Homebrew PCBs

On Sun, 30 May 2004 10:02:48 -0400, John Johnson <johnatl@...> wrote:

> I've had good luck cutting the board out around chips with
> a Dremel and cutting disc. You can also cut the board between
> the legs. For multi-layer boards with huge power planes,
> this makes it a lot easier to heat the chip legs to remove them.
> I use a shop torch, or a small kitchen torch.
>
> To bad we can't salvage that thru-hole plating and use it in
> our boards :-)
>
> Regards,
>    JJ
>

fastest is to use a hot air gun.
It can be done in a way which preserves the part AND component with little 
training,
even with throughhole plated boards.

You need to get a good hold of the component. I usually push a thin wire 
under it
and form a loop to pull at. then heat with the hot air gun and simply pull 
the component
out as soon as you hear a squealing noise when wiggling at the pulling 
wire.

If you have no heat gun use a small screwdriver to lever the part out 
while heating leg after
leg with a standard iron. apply additional solder. you need to go over the 
pins in turns, they
will give a slight amount each time.

If you need the board keep the screwdriver force really low, otherwise you 
will pull out
throughhole plating "tubes". (which you can't resuse i fear ;-) )

ST

ST