[sdiy] wick it, wick it good

[Ray Wilson]

I cut part leads off (close to the component so I have some lead to grab for the next step). Remove the part. Next I use a fine tweezer and the iron to remove the remaining component lead. After that I desolder the hole. 

I find that the thinner solder wick works best and I use it just as dispensed. I successfully desolder plated through holes with ease by putting the wick on top of the hole so I have at least 1/2" of clean wick on each side of the hole. I then apply the iron right over top of where the hole is under the wick. The iron should be the slightest bit wetted (have a coating of hot solder) and voila it sucks the solder up into the wick. You can see it flow in both directions into the wick. If you fail and there is a meniscus of solder left in the hold fill it back up with solder an try again. Don't keep trying to get that last little bit because a full hole is a more easily desoldered hole. Sometimes you will have better success from the top (for plated through holes).

Not puffing it up is the short answer.

Ray 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Loscha 
  To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 10:18 PM
  Subject: [sdiy] wick it, wick it good


  From asking people personally, I've gotten mixed responses ....

  when you use solder wick to de-solder, do you "puff it up" by pulling it side-ways a little before you use it, or, leave it how it came on the roll? 

  thanks:ed
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