I like the 1.5mm (that is the hole size) tip for general desoldering. I
use the 'thin' 1mm tip for SMD rework, along with the hot air blowgun kit.
If you treat the tips well (keep them clean and unclogged!) they'll last
a long time. I'm still using the original 1mm standard tip on my older
desoldering gun.
My tips for using this tool: do not make the temperature any hotter
than absolutely necessary. I keep mine under 500C, usually around 450C.
Also, do not use paste flux to clean the tip or suction tube; the liquid
flux will be pulled into the filter wadding, gumming it up. Try not to
leave the gun on for long periods of time; this will wear out the tip/tube
faster..I clogged up a tip when I left the thing on over a weekend. Keep
the tip clean constantly, and tinned. The effectiveness of the tool
declines reapidly if the tip face is not wet with solder. When using it,
try to hold the tool level or with the tip pointed slightly upward--try to
avoid pointing the tip downward as this will increase the chance of
evacuated solder flecks falling back into the suction tube and clogging
it. There is a cleaning rod in the handle of the tool, use it whenever
the airflow sounds impaired--just make sure to cool the cleaning rod with
a damp paper towel or sponge before storing it in the handle again. For
more severe clogs, use the set of larger gauge cleaning rods that came
with the gun.
Next, some joints or pads may require ∗adding∗ a bit of solder to the
jucntion before the desoldering tool will effectively remove all the
solder. The idea is to get as much heat transfer through the joint so
that all the solder melts, then trigger the suction. Run it for about 2
seconds at a time, and pull the tip away from the board while the trigger
is still down to let air push the solder out of the tube and into the
collection cartridge. I sort of do 3 seconds to heat junction, 2 seconds
of suction and about 1/2 second of suction sustained after the tip is
pulled away from the board.
Oh, and 1-sided boards such as in the CS-50/60/80 are easy.
Plated-though boards are less easy to desolder, but with a clean tool tip
and the above notes, it is not difficult.
Clean the cartridge out after every session (not every single junction,
just at the end of a desoldering session. Make sure the small air slots
at the bottom of the cartridge aren't plugged with solder--you may have to
pull out the filter wadding to chisel out such solder.
Hope this helps,
Crow
/∗∗/
On Sat, 9 Oct 2004, ballendo wrote:
> Crow,
>
> I bought one of these years ago at a flea market in silicon valley.
> The man had two, one with a tip, and the other without. Thinking the
> tips would be an easy lathe project, I chose the one which kept more
> money in my pocket...
>
> And have regretted it ever since<G>
>
> What size tip(s) would you recommend for "normal" through hole work?
>
> Ballendo
>
> P.S. Any tips gained through use you'd like to share? Do you use
> yours for SMD work too?