The "right" tool for removing IC pins

[PDouglas12]

There has been much talk here and on other lists about the safe/correct way
to remove ICs from circuit boards.   Conventional ICs (as opposed to the
surface mount jobs, which are another whole animal) can be removed cleanly and
easily with a vacuum desoldering machine.  Handheld vacuum poppers are not a good
substitute for a motorized desoldering machine.   For one thing, the popper's
recoil will pull it off the work as it discharges.   If you've ever used or
seen one of these desoldering machines in action, they are nothing short of
amazing.   You put the tip over a pin, and it sucks the hole clean and dry in a
fraction of a second.   Do this fourteen times, and the IC can be easily removed
intact with two fingers.   The holes left behind are so clean that a new IC
will drop right in as if they were virgin.  

So, if you're building your dream K2, and you make an IC mistake, you want to
find a local ham who has one of these machines.   They're too expensive
(upwards of $200 used) to buy for a one-shot deal, but they are the kind of tool
you'd want around a serious workbench--kind of like a good oscilloscope.   And
they require maintenance.

My suggestion is to get on the local repeater and ask who has one, rather
than trying to wrestle the pins out of a hot circuit board.   If you're local to
me (Long Island) just ask.   I have a working desoldering machine.   Yes, you
can clean out an IC using a combination of solder wick and vacuum poppers; but
you will almost certainly do some damage to the traces/holes in the process,
particularly on boards with plated through holes.   Better to find someone to
give you a couple of minutes of time with a desoldering machine.  

72,

Preston Douglas WJ2V
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Preston and all,

Good advice, but remember when considering de-soldering anything that the
value of the individual component (no matter how expensive) is very small
compared to the value of the board with all the other mounted components.
So if you do not have one of these de-soldering tools, the best method is to
waste the component by cutting off its mounting leads and then remove the
remaining bits from the board one at a time.  While it may be inconvenient
to wait for a new component, doing so will protect your investment (both
time and money) in the remainder of the board.  Even with a Hakko 808 in
residence here, I sometimes resort to cutting the component leads myself if
removal becomes a bit troublesome.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> There has been much talk here and on other lists about the
> safe/correct way
> to remove ICs from circuit boards.   Conventional ICs (as opposed to the
> surface mount jobs, which are another whole animal) can be
> removed cleanly and
> easily with a vacuum desoldering machine.  Handheld vacuum
> poppers are not a good
> substitute for a motorized desoldering machine.   For one thing,
> the popper's
> recoil will pull it off the work as it discharges.   If you've
> ever used or
> seen one of these desoldering machines in action, they are
> nothing short of
> amazing.   You put the tip over a pin, and it sucks the hole
> clean and dry in a
> fraction of a second.   Do this fourteen times, and the IC can be
> easily removed
> intact with two fingers.   The holes left behind are so clean
> that a new IC
> will drop right in as if they were virgin.
>
> So, if you're building your dream K2, and you make an IC mistake,
> you want to
> find a local ham who has one of these machines.   They're too expensive
> (upwards of $200 used) to buy for a one-shot deal, but they are
> the kind of tool
> you'd want around a serious workbench--kind of like a good
> oscilloscope.   And
> they require maintenance.
>
> My suggestion is to get on the local repeater and ask who has one, rather
> than trying to wrestle the pins out of a hot circuit board.   If
> you're local to
> me (Long Island) just ask.   I have a working desoldering
> machine.   Yes, you
> can clean out an IC using a combination of solder wick and vacuum
> poppers; but
> you will almost certainly do some damage to the traces/holes in
> the process,
> particularly on boards with plated through holes.   Better to
> find someone to
> give you a couple of minutes of time with a desoldering machine.
>
> 72,
>
> Preston Douglas WJ2V

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