I've been doing a few repairs lately on a handful of commercial pedals that often require desoldering faulty components. My main to techniques involve desoldering wick and a good old solder sucker.
Does anybody want tricks and tips on better using these methods more effectively? Especially on double-sided PCBs?
It's a bit counter-intuitive at first, but adding fresh solder to a stubborn joint can help sometimes.
Also, stainless steel dental pick can sometimes help.
Haven't tried these yet, but desoldering needles look interesting.
http://youtu.be/b_5HgsIGb2E
If you don't care about the part cut it out first. You can often pull the leads out just with a soldering iron and wire cutters. Then you just have to remove solder from the pad. Works really well.
Quote from: alanp on April 29, 2020, 06:20:46 AM
Also, stainless steel dental pick can sometimes help.
I have found dental picks to be very useful at opening up solder-filled pads/lugs after a part or wire has been removed. Simple heat the solder and wiggle the pick around and you are ready to go again.
But, yes, I second bean's suggestion of destroying the part and removing its leads/pins one at a time. It is the best way to ensure that you don't burn up the remaining parts/traces. There is a corollary: if you want to recycle a soldered part with multiple pins, the easiest way is to destroy the board.
Quote from: FuzzMonkey on April 29, 2020, 05:49:24 AM
Does anybody want tricks and tips on better using these methods more effectively? Especially on double-sided PCBs?
Appreciate any suggestions. And thanks to those who've posted already. I find de-soldering quite tricky
Quote from: alanp on April 29, 2020, 06:20:46 AM
It's a bit counter-intuitive at first, but adding fresh solder to a stubborn joint can help sometimes.
Also, stainless steel dental pick can sometimes help.
Stainless steel dental picks are endlessly useful, you'll wonder how you ever got by without having one handy at all times.
dave
Quote from: alanp on April 29, 2020, 06:20:46 AM
It's a bit counter-intuitive at first, but adding fresh solder to a stubborn joint can help sometimes.
I discovered that one works well with the desoldering wick.
Quote from: jubal81 on April 29, 2020, 07:28:10 AM
Haven't tried these yet, but desoldering needles look interesting.
Those desoldering needles do look interesting. My concern would be potentially damaging the plated through-holes. But they look easy enough to use.
Quote from: madbean on April 29, 2020, 12:35:55 PM
If you don't care about the part cut it out first. You can often pull the leads out just with a soldering iron and wire cutters. Then you just have to remove solder from the pad. Works really well.
Done that plenty of times.
Quote from: EBK on April 29, 2020, 01:07:25 PM
But, yes, I second bean's suggestion of destroying the part and removing its leads/pins one at a time. It is the best way to ensure that you don't burn up the remaining parts/traces. There is a corollary: if you want to recycle a soldered part with multiple pins, the easiest way is to destroy the board.
Yes. No point adding work to a pedal repair by then having to repair other parts or traces you've damaged while trying to remove a faulty component.
Quote from: JoeR3155 on April 29, 2020, 07:23:42 PM
Appreciate any suggestions. And thanks to those who've posted already. I find de-soldering quite tricky
+1.
Similar thread. I would not recommend the needles.
https://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=30940.0
Quote from: Aentons on April 30, 2020, 12:09:35 AM
Similar thread. I would not recommend the needles.
https://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=30940.0
Good to know.
I'm a big fan of soldering blades. The one I have can heat all three legs of a 16mm pot at the same time.
(https://www.newark.com/productimages/standard/en_US/4312305.jpg)
I have a desoldering gun with a vacuum pump on it. The thing is magic.
Quote from: skyled on May 01, 2020, 12:26:53 AM
I have a desoldering gun with a vacuum pump on it. The thing is magic.
Pic, please. ;)
Quote from: pickdropper on April 30, 2020, 09:48:10 PM
I'm a big fan of soldering blades. The one I have can heat all three legs of a 16mm pot at the same time.
(https://www.newark.com/productimages/standard/en_US/4312305.jpg)
I'll have to try one of those! Seems like you could burn a chip real quick with that thing if you are not careful. Do you use it when you are trying to reuse a part?
double post
Quote from: Aentons on May 01, 2020, 03:22:32 AM
Quote from: pickdropper on April 30, 2020, 09:48:10 PM
I'm a big fan of soldering blades. The one I have can heat all three legs of a 16mm pot at the same time.
(https://www.newark.com/productimages/standard/en_US/4312305.jpg)
I'll have to try one of those! Seems like you could burn a chip real quick with that thing if you are not careful. Do you use it when you are trying to reuse a part?
For me, it's more about trying to get the part cleanly off the board. It allows me to hit multiple pads at the same time. I generally use it more for pots and passives than anything else. As far as burning parts, it's basically just a big soldering iron so normal dwell time rules apply. Make sure to have plenty of solder on the blade tip and it goes faster.
For DIP ICs, it doesn't work as well as you really need to heat both sides of the IC at the same time. For that, I still use blades, but dual blades on soldering tweezers, like this one:
(https://www.jensentools.com/images/p/449-755.01_s500_p1._V70b1b2b7_.jpg)
I have an old Hakko desoldering gun I got from CultureJam, but I rarely use it. I have better luck with these. Opinions vary, so somebody else might feel exactly the opposite.
Quote from: pickdropper on May 01, 2020, 11:43:43 AM
soldering tweezers
8)!
I must remember that those exist. Just seeing the pic made me marginally happier in these dark times.
I would really like to see an array of soldering blades with a shaver handle though. Lift and desolder in a single stroke! ;D
Quote from: EBK on May 01, 2020, 12:35:56 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on May 01, 2020, 11:43:43 AM
soldering tweezers
8)!
I must remember that those exist. Just seeing the pic made me marginally happier in these dark times.
I would really like to see an array of soldering blades with a shaver handle though. Lift and desolder in a single stroke! ;D
Desoldering tweezers are magical. The blades actually get the least amount of use. I usually use the pointed tips. Wonderful for pulling two-legged passives.
Funny I was thinking not too long ago about trying to make a tool like the desoldering bar. I tried to kludge one together using buss wire but it failed hard.
Quote from: EBK on May 01, 2020, 12:35:56 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on May 01, 2020, 11:43:43 AM
soldering tweezers
8)!
I must remember that those exist. Just seeing the pic made me marginally happier in these dark times.
For some reason those seem like an April fool's joke. I wonder if you could ductape a couple of irons together...
Quote from: FuzzMonkey on May 01, 2020, 03:03:18 AM
Quote from: skyled on May 01, 2020, 12:26:53 AM
I have a desoldering gun with a vacuum pump on it. The thing is magic.
Pic, please. ;)
I think it's this exact model, but I only paid like $90 on ebay. Make sure you get one that's the right voltage though! Lots of ebay ones are set up for Chinese mains power.
https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Contained-Desoldering-Internal-Carrying/dp/B00PGFAJWS (https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Contained-Desoldering-Internal-Carrying/dp/B00PGFAJWS)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81rK-neHKSL._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
QuoteI think it's this exact model, but I only paid like $90 on ebay. Make sure you get one that's the right voltage though! Lots of ebay ones are set up for Chinese mains power.
Thanks. I've seen the Hakko FR-301 but they're really pricey. Is there much maintenance/cleaning required after use?
The only maintenance required is that after enough use you gotta clean the sucked up solder bits out of that cone-shaped spring. I rarely have to use it these days, and I've only cleaned it maybe 2-3 times in ~10 years.
Quote from: skyled on May 10, 2020, 05:41:23 AM
The only maintenance required is that after enough use you gotta clean the sucked up solder bits out of that cone-shaped spring. I rarely have to use it these days, and I've only cleaned it maybe 2-3 times in ~10 years.
I'm based in New Zealand, so will see if they make a 240-volt version.
So, about those desoldering needles - 100% crap. Threw them away. Better off with a toothpick or dental pick.
Quote from: jubal81 on May 25, 2020, 06:13:09 PM
So, about those desoldering needles - 100% crap. Threw them away. Better off with a toothpick or dental pick.
Good to know.