I plan to pick up a 25 watt pencil soldering iron, and I also want to get a desoldering tool while I am there.
I have essentially three choices, a bulb, a desoldering iron, and a vacuum desoldering tool.
Any recommendations for or against?
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich,
Were it me,,,,,I would pick,the Desoldering Bulb and use my 25 watt soldering iron to heat it,for that is what I used it for,desoldering components on Printed circuit boards,for radio CB's,amplifiers and TV's,tube type and Hybrid..
Cheers,
Frank
One advantage to the iron / bulb combo is you can use one hand. This may or may not be important to you but it is something to consider.
Jim
zstripe Rich, Were it me,,,,,I would pick,the Desoldering Bulb and use my 25 watt soldering iron to heat it,for that is what I used it for,desoldering components on Printed circuit boards,for radio CB's,amplifiers and TV's,tube type and Hybrid.. Cheers, Frank
Frank, that's it. If it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me.
One other question. Is the 45 watt desoldering iron also a soldering iron? It would appear so.
Soo Line fan One advantage to the iron / bulb combo is you can use one hand. This may or may not be important to you but it is something to consider.
Jim, I missed your reply, as it came in while I was replying to Frank.
You raise an excellent point.
Would you pick the combo over the bulb alone?
Seeing as how,,they don't call you Rich,for nothing,,,,buy them both,one for small jobs,one for big..
Cheaper than a box of Golf balls,,,LOL..
Heck, Frank, by virtue of that logic, I should buy all three.
Rich,buddy,You made my day,,,,LOL..
All kidding aside though,,,,they both,are very useful to have,,if you do a lot of soldering..
Frankie
richhotrain Soo Line fan One advantage to the iron / bulb combo is you can use one hand. This may or may not be important to you but it is something to consider. Jim, I missed your reply, as it came in while I was replying to Frank. You raise an excellent point. Would you pick the combo over the bulb alone? Rich
The combo is the one I own.
And I agree with Frank. Word has it your pockets are so deep they drag the ground.
I have used solder wick for many years on PC boards. I use to make my own with braid from small diameter coax cable braid and liquid rosin flux.
A spring loaded vacuum tool from Radio Shack for bigger jobs.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
RICHG1998,
I remember that one very well,,still have it,,once you got the hang of using it with one hand..Havn't used it in years though,my fingers would cramp up too easily..
Of the three choices, go with the Vacuum Desoldering Tool. SoldaPullit used to be a brand name. SolderSucker we used to call them. It sucks much harder than the rubber bulb. I wouldn't bother with the iron with a rubber bulb gizmo, it won't work as well as just the rubber bulb desolderer with your present soldering iron. And although the rubber bulb does work, the Soldersucker works a LOT better.
Not shown, but very effective, is solder wick. Just some copper braid which you lay on the molten solder to be removed . The solder wick sucks up molten solder by capillary action. Radio Shack has it, about $5, and it may be what you really want.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I found that the rubber bulb was not very effective. Many here are not aware of tube circuit days where you put the wire in the terminal a full 360 degrees and crimped it with needle nose pliers. Un-soldering those where a real challenge.
I wound up purchasing the bulb but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.
I do currently use the desoldering braid, but I am concerned about its use in tight spaces.
If the bulb does not work satisfactorily, I will try that vacuum Desoldering Tube.
Thanks to all for your replies.
RICH1998,
How well I know,what you are saying....How about a 6 position,ganged rotary switch??What's a tube??LOL..
zstripe RICH1998, How well I know,what you are saying....How about a 6 position,ganged rotary switch??What's a tube??LOL.. Cheers, Frank
A glass thing that burned your finger tips. lol
What exactly will you be unsoldering? Solder-Wick (braided copper ribbon) works great and comes in a variety of widths. If you are trying to remove components (resistors, caps, etc.) off a PC board, two soldering irons will do the trick then you can just clean it up with Solder-Wick. I do it all the time at work.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Rich, What exactly will you be unsoldering? Solder-Wick (braided copper ribbon) works great and comes in a variety of widths. If you are trying to remove components (resistors, caps, etc.) off a PC board, two soldering irons will do the trick then you can just clean it up with Solder-Wick. I do it all the time at work. Tom
Blobs of solder on decoder terminals.
Thanks for the clarification, Rich.
If you're just removing blobs of solder then a bulb or solder sucker will work. However, if you are wanting to remove the solder in "degrees" then I'd use solder-wick.
Bulbs and solder suckers are kinda all or nothing but solder-wick allows you more control over how much solder you remove. Your call on which one will work better in your application.