[DSP-10]

[kd7ts]

Hi Ron,

The pictures by Jiro San are excellent, and correct. The detail that 
might not be obvious from the photo is in the outline drawing, SOIC.GIF.

http://members.ispwest.com/kd7ts/soic.gif

To remove Integrated Circuits with many pins, I use a very hot iron 
with a small, and very well tinned tip. A small scalpel type tool or 
similar stainless steel tool is used to apply some force under the IC 
while wiping the iron down the line of pins on one side. This does not 
need to happen on the first pass, be patient, and make sure the board 
is not damaged by too much heat or too much force. Do the same for the 
other row of pins, and alternate between the rows, allowing time for 
the heat to dissipate. Solder bridges will likely be formed between 
adjacent pins, but are easily removed with solder "wick" after the IC 
has been removed.

The board is far more difficult to repair if a pad is lifted, or a 
trace is broken. The IC is cheap, and if its reuse is questionable, I 
would order a new part rather than subject the board to more stress by 
having to go through the process a second time. If everything went 
really well, and you are CERTAIN the part is re-usable, just remember 
I don't recommend re-using the part.

Hope this is useful, and maybe some one has a better method of 
removing parts.

73 Mike

KD7TS