Semi sophisticated desolderring tool

[tramcar trev]

Sick and tired of using solder wick and a purely manual solder sucker I found this; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1x-Black-Electronic-Disassembly-220V-30W-Irons-Solder-Sucker-Desoldering-Pump-/151018030987?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item232960478b&_uhb=1

Its at the right price.....

It would be good to desolder components when the board has plated through holes when solder wick just doesn't cut the mustard. Silly thing is I used to have a professional soldering station with a desoldering gun with it, but when we moved house I sold it......

 

[Beddhist]

I have used a mechanical desoldering device in the past. The principle was the same: depress the plunger, liquefy the solder with an iron, hold the nozzle against the solder point and push the button. It was surprisingly effective.

Whether 30W is enough is another story. I have a cheap 30W iron and I can only solder small wires. I wonder whether Chinese W are smaller than EU Watts...

 

[tramcar trev]

Minutes after that post my soldering iron died. I can get an entire new iron to fit my Doss station cheaper than just the element!!!
I think the 30 watts will do the job the fact that the tip has a hole in it so that the component lead fits inside it will help, should suck the solder up easily...
I was tossing up whether to get an entire new solder/desolder station for around $100..... Decided that I'd carry on with what I have....

 

[ExeterGeek]

After reading the above post I bought this..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40-Watt-Electronics-Soldering-Iron-Kit-Stand-Solder-Desolder-Accessories-40w/151238322605?_trksid=p5197.m2280&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D319%26meid%3D5073140559800947875%26pid%3D100068%26prg%3D1175%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D271404041250%26clkid%3D5073141372755250448&_qi=RTM1572015

My first soldering iron.... (at the ripe old age of 53!)

My partner had one many years before me for her stained glass leadwork, but thought I probably needed something finer for railway work.
Bought some secondhand track which had connecting wires soldered on and presumably just cut apart with bolt cutters or whatever.
First I need to desolder what is there to clean them and then use them.

Chris

 

[tramcar trev]

After reading the above post I bought this..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40-Watt-Electronics-Soldering-Iron-Kit-Stand-Solder-Desolder-Accessories-40w/151238322605?_trksid=p5197.m2280&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D319%26meid%3D5073140559800947875%26pid%3D100068%26prg%3D1175%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D271404041250%26clkid%3D5073141372755250448&_qi=RTM1572015

My first soldering iron.... (at the ripe old age of 53!)

My partner had one many years before me for her stained glass leadwork, but thought I probably needed something finer for railway work.
Bought some secondhand track which had connecting wires soldered on and presumably just cut apart with bolt cutters or whatever.
First I need to desolder what is there to clean them and then use them.

Chris

That would be quite adequate for finer work, electronics etc but a 40watt iron will have little effect on brass rail as it conducts the heat away too quickly. You need at least 80 watts to solder brass G scale rail, in fact I use a 100Watt iron on it but then gave up and use a micro torch as it has more heat output, not an expensive acquisition, see; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Butane-Gas-Torch-Burner-Auto-Ignition-Camping-Flamethrower-Welding-Soldering-BY-/200988738854?pt=AU_Outdoor_Living_BBQs_Cookware&hash=item2ecbdcc526&_uhb=1
It takes disposable gas cartridges available in camping and $2 shops

 

[tramcar trev]

This tool arrived and I have tested it. Works for me, very handy and inexpensive way to desolder not only wires/components from PCB's but if you take your time it will suck up solder from most joints. Came with a spare tip, a cleaning reamer and a spare O ring for the plunger. Spotted a similar item in a "Specialists Tool Shop" AU$89.95 the only difference I could see was that mine came with an AU power adapter but a pair of flat nose pliers soon had my one up to spec