Knowledge

Desoldering

Source 📝

533: 525: 434: 330: 683:, an alloy which melts at around 140 °F (62 °C), lower than the boiling point of water. The metal is melted into the solder joints of the device, where it remains liquid even once cooled down to room temperature, and the chip can simply be lifted off the board. This has the advantage of not damaging the PCB or the IC, although the solder joints must be carefully cleaned of any remaining Field's metal to maintain solder joint strength after resoldering. 637: 580:(DIP), the pins are too short to pull out, and solder melted on one joint will solidify before another can be melted. A technique sometimes used is the use of a large soldering-iron tip designed to melt the solder on all pins at once; different tips are required for different packages. The component is removed while the solder is molten, most easily by a spring-loaded puller attached to it before heating. 113: 215: 25: 290: 426: 489: 66: 620:
heat the component, with nearby components shielded from the heat if necessary, followed by removal with tweezers or a vacuum tool. Removal of multi-pin components with a soldering iron and solder removal tools is impractical, as the solder between the component and the pads remains in place, unlike solder which can be removed from a hole.
619:
The entire board may be preheated to a temperature that all components can withstand indefinitely. Then localised heat is applied to the component to remove, with less heating required than from cold. Most frequently, a hot air (or hot gas) gun, with a nozzle of appropriate size and shape, is used to
556:
Desoldering requires application of heat to the solder joint and removing the molten solder so that the joint may be separated. Desoldering may be required to replace a defective component, to alter an existing circuit, or to salvage components for re-use. Use of too high a temperature or heating for
375:
Terminology is not totally standardised. Anything with a base unit with provision to maintain a stable temperature, pump air in either direction, etc., is often called a "station" (preceded by rework, soldering, desoldering, hot air); one, or sometimes more, tools may be connected to a station, e.g.,
569:
A component with one or two connections to the PCB can usually be removed by heating one joint, pulling out an end of the component while the solder is molten (bending the other lead to do so), and repeating for the second joint. Solder filling the hole can be removed with a pump or with a pointed
401:
connections from a PCB. The desoldering head must be designed so that the extracted solder does not solidify so as to obstruct it, or enter the pump, and can be removed and discarded easily. It is not possible to remove a multi-pin part by melting solder on the pins sequentially, as one joint will
615:
Otherwise, surface-mount components must be removed by heating the entire component to a temperature sufficient to melt the solder used, but not high or prolonged enough to damage the component. For most purposes, a temperature not exceeding 260 °C (500 °F) for a time not exceeding 10
627:
Portasol Professional which can be fitted with a narrow hot-air nozzle, set to a temperature not controlled but approximately correct, to an industrial rework station with many facilities including hot-gas blowing, vacuum part holding, soldering iron head, and nozzles and fitting specific to
599:
To remove and recover all components, both through-hole and surface-mount, from a board which itself is usually no longer needed, a flame or hot air gun can be used to rapidly heat all parts so they can be pulled off. Parts may be damaged, and toxic fumes emitted, if excessive temperature or
408:
Hot air pumps blow air hot enough to melt all the solder around a small surface mounted part, and can be used for soldering parts in place, and for desoldering followed by removal before the solder solidifies by a vacuum pump or with tweezers. Hot air has a tendency to
476:
which is pushed down and locks into place. When triggered by pressing a button, the piston springs up, creating suction that sucks the solder off the soldered connection. The bulb type creates suction by squeezing and releasing a rubber bulb.
676:. This system prevents damage to the pads on the PCB, the IC, avoids overheating surrounding components and blowing them off and also reduces the risk of operator error when using tweezers or other tools that can damage the PCB or IC. 595:
connecting the layers, as this will ruin the entire board. Hard pulling on a lead which is not entirely free of solder (or with solder not thoroughly molten in the case of a soldering iron tip heating all pins) may pull out a via.
583:
Otherwise all joints must be freed from solder before the component can be removed. Each joint must be heated and the solder removed from it while molten using a vacuum pump, manual desoldering pump, or desoldering braid.
655:
or a high-rpm craft tool, simply by cutting off the leads. The stubs are then easy to melt off and clean with a soldering iron. Obviously this technique entails the destruction of the IC. Another method is to use a
548:. The braid is removed while the solder is still molten, its used section cut off and discarded when cool. Short lengths of cut braid will prevent heat being carried away by the braid instead of heating the joint. 664:
and heat up a corner, and gently pry it off, working the torch down the leads. This method often leads to traces getting lifted off the PCB where a lead did not get heated enough to cause the solder to flow.
651:(IC); usually a square IC. Removal of these chips can be problematic as it is impossible to heat all of the leads at once with a standard soldering iron. It is possible to remove them with the use of a 576:
Components with more connections cannot be removed intact in the way described above unless the wire leads are long and flexible enough to be pulled out one by one. For a component such as a
672:. The extractor uses a spring system that gently pulls the IC upward when the liquid stage of solder has been reached. The IC is held by a vacuum nozzle similar to the ones used in 730: 376:
a rework station may accommodate a soldering iron and hot air head. A soldering iron with a hollow tip and a spring-, bulb-, or electrically-operated suction pump may be called a
405:
Suction pumps are also used with a suction head appropriate for each part to pick up and remove tiny surface mount devices once solder has melted, and to place parts.
668:
Several vendors offer systems that use heat shields to concentrate hot air where it needs to be, protecting nearby components and avoiding damage to the board or the
812: 402:
solidify as the next is melted; pumps and solder wick are among methods to remove solder from all joints, leaving the part free to be removed.
87: 74: 756:"Typical guidelines on SMT soldering, Welwyn: "Components with Pb-free finish may be reflowed with peak temperatures of 260°C (10 seconds)."" 714: 734: 397:
Suction pumps are used to suck away molten solder, leaving previously joined terminals disconnected. They are primarily used to release
540:
The end of a length of braid is placed over the soldered connections of a component being removed. The connections are heated with a
792: 276: 258: 196: 52: 755: 573:
If a multi-pin component need not be salvaged, it is often possible to cut the pins, then remove the residual ends one by one.
532: 731:"Terminology: commercial equipment described as "hot air system" with "suction pen" (in this case a vacuum-style IC handler)" 225: 134: 177: 149: 130: 38: 156: 609: 240: 524: 163: 673: 588: 236: 123: 79: 561:
trace and the board substrate. Techniques are different for through-hole and surface-mounted components.
450: 433: 314: 145: 329: 623:
Hot air (or gas) may be applied with tools ranging from some portable gas soldering irons such as the
362:
Various picks and tweezers for tasks such as pulling at, holding, removing, and scraping components.
577: 508: 807: 648: 788: 759: 710: 704: 644: 592: 680: 545: 44: 647:(QFP) chips have thin leads closely packed together protruding from the four sides of the 636: 612:
can be removed by cutting their leads and desoldering the remnants with a soldering iron.
558: 480:
The pump is applied to a heated solder connection, then operated to suck the solder away.
469: 382:. Terms such as "suction pen" may be used; the meaning is usually clear from the context. 318: 170: 394:
are used for several purposes in conjunction with a hand-held head connected by a tube.
541: 368: 294: 570:
object made of a material which solder does not wet, such as stainless steel or wood.
801: 591:
on double-sided or multi-layer boards, special care must be taken not to remove the
785:
Junkbots, Bugbots & Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots with BEAM Technology
661: 624: 398: 488: 461:
style. (An electrically-operated pump for this purpose would usually be called a
652: 518: 462: 410: 302: 112: 417:, can be used instead of air, at increased cost of equipment and consumables. 425: 289: 65: 371:, used to repair printed circuit board assemblies that fail factory test. 657: 414: 344: 449:, is a manually-operated device which is used to remove solder from a 511: 473: 310: 243:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. 293:
Solders can be removed using a vacuum plunger (on the right) and a
635: 531: 523: 515: 487: 432: 424: 365:
Vacuum and pressure pumps with specialized heater tips and nozzles
288: 391: 669: 208: 106: 59: 18: 557:
too long may damage components or destroy the bond between a
544:
until the solder melts and is wicked into the braid by
437:
A solder sucker partially dismantled showing the spring
337:
Desoldering tools and materials include the following:
232: 16:
Removal of solder and components from a circuit board
137:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 787:p. 57-58. California:McGraw-Hill/ Osborne. 679:Another way to remove these devices is to use 8: 640:Desoldering an IC with a JBC hot air system 53:Learn how and when to remove these messages 709:(2nd ed.), For Dummies, p. 251, 703:McComb, Gordon; Shamieh, Cathleen (2009), 277:Learn how and when to remove this message 259:Learn how and when to remove this message 197:Learn how and when to remove this message 698: 696: 608:If they do not need to be re-used, some 328: 90:of all important aspects of the article. 692: 468:The plunger type has a cylinder with a 783:Hrynkiw, Dave/ Tilden, Mark W.(2002). 536:... and soaked with solder and residue 86:Please consider expanding the lead to 429:A typical spring-loaded solder sucker 413:metals; a non-oxidising gas, usually 7: 321:, repair, replacement, and salvage. 135:adding citations to reliable sources 813:Printed circuit board manufacturing 333:Desoldering with a desoldering gun. 14: 34:This article has multiple issues. 213: 111: 64: 23: 628:particular component packages. 122:needs additional citations for 78:may be too short to adequately 42:or discuss these issues on the 88:provide an accessible overview 1: 521:, usually supplied on a roll. 507:, is finely braided 18 to 42 600:prolonged heating is used. 453:. There are two types: the 239:the claims made and adding 829: 445:, colloquially known as a 347:, also called hot air guns 674:pick & place machines 359:Heated soldering tweezers 610:surface-mount components 706:Electronics For Dummies 616:seconds is acceptable. 589:through-hole technology 528:Solder wick, before use 641: 537: 529: 493: 438: 430: 390:Electrically operated 334: 313:and components from a 298: 639: 535: 527: 492:Solder wick on a reel 491: 451:printed circuit board 436: 428: 332: 292: 131:improve this article 578:Dual-Inline Package 649:integrated circuit 642: 632:Quad flat packages 538: 530: 494: 439: 431: 335: 309:is the removal of 299: 224:possibly contains 716:978-0-470-28697-5 645:Quad Flat Package 514:wire coated with 497:Desoldering braid 484:Desoldering braid 287: 286: 279: 269: 268: 261: 226:original research 207: 206: 199: 181: 105: 104: 57: 820: 771: 770: 768: 767: 758:. Archived from 752: 746: 745: 743: 742: 733:. Archived from 727: 721: 720: 700: 546:capillary action 501:desoldering wick 499:, also known as 443:desoldering pump 421:Desoldering pump 381: 380: 379:desoldering iron 350:Desoldering pump 282: 275: 264: 257: 253: 250: 244: 241:inline citations 217: 216: 209: 202: 195: 191: 188: 182: 180: 139: 115: 107: 100: 97: 91: 68: 60: 49: 27: 26: 19: 828: 827: 823: 822: 821: 819: 818: 817: 798: 797: 780: 778:Further reading 775: 774: 765: 763: 754: 753: 749: 740: 738: 729: 728: 724: 717: 702: 701: 694: 689: 634: 606: 567: 559:printed circuit 554: 486: 423: 388: 378: 377: 369:Rework stations 327: 319:troubleshooting 283: 272: 271: 270: 265: 254: 248: 245: 230: 218: 214: 203: 192: 186: 183: 140: 138: 128: 116: 101: 95: 92: 85: 73:This article's 69: 28: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 826: 824: 816: 815: 810: 800: 799: 796: 795: 779: 776: 773: 772: 747: 722: 715: 691: 690: 688: 685: 633: 630: 605: 602: 566: 563: 553: 550: 542:soldering iron 485: 482: 422: 419: 387: 384: 373: 372: 366: 363: 360: 357: 356:Removal fluxes 354: 353:Removal alloys 351: 348: 342: 326: 323: 295:soldering iron 285: 284: 267: 266: 221: 219: 212: 205: 204: 119: 117: 110: 103: 102: 82:the key points 72: 70: 63: 58: 32: 31: 29: 22: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 825: 814: 811: 809: 806: 805: 803: 794: 793:0-07-222601-3 790: 786: 782: 781: 777: 762:on 2013-02-09 761: 757: 751: 748: 737:on 2012-06-08 736: 732: 726: 723: 718: 712: 708: 707: 699: 697: 693: 686: 684: 682: 681:Field's metal 677: 675: 671: 666: 663: 659: 654: 650: 646: 638: 631: 629: 626: 621: 617: 613: 611: 604:Surface mount 603: 601: 597: 594: 590: 585: 581: 579: 574: 571: 564: 562: 560: 551: 549: 547: 543: 534: 526: 522: 520: 517: 513: 510: 506: 502: 498: 490: 483: 481: 478: 475: 471: 466: 464: 460: 456: 452: 448: 447:solder sucker 444: 435: 427: 420: 418: 416: 412: 406: 403: 400: 395: 393: 385: 383: 370: 367: 364: 361: 358: 355: 352: 349: 346: 343: 340: 339: 338: 331: 324: 322: 320: 316: 315:circuit board 312: 308: 304: 296: 291: 281: 278: 263: 260: 252: 242: 238: 234: 228: 227: 222:This article 220: 211: 210: 201: 198: 190: 179: 176: 172: 169: 165: 162: 158: 155: 151: 148: –  147: 146:"Desoldering" 143: 142:Find sources: 136: 132: 126: 125: 120:This article 118: 114: 109: 108: 99: 89: 83: 81: 76: 71: 67: 62: 61: 56: 54: 47: 46: 41: 40: 35: 30: 21: 20: 784: 764:. Retrieved 760:the original 750: 739:. Retrieved 735:the original 725: 705: 678: 667: 662:butane torch 643: 622: 618: 614: 607: 598: 586: 582: 575: 572: 568: 565:Through-hole 555: 539: 504: 500: 496: 495: 479: 467: 458: 454: 446: 442: 440: 407: 404: 399:through-hole 396: 389: 374: 336: 306: 300: 273: 255: 249:January 2023 246: 223: 193: 187:January 2023 184: 174: 167: 160: 153: 141: 129:Please help 124:verification 121: 96:January 2023 93: 77: 75:lead section 50: 43: 37: 36:Please help 33: 653:razor blade 505:solder wick 463:vacuum pump 341:Solder wick 307:desoldering 303:electronics 802:Categories 766:2012-05-03 741:2012-05-01 687:References 660:or pencil 457:style and 233:improve it 157:newspapers 39:improve it 808:Soldering 552:Technique 345:Heat guns 237:verifying 80:summarize 45:talk page 658:heat gun 472:-loaded 415:nitrogen 455:plunger 411:oxidise 231:Please 171:scholar 791:  713:  625:Weller 512:copper 474:piston 470:spring 311:solder 173:  166:  159:  152:  144:  516:rosin 392:pumps 386:Pumps 325:Tools 178:JSTOR 164:books 789:ISBN 711:ISBN 587:For 519:flux 459:bulb 317:for 150:news 670:QFP 593:via 509:AWG 503:or 465:.) 301:In 235:by 133:by 804:: 695:^ 441:A 305:, 48:. 769:. 744:. 719:. 297:. 280:) 274:( 262:) 256:( 251:) 247:( 229:. 200:) 194:( 189:) 185:( 175:· 168:· 161:· 154:· 127:. 98:) 94:( 84:. 55:) 51:(

Index

improve it
talk page
Learn how and when to remove these messages

lead section
summarize
provide an accessible overview

verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Desoldering"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
Learn how and when to remove this message
original research
improve it
verifying
inline citations
Learn how and when to remove this message
Learn how and when to remove this message

soldering iron
electronics
solder
circuit board
troubleshooting

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.