Adventures in unsoldering

[simonbaker]

A while back opened my Compadre to take pictures of PCB.

Now I go to put together, but pot wire came off PCB.

Want to solder, but tiny bit of old wire is in hole.

For some reason, very hard to melt solder. Different solder on surface mount PCB????

Try solder sucker, but way too clumsy for tight space.

Finally I put solder iron on back side of PCB and try to pull tuft of wire with needle nose pliers. Everything flopping around, real b****ch. Solder doesn't want to melt. Might as well try to get ingrown hair out of nose...

Finally get it out though. Now another wire broke off during the thrash.

This one real b***d. Try to push wire through hole with pin while applying heat with iron -- won't go. Try to clean off solder, just a skim left, but won't melt, won't let go.

Finally, I add new solder to hole. Now everthing melts better, I can pull tuft of wire out, and push new one in.

Sometimes the opposite idea works.

-SB

P.S. also, at some time I lost the little magic nut that slots inside the case for attaching the box to pole with bolt. Where is it?... turning house upside down. Finally use new nut and bolt -- trying to hold nut with needle nose deep in box, can't see, pushing new bolt, trying to use screwdriver, everything slipping... better not to open box in first place!

(movie rights pending...)

[greybeard]

as you've found sometimes adding some fresh solder actually gets the job done.
another alternative to try when a solder sucker doesn't seem to work is soderwik ( flux impregnated copper mesh ) that sucks up the solder.

but, no matter what you use i have found that eventually you need to add some fresh solder to keep things working.


ps. waiting for the pics

[jwms]

I use canned air a lot. Heat, blast. sometimes the wire comes out and end up with a clean hole. PS. Don not do this in the living room!!!! Wifey will get really really REALLY MAD. I use a piece of foam rubber with a well in it the catch the stuff so it does not get all over the work table.

[SmugWimp]

I echo Greybeards sentiments. Solderwik is my go to removal accessory. Usually far easier than a solder sucker.

Cheers!

-- Smug

[Davor]

Ditto! Solder wick is my favourite too.