Desoldering: Wick or Pump?

[IronChef]

Just wondering which method you guys recommend for removing solder from monitors (or in general) for a beginger?

Wick looks like it does a great job, but I keep reading about it putting to much heat onto boards... and the pump looks easy, but not always as effective?

Thanks.

[JoeB]

Depends on the amount of solder needed to be removed.

If you're working with tiny surface mount devices, then wick is the only way to do it.  If you're removing components that are soldered with a lot of solder, the a pump is the only way to do it. (e.g. a big capacitor on the MB would get a cleaner job with a pump).

Hope this helps.

[RandyT]

Just wondering which method you guys recommend for removing solder from monitors (or in general) for a beginger?

Wick looks like it does a great job, but I keep reading about it putting to much heat onto boards... and the pump looks easy, but not always as effective?

Well, you have to put a good amount of heat in there no matter which method you choose.  For a beginner, I recommend the wick.  Only hold the iron on the contact until you see the solder stop flowing through the wick.  Any longer and you are just putting heat into the board unnecessarily.

Don't try to get too much mileage from the wick.  If you get some solder on it, clip off the used section with some cutters and use to a fresh section.

Another tip....if you have trouble getting the last tiny bit of solder out of a through hole, adding more solder on top and trying again can sometimes help.

You might also want to look at the Radio Shack desoldering tool.  It's like a soldering iron with a built-in sucker.  They are cheap and work surprisingly well if you have a number of points to de-solder.

Good Luck,
RandyT

[Ken Layton]

For me wicks are awful. I use a desoldering vacuum tool (Soldapullt # DS017) exclusively. Radio Shack # 64-2098 is also a good vacuum type desoldering unit and priced reasonably, too. Keep them cleaned (internally) and lubed with Vaseline on the o-rings and they last a long time.

[CitznFish]

I['m using the alum. rqadio shack one right now, and either it sucks or i don't know how to do it. Only once have I got it to suck up any solder.  

[PacManFan]

The wick is the only way top go, Take a section of the wick, and spread it out. Put it over the area that you want to de-solder, and apply the heat from the soldering iron directly onto the wick which is on top of the part to de-solder. You'll see the solder literally get sucked right into the braid.

As stated, don't try to absorb too much solder into the wick in the same spot.

-PMF

[Stingray]

Looks like you should just try both and see which you like better. Personally I prefer the vacuum type over the wick.

-S