[Elecraft] Re: Desoldering Techniques

[Mike Fitzgibbon]

Esteemed Fellow E-crafters...

    One useful technique often employed here at the MJF Radio Labs to 
remove solder from those pesky little holes is to snip off a chunk of 
desoldering braid(6-10 mm or so) and position it on the hole with a pair 
of tweezers, hemostats, etc.  Then, using a hot iron( I use a small 800 
F conical tip in the WTCPT for about everything on circuit boards) press 
the braid into the hole a bit and quickly turn the board UPSIDE DOWN 
while holding the braid snugly against the hole with the iron.  Hold it 
there for a moment.  A puff of smoke from the flux in the braid often 
indicates things are "flowing" well. I then remove the iron and braid 
while the board is still inverted.  Yes, you probably think that sounds 
clumsy, but I do it all the time...it just takes a practice run or two 
to develop your technique.  Often it helps to add a bit of solder to the 
hole to bring the solder up to the top of the hole so you can obtain 
sufficient contact for the heat transfer.  This is what I usually do if 
there are just a couple of holes to open up.

    As far as desoldering irons go... have two:  A $75 Weller with a 
bulb and a Radio Shack, also a bulb type that cost less than $20.  Guess 
which one works the best?  Yup...RS.  Don't ask me why...their tips are 
quite similiar.  Maybe the RS iron gets hotter...

          Mike N0MF
          Mo. Valley, IA