[AH] Trim-pot debacle (ADVICE PLEASE!)

[Jim Patchell]

    I have been using this methode for 25 years.  You are doing great.  Why damage an
expensive or one of a kind printed wiring board just to save a $0.10 or less part.
Convincing the techs or an assemblers at the places I have worked over the years has
been difficult.  It is by far the best way I have found for removing parts.

    -Jim

Brett Duggan wrote:

> In my experience, any relatively cheap component that has more than 2
> solder connections to a PCB should be sacrificed (i.e. destroyed) so that
> you have access to both sides of the PCB.
>
> For example, let's say I need to replace a cheap 28-pin IC socket with a
> higher quality one.  I destroy the cheap socket by cutting into pieces
> with wire cutters (or a small saw, you get the picture), so that each
> piece only has one PCB solder connection.  Then I grab the piece on the
> top side of the PCB with a pair a pliers while I heat the solder
> connection on the trace side of the PCB with the iron.  The piece slides
> out easily.
>
> Now, if leftover solder is still plugging up the hole on the PCB, I heat
> it once more on the trace side while I use a solder sucker on the top
> side to suck it out.
>
> I do not know if this would be considered good procedure by any of the
> other DIY'ers, but I know that it works quite well for me.
>
> Good luck,
> Brett D
>