[Elecraft] solder removers

[Tom Hammond NØSS]

Gotta agree with David on this point!

If you don't want to 'invest' (and is IS an investment, no getting around 
it)  in one of the several available 'motor-driven' vacuum pump desoldering 
tools, the GC Solder Popper is a much better choice than either desoldering 
wick or the non-heated plunger-type vacuum pumps.

However, having used a device similar to the CG, I must state that it AS 
important to keep the CG's heated nozzle clean of left over debris from 
previous desoldering activities. The nozzle of ANY vacuum-type desoldering 
tool must be kept clean and free of debris if it is to function properly. 
Additionally, one still must periodically clean all of the 'sucked out' 
solder from the 'catch tube'. So I don't see that the regular maintenance 
of the Hakko should significantly different from that of the CG.

Thanks for mentioning the CG Popper, Dave... it's a good device to have handy.

73,

Tom  N0SS

At 10:10 AM 1/12/03, David A. Belsley wrote:
>Several who have responded to me about the GC Solder Popper do not seem to 
>realize that the GC unit is, like the Hakko, a single unit with a hollow 
>tip that allows the desoldering operation to be done with a single hand 
>and without having to remove the heating element from the pad while the 
>solder sucking takes place.  Other than the fact that the GC unit uses a 
>spring-loaded pump instead of a motor operated pump, it is identical in 
>concept to the Hakko.  And while the GC unit's spring-loaded pump must be 
>recocked for each use, this is really a trivial operation.  Further, the 
>spring-loaded vacuum pump on the GC is very effective.  I have used this 
>unit on many, many occasions, and it has worked every time with a single 
>'shot'.  I will also say that the GC unit is extremely robust and easy to 
>care for and clean.  It does not require the exquisite care and feeding 
>that, to judge from some posts, the Hakko unit seems to require.  On the 
>other side, the continuous pump on the Hakko would clearly be an advantage 
>if one were trying to remove a series of  40-pin ICs.  But for most of the 
>more casual operations we Hams do, I think you'll find that the GC will 
>more than serve the need at a significantly lesser price.