[Elecraft] Weller WTCPT/WTCPK desoldering vacuum

[Don Wilhelm]

Tony and all,
If you have a source of compressed air, you can easily make a vacuum suction
device!

Recall that air blowing over the end of a tube will create a vacuum in that
tube - just like blowing over the end of a straw will cause a liquid in the
straw to rise.

So, take one of those air blower tip tools (use one with an easy to operate
handle - preferably one without the OSHA required side vent safety holes if
you can find one - or block the holes), attach it to one end of a tube so
that the air jet blows over the end of the tube - attach a piece of hose to
the end of the tube away from the blower tool and connect to the solder
sucker - heat the joint and press the button on the air blower to suck the
solder away (make certain the length of hose is sufficient to contain the
molten solder - about 2 feet seems about right to me).
The relationship between the pressure in your compressed air stream and the
diameter of the tube which you blow the air over will influence the amount
of suction that you achieve, so some old ham-spirited experimentation may be
in order.  I have had good luck with 120 psi of air through a 1/16 inch
orfice firing over a 1/4 inch tube YMMV.

IMPORTANT PS:
And yes, for safety sake, construct a box around this device to keep it from
spewing out any solder chunks or blowing an air stream into places you may
not want it to go.

73,
Don W3FPR
----- Original Message ----- >
> My question is; has anybody tried to use a motorized vacuum
> pump, either mounted on the tool, or separate via a tube, and how would
> the vacuum be switched on and off? Also, what suitable small vacuum
> motors are available? I believe that the Hakko vacuum motor sells for
> about $75 which is a bit pricey and I am not sure that it is adaptable.
>
> Air is free. Lack of air (a vacuum) costs money! I guess you
> could call it shipping charges! Would that be "air" freight?
>