Desoldering Guns - Do They Work?

[jls001]

Every now and then, one needs to desolder components from circuit boards.

Do desoldering guns work well? I am asking because the last one I tried was one score years ago, and it didn't really work for me. May be I had an el cheapo model. I remember it had plasticky barrels and spring actuated suction. It didn't suck that well:lol:

Can someone recommend a fine desoldering gun, please?

 

[sarith]

Every now and then, one needs to desolder components from circuit boards.

Do desoldering guns work well? I am asking because the last one I tried was one score years ago, and it didn't really work for me. May be I had an el cheapo model. I remember it had plasticky barrels and spring actuated suction. It didn't suck that well:lol:

Can someone recommend a fine desoldering gun, please?

Yes, they are pretty useful. I have used MX desoldering pump and is a good choice

 

[koushik]

Yes, I too have the MX one and they work well for me for the coarser joint. Very fine soldering point may not be get sucked by cheapo desoldering pump.

 

[sachu888]

Hakko 808 works wonder,but its not cheap.There is a group offer on Audiokarma,De soldeing pumps are not that good.There was also one cheaper de soldering iron on Ebay/Radioshack IIRC.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

They may be better than nothing --- which is what I used last time I de-soldered, simply prizing off the component whilst the solder was molten. Next time I'll try one ...and I'll get some solder wick as well. Either or both just might ever-so-slightly improve my famously bad soldering/desoldering skills

 

[sarith]

and I'll get some solder wick as well

De-soldering wick is what I use on small solder joints. De-soldering pump on the bigger joints

 

[greenhorn]

I bought a generic one when I was in college. Never got the hang of it. Recently bought an MX after trying to remove huge blobs of solder off a board, and it worked beautifully.

 

[jls001]

The tide seems to be flowing in favour of the MX. I will go try my luck tomorrow. Thanks all for the suggestion. And I will pick up a wick too.

 

[silking]

sometimes desoldering gun is very useful in soldering process.l use MX (mx 129) .It works fine!

 

[jls001]

Bought the MX 129 today

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

 

[sachu888]

Bought the MX 129 today

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

Hi Joshua,
Its a desoldering pump.I thought you were looking for a desldering gun.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[omishra]

Bought the MX 129 today

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

This is same model I am using. For good parts I use this pump, for gone parts I just melt the metal and pull component out leg by leg. Then clean the place using wick.

 

[IndianEars]

for gone parts I just melt the metal and pull component out leg by leg. Then clean the place using wick.

Just a suggestion......

Since you will be throwing away the 'gone' part, the priority would be to cause as little Trauma to the PCB tracks.

I would suggest that you CUT all the Component legs, BEFORE desoldering. Then heat and remove the leg stubs. That will preserve the PCB better.....

 

[jls001]

Its a desoldering pump.I thought you were looking for a desldering gun.

And I thought they're one and the same?

And I forgot to get myself desoldering wick.

 

[sjith]

for perfection

use desoldering pump first for removing the bulk molten lead

then use the wick for fine cleaning or to remove small quantities left out after pumping

apply a very small quantity of flux on the lead to remove it easily

be careful, overhating lead to removal of the tracks from pcb