On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 03:39:54 -0500, Peter Todd wrote:
> And if I am going to take things apart, how the heck do you reliably 
> desolder pins from through-hole plated circuit boards? I've always 
> found the solder sticks too well for solder-wick to remove it. Using
> those solder suckers is a nice theory, but the joints cool before I
> can position them and release. Unfortunately if I manage to damage
> any of the pins, I've really got to then take off the led modules to
> solder in new pins as the joints are obscured...

I know how *I* would do it. This is one of those "right tool for the
right job" issues. I fought this same problem many times over the years
and finally asked the advice of some of my contract assembly guys -- I
figured they must have to deal with this all the time.

Their advice? "The only way to easily and safely desolder through hole 
pins is with the right tool". Several of them recommended one of these:

http://www.hakkousa.com/products.asp?PID=808&Page=1

They make really short work of through hole pins and component leads. I
can typically desolder a DB-9 connector in less than a minute. I've
never pulled a PCB pad or damaged a board in the process either.

Since I've had the tool I have found I use it a lot more than I thought
I would. It does a great job on connector and header pins and it has
been worth it's weight in gold removing faulty electrolytic caps from
PC motherboards. If you've ever tried to desolder these, they are
almost impossible because of very tiny pads and solder connections to
internal ground planes.

It may seem like a "pricey" tool, but I almost never pay anywhere near
retail price for tools, thanks to Google and internet shopping. Ebay is
good too. I found a brand new Hakko 808 desoldering tool for $89 on
Ebay. I also picked up a brand new 850D hot air rework station for less
than half retail price on Ebay as well.

If you can't afford to buy the tool (or a similar one) then maybe you
know someone in the contract manufacturing business? They will almost
certainly have the proper desoldering tool and might desolder your
board as a favor to you.

Doing it any other way will end up being very time consuming and most
likely result in damage to your PCB assemblies.

Matt Pobursky
Maximum Performance Systems

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