder, then more flux, and repeat with the braid.

It's messier with more flux, but I find it works better. Some braids don't need more flux, like the RatShack braids, surprisingly.

 

[fordgtlover]

Buy good quality braids - the cheap ones don't work very well.

 

[luvdunhill]

also, make sure you're using the proper size for the job.

 

[dbfreak]

A vacuum pump serves well (one that is powered by a little electric pump). The manual spring loaded types are hit and miss and at time hard to work with putting some really hard shocks on the board. A braid is really useful and adding some additional flux on it helps with the process.

 

[Low Fidelity]

braid 90% of the time.

as previously posted....

the better the quality, the better it works. The size isnt' critical, but it can make or break your attempt.

I use a little more heat, but I don't go all nuclear on it. I try to move fast, fluxing helps a little, but it really depends upon what i'm desoldering and the quality of the braid.

I've never preheated and i've never had an issue with traces lifting when I use a braid.

 

[d-cee]

i don't do much DIY, just a little here and there

i use both braid and a pump, braid with smaller situations, pump when i have full access and lots of space

for through hole, most of the time i pump as much as i can, if the component still doesn't get out i will use braid until it does, and then use the pump once i have access to both sides of the hole

btw newb question but how does using flux help?

 

[holland]

Braids are metal, and as such form oxides on it. Flux helps to remove the oxides. Once removed, the solder will more readily flow into the braid. It's the same reason why one puts flux on pads.

Most solder is rosin-core (flux in the middle) to help "flow". However, once applied to the pad, the flux is removed. Most braids I've come across are flux infused, but some of the really fine mesh braids don't seem to have enough flux or none at all.

Edit: BTW, I spend no more than 5 sec of hold time on each pad when desoldering. If you're holding for 10 seconds, that's too much and can damage the traces/pads and active components, depending on the temperature.

 

[naamanf]

I vote for desoldering iron with an electric pump. After using a quality desoldering station you won't go back to braid/hand sucker again. Makes for easy one handed desoldering. Also makes soldering small ICs with the flood and suck method super easy. If you plan on doing a lot of soldering work it might be a good investment.

 

[fordgtlover]

naamf

do you have an example of one? You have got me interested - I've been doing lots of desoldering lately.

 

[tjohnusa]

When using braid a chisel tip works best...I also second the recomendation to use quality stuff...I like Chemwick.

 

[smegger]

i was look at desoldering irons the other night here is one dunno if they can be had for cheaper but they should be on the us farnell too.

http://onecall.farnell.com/jsp/Mecha...jsp?sku=838974

 

[naamanf]

I have the Pace MBT-250.

http://www.tessco.com/products/displ...67&eventPage=1

It is obviously on the expensive side and more than most DIYers would want to spend on a iron. I would think good deals could found on used equipment and stand alone desolering irons.