Solder suckin' fun (was Texas Instruments IC's)

[KA4HJH]

>I'd toss in a roll of solder wick (braid) in small or medium (both?) width.
>Sometimes that
>Soldapult will let you down... I use the braid MUCH more than the Soldapult...
>
>OTOH I have the old "non-safe" unit with the exposed plunger... Pop yourself
>right in the face if you aren't careful...  (or goose the spouse with it - )

That's the best kind, although I normally use my "one-hander" because 
it's around. Do you have the rubber boot that goes on the end of the 
plunger? It doesn't help much but makes you look more together, as 
most people lose them. I don't think I've ever bopped myself, and 
I've used one thousands of times.

Try putting a short piece of teflon tubing over the tip. It's a bit 
mushy so it's more trouble to get it in place and keep it from 
collapsing, but it sucks up a lot more solder between cleanings. This 
is a high-production trick.


OTOH, I hate solder wick because I always burn myself. But there are 
times when it works a lot better.


-- 
Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"