why does desoldering braid work like crap?

[aeriyn]

^

using this braid is impossible to pull this damn socket out. it's not getting all the solder out.

first my rail splitter blew. now a pin broke off the opamp adapter and got stuck in the damn socket. this amp is trying to drive me insane, I think.

 

[Dreamslacker]

I've found the Hakko and Goot brands of desoldering wicks to work really well. You'd also need a decent iron with preferably a larger tip for larger contact area and higher thermal thrust.

 

[aeriyn]

the problem with the braid is getting the solder that is down inside the hole keeping the lead still stuck.

I kinda need a midnight (actually 2 am) solution.

I really don't want to wreck this amp board. ; ; just everything has been going wrong with it.

 

[Dreamslacker]

Put more solder onto the pad and let it seep into the hole. Then place the desoldering wick onto the top of the pad and heat up with the iron. Try to maneuver the tip so that more area is in contact with the wick.

 

[aeriyn]

it doesn't work.

meh. gonna probably wreck this one too. >.<

 

[skyskraper]

with wick braid i find its all about practice. i like combining it with a solder sucker too. for something like a socket id use a sucker then clean it up afterwards with braid....

 

[skyskraper]

if you really cant get it out then id clip the socket leads and then use wick to pull the pins out.

how come u need to get the socket out?

 

[aeriyn]

I got the socket off, but I've still got holes plugged up with solder (and little bits of socket lead, thanks to my oh so scientific PMSing girl method of breaking the damn thing off) so I'm thinking I need a solder sucker.

I needed it out because a browndog adapter broke a pin off and it got stuck down in the socket, rendering it useless.

 

[MaxW]

LOL, I *tried* using braid once and found it most frustrating too

 

[roadbuster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeriyn first my rail splitter blew. now a pin broke off the opamp adapter and got stuck in the damn socket. this amp is trying to drive me insane, I think.

Aren't females supposed to have a soft touch?

Quote:

the problem with the braid is getting the solder that is down inside the hole keeping the lead still stuck.

The best thing to use when you need to get solder out of a hole is to either blow it out with compressed air, or pull it out with a solder sucker. Desoldering braid won't be of much use when you have a pool of solder in a basin.

Quote:

I really don't want to wreck this amp board. ; ; just everything has been going wrong with it.

Just mail it to someone on the board who is willing to fix it for you

 

[Garbz]

I personally have recently started using Goot soldier braid which works like a charm. Alternatively use my old method, whack the tip into the hole and leave it there for about 10 sec. When you remove the tip the soldier should still be wet. Blow. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

 

[meithkiller]

I'm very happy with my solder sucker. I got it quite a few years ago at MCM for only $25-30 IIRC. It has saved me a lot of frustration over the years.

-Keith

 

[aeriyn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meithkiller I'm very happy with my solder sucker. I got it quite a few years ago at MCM for only $25-30 IIRC. It has saved me a lot of frustration over the years. -Keith

Solder sucker sounds like the answer. Btw, I love the quote in your signature. That movie is the best!

 

[Daroid]

Drill it out, works even for me. Use a 0.8-1.0 mm drill. If the PCB has copper troughout the hole, it will go off, but usualy doen't make that much difference as long as you use a single sided PCB and don't drill the same hole out many times.

 

[Dreamslacker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeriyn Solder sucker sounds like the answer. Btw, I love the quote in your signature. That movie is the best!

Yes, a solder sucker will do the job. You'll want to use a vice or healping-hands to hold the board vertical. On one side, put the solder suker tip flush to the hole, then heat the solder from the other side and activate the sucker. I didn't suggest this since you mentioned you didn't have a desoldering pump.

Another technique is to get really thin desoldering braid (<1mm)and stick it into the hole with a similarly thin solder iron tip.