[Boatanchors] HAKKO 808 Desoldering Gun

[Ken Kaplan]

Yep I've had similar problems getting a pad hot enough. That's why I 
suggest preheating the board. I use a good old & cheap Harbor Freight 
hot air gun. Also use firm pressure when placing the Hakko tip on a pad. 
Even then it sometimes helps to wiggle the component while unsoldering 
so the part lead is less likely to stick to the sides of the plate thru 
hole. Even after all of that, I've had to stick my Weller tip in the 
hole on one side of the board and the Hakko on the other to totally 
clear solder from the hole.

I've also used Soldapult tools. They work well but I've often had 
problems with the solder cooling before I could the the tip in position 
for a pull.

Ken

On 6/24/2020 4:09 AM, Paul Christensen wrote:
> The only problem I encounter with the Hakko 808 is that it often fails to
> remove all solder when trying to de-solder a component from a PC board
> ground pad - sometimes even with thermal pads that isolate from the ground
> pour.  The pour acts as a heat sink.  It would be helpful if the Hakko had a
> means to quickly boost temperature for those applications.  As I recall,
> there's a temp adjustment but I'm suggesting a quick means to boost the tip
> temperature.  I also agree with the suggestion that the cylinder passageway
> should be cleaned immediately after use with the long piercing wire that's
> supplied by Hakko.
>
> I also use several Soldapult tools.  When I worked for RKO Radio out of
> college, my boss taught me to use silicone spray to clean the cylinder and
> O-ring.  Cleaning is complete if you can place the Soldapult tip onto the
> palm of your hand and when the plunger is released, it should not move until
> the tip breaks from the hand.
>
> My first de-soldering station was made by Ungar.  Horrible device.  The tip
> would quickly clog and cleaning was difficult.  After a short period time,
> the vacuum pump failed.  It was easier to throw it in the trash than send it
> back to Ungar.  That was back in the late 1980s.  Since then, Soldapults and
> wick have been used here until I purchased the Hakko a few years ago.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>