[sdiy] Removing ICs without damaging them

[harry bissell]

If the board is REALLY trash...

straighten the pins carefully while heating with a soldering iron

Grasp the IC from the component side with some tool... they make some
for removing ICs... but you might adapt pliers or tweezers.

hold the PCB in a vice

Heat the solder side gently with a propane torch. ALL the solder at the
IC pins will melt at the same time. Pull the IC.

It will happen so fast that the IC will never have time to overheat... 
the PCB
will protect from direct flame.

If you overdo the heat, the board will burn. Do it outside, if possible...

I did this to about thirty boards, last week... to remove some SIP 
Hybrid ICs
that cost about $15 each... four per board. No problems or pin breakage 
etc...
not bad for 15 minutes work !!!

H^) harry

Paul Perry wrote:
> If you have double sided boards, it's pretty difficult even
> with braid. Since the board is a writeoff, it might help to 
> nibble the board away from the chip.
> In any case, a lot of practice is called for before trying to 
> remove a valuable chip intact.
> Mind you, most people here would be more dextrous than I.
>
> paul perry melbourne australia
> (looking at a 13 legged CEM chip...)
>
>   
>> Use Solder-Wick which is a copper desoldering braid. Place the wick on
>> the solder
>> joint, the tip of your iron on the wick. All of the solder from the
>> pad and hole wicks
>> into the braid. Purchase a couple of different widths for different
>> size solder joints.
>>
>>     
>
>
>
>