I do a fair amount of "mobile repair" (servicing coin operated games) and a
spring loaded pluger sucker is my best friend.

Replace the tip when it gets deformed, you can lightly lub the plunger &
gasket for better performance.

Use a good soldering iron, pencil point.  Push the leg from one side of the
hole to the other while heating & then suck it clean, go to the next pin.

After doing all the pins, re visit each pin & push it back to the other side
of the hole, this should free it from the hole if you did a good job
removing the solder.

Gently pry up on the chip, pay close attention to the power & ground traces
as these are usually bigger & sink you heat while desoldering (and don't
suck as clean as other pins).

No I don't have 100% success either, once in a blue moon I will pull a
trace, but for $8.00 and a bit of practice it is the best of the cheap
methods for me.

Kev



> Anybody have tips on removing a 16F877 from a PCB without destroying the
board ? (i don't have one of those expensive
> desoldering stations)
>
> I know those spring-loaded plunger types are useless, they will ruin a PCB
99% of the time.

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