I have a number of useful chips on junk boards that I want
to use with some PIC Microcontrollers by Microchip, but am not
experienced on desoldering.  I know many boards are made with
lead solder, so I work in well ventilated areas.

Anyone know an easier way than prying ICs off while heating
the pins and still having a working chip at the end of it all?
Any solvents that eat solder? Maybe solvents that eat the
circuit board away? Some sort of oven arrangement? Magic?

On a related note.. anyone have tips on how to get the silicon
wafers out of dead ICs?  I have used tools to chip and scrape
away the black whatever and have about a dozen successes.  Yeah,
it took a long time, I destroyed a lot of (already dead) chips
and being slightly obsessive compulsive really helps after a
few hours of picking away at the case with a needle.  :-)
Perhaps something the (surprise!) eats away the case?

Happy New Year!

--
IanSmith@erie.net