the best way to desolder the ic and save the pcb traces from pulling from the pcb is a liquid flux or paste made for electronic work. the one recommended for wave soldering machines the kind used for plumbing copper piping is very acidic in nature, and I do not recommend it. the flux I use is organic in nature (same as the flux in water based solder 63/37..) this allows heat around the ic pin and then the solder bulb or solderpullit device to be used. although just remember only 8 seconds max is allowed for heat. alternate the pin sequence 1-3-5..etc. and then using needle pliers or pick probe( yuck dentists) make sure the pin is movable and free before trying to remove the ic. this works best for me.. Ps the organic flux is water based so rinse with hot water from sink and blow dry...sounds simple -----Original Message----- From: Dan Michaels To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Date: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 1:30 PM Subject: Re: [OT]: Desoldering 16F877 >Dale Botkin wrote: >>On Tue, 5 Jun 2001, David Dunn wrote: >........ >>> How about those rubber-bulb things with a soldering iron mounted on >>> I've seen at Radio Shack, do they work worth a darn ? >> >>Oddly, yes. I have one and it works fine -- again, it takes some >>practice. As with all of the above methods, though, the primary >>requirement is PATIENCE and taking care not to just attack it with a 750 >>degree iron. >> > >I have used this type too, and feel it is preferable to the unheated >bulb types. Works best if the sucker endpiece is placed over the >suckee area in such a way as to make a good seal. However, these >jobbers do get quite hot, [and being Radio Shack] the tips tend >to deteriorate too quickly, and the seal suffers. Might help to >use a heat controller [triac, etc]. > >best regards, >- dan michaels >www.oricomtech.com >========================= > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList >mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu