Desoldering Fitting for Soldering Iron

[Computer Nerd Kev]

Faced with the task of desoldering a couple of 40 pin DIP ICs, and my
eternally poor desoldering skills using normal cheap tools, I've been
looking into cheap DIY approaches to desoldering stations.

I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

Radio Shack sell this:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062731

However it's 110VAC.

But I've got a cheap old Dick Smith soldering iron
spare, so it should be possible to use the fitting (perhaps with some
modification) in that. So surely someone sells that fitting on its
own.

Yep, JBC Tools in Spain:
http://www.jbctools.com/cataleg.php?search=0329920&x=14&y=16

But hang on... $51USD! And that's before getting it to Aus. The only
other crowds who have it on it's own are all Europeans selling it
for around the same price. At that rate it's much cheaper just to buy
the Radio Shack thing and swap the iron - but postage will probably
double the $15USD price ($17 at www.midwestsurplus.net, who actually
have stock) so isn't there some way to get a fitting like this cheaply
in Aus?

Well there's this on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/151018030987

But one of the past feedbacks describes it as electrically
unsafe, with wires disconnected - perhaps fixable, but it makes
you worry about how insulated the heating element is. Plus I've had a
cheap soldering iron melt in my hands before, so I don't really trust
the plastic/design either.


**SKIP TO HERE IF BORED

So basically, I'm looking for one of the JBC Tools fittings, but cheap
(preferably <$15.00 inc. postage). Any hints?


As another option, does anyone know if one of these replacement irons:
http://www.rockby.com.au/catresultssQL_12.cfm?&stock_no=40232
For this:
http://www.rockby.com.au/catresultssQL_12.cfm?&stock_no=39547
can be rigged up to work without the desoldering station (BYO vacuum
pump and 24VAC transformer).


Better yet, does anyone have a broken desoldering station sitting
around? I'll pay $10 plus the cost of postage.

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[Computer Nerd Kev]

Phil Allison <phil_a@tpg.com.au> wrote:

** If the IC is faulty - what you do is cut the pins off near the package
and remove each pin from the PCB separately with tweezers and a fine, hot
tip.

Clean up with a solder sucker or wick.

Then you can install a 40 pin socket or two, 20pin strips to the holes.

Thanks but they're rare ICs that I'm trying to salvage, best I've seen is
about $14.00 each to buy them online, and this way I get a tool I'll be
able to use in the future as well.

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[Phil Allison]

"Computer Nerd Kev"

Faced with the task of desoldering a couple of 40 pin DIP ICs, and my
eternally poor desoldering skills using normal cheap tools, I've been
looking into cheap DIY approaches to desoldering stations.

** If the IC is faulty - what you do is cut the pins off near the package
and remove each pin from the PCB separately with tweezers and a fine, hot
tip.

Clean up with a solder sucker or wick.

Then you can install a 40 pin socket or two, 20pin strips to the holes.



.... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Computer Nerd Kev"

** If the IC is faulty - what you do is cut the pins off near the
package
and remove each pin from the PCB separately with tweezers and a fine, hot
tip.

Clean up with a solder sucker or wick.

Then you can install a 40 pin socket or two, 20pin strips to the holes.

Thanks but they're rare ICs that I'm trying to salvage, best I've seen is
about $14.00 each to buy them online, and this way I get a tool I'll be
able to use in the future as well.

** I have managed to get them out undamaged with simple, hand operated
solder sucker and wick.

Takes about 15 - 20 minutes.

Cutting the leads is quicker.

That contraption you linked is bizarre.


..... Phil

 

[Computer Nerd Kev]

Phil Allison <phil_a@tpg.com.au> wrote:

** I have managed to get them out undamaged with simple, hand operated
solder sucker and wick.

Takes about 15 - 20 minutes.

I've practised, but I'm not confident I could do it without over-heating
the chip. I don't know if big chips are better or worse in this regard -
better heat dissipation, but longer connecting wires inside. It's my last
resort plan though.

> That contraption you linked is bizarre.

I won't deny I find that part of its appeal.

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[Phil Allison]

"Computer Nerd Kev"

Phil Allison

** I have managed to get them out undamaged with simple, hand operated
solder sucker and wick.

Takes about 15 - 20 minutes.

I've practised, but I'm not confident I could do it without over-heating
the chip. I don't know if big chips are better or worse in this regard -
better heat dissipation, but longer connecting wires inside. It's my last
resort plan though.

** IME there is no hazard to the chip inside a 40 pin DIL pak - you only
heat one pin at a time, so the chip does not even get warm. The main worry I
had was in pulling out plated through vias with the pins and damaging fine
tracks on the PCB.

In a one case, after installing a socket, I retried the same 40 pin IC and
the device ( a CRT monitor) worked perfectly.

In another, installing a new IC made the original fault worse than with the
old one fitted - this was in a Yamaha R1000 digital reverb unit from the
mid/late 1980s.

Warming the 40pin IC directly produced the fault - a huge noise in the
sound.

Turned out, there was a design problem in all early production units.

The eventual fix was to replace 6 memory interface ICs with higher speed
versions.



.... Phil

 

[Bob Milutinovic]

"Computer Nerd Kev" <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote in message
news:lh4req$t0i$1@speranza.aioe.org...

Faced with the task of desoldering a couple of 40 pin DIP ICs, and my
eternally poor desoldering skills using normal cheap tools, I've been
looking into cheap DIY approaches to desoldering stations.

I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

<snip>

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[Sylvia Else]

On 29/03/2014 7:14 PM, Bob Milutinovic wrote:

"Computer Nerd Kev" <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote in message
news:lh4req$t0i$1@speranza.aioe.org...
Faced with the task of desoldering a couple of 40 pin DIP ICs, and my
eternally poor desoldering skills using normal cheap tools, I've been
looking into cheap DIY approaches to desoldering stations.

I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

snip

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html

Not for the first time, I'm left wondering how they can possibly make a
profit on that.

Even if the gear itself fell off the back of a lorry.

Sylvia.

 

[Bob Milutinovic]

"Bob Milutinovic" <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:lh5vct$ifm$1@cognicom.eternal-september.org...

"Computer Nerd Kev" <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote in message
news:lh4req$t0i$1@speranza.aioe.org...
Faced with the task of desoldering a couple of 40 pin DIP ICs, and my
eternally poor desoldering skills using normal cheap tools, I've been
looking into cheap DIY approaches to desoldering stations.

I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

snip

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html

Or moving upmarket, if you want to avoid getting cramps in your thumb (from
repeatedly re-arming the sucker)...

USD$97 including postage;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/716919381.html

USD$167 including Fedex courier delivery;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1428629757.html

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[Bob Milutinovic]

"Sylvia Else" <sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:bpndt1F2vhcU1@mid.individual.net...

On 29/03/2014 7:14 PM, Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"Computer Nerd Kev" <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote in message
news:lh4req$t0i$1@speranza.aioe.org...
Faced with the task of desoldering a couple of 40 pin DIP ICs, and my
eternally poor desoldering skills using normal cheap tools, I've been
looking into cheap DIY approaches to desoldering stations.

I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

snip

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html


Not for the first time, I'm left wondering how they can possibly make a
profit on that.

Even if the gear itself fell off the back of a lorry.

Sylvia.

Indeed. You couldn't even buy the requisite raw materials (to make it
yourself) in Australia for less than double that price.

But look at the number of sub-$1 (including postage) items on eBay, selling
by the tens of thousands. Even if, as you say, they fell off the back of a
truck, I still wouldn't put myself through the hassle of listing,
monitoring, responding, packing and posting in order to make less than $1
per transaction - but there're obviously people who're happy to do it.

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[Computer Nerd Kev]

Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

"Bob Milutinovic" <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:lh5vct$ifm$1@cognicom.eternal-september.org...
"Computer Nerd Kev" <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote in message
news:lh4req$t0i$1@speranza.aioe.org...
I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

snip

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html

But that's the same model as the Ebay one I linked to.

Or moving upmarket, if you want to avoid getting cramps in your thumb (from
repeatedly re-arming the sucker)...

More avoid getting electrocuted by the barrel or having the plastic melt at
my fingertips. I'd be replacing the manual solder sucker with a vacuume pump
anyway, as in the web page that gave me the idea.

USD$97 including postage;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/716919381.html

Cheaper to get a replacement iron for a desoldering station like the one I
linked to, then just use my existing vacuume pump and power supply.

USD$167 including Fedex courier delivery;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1428629757.html

Thanks, but if I wanted to spend that sort of cash, I'd probably already have
bought the desoldering station from Rockby (if they have stock).

--
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[Computer Nerd Kev]

Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

"Sylvia Else" <sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:bpndt1F2vhcU1@mid.individual.net...
On 29/03/2014 7:14 PM, Bob Milutinovic wrote:

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html


Not for the first time, I'm left wondering how they can possibly make a
profit on that.

Even if the gear itself fell off the back of a lorry.

Sylvia.

Indeed. You couldn't even buy the requisite raw materials (to make it
yourself) in Australia for less than double that price.

Depends how many you were making - look up the prices for plastic resin
on Alibaba. You could get recycled stuff from within Australia too.

The real trick is the design, assembly etc. And in Aus, you'd have to meet
safty requirements and anwser for those loose 240VAC wires.

But look at the number of sub-$1 (including postage) items on eBay, selling
by the tens of thousands. Even if, as you say, they fell off the back of a
truck, I still wouldn't put myself through the hassle of listing,
monitoring, responding, packing and posting in order to make less than $1
per transaction - but there're obviously people who're happy to do it.

Well, think of this scenario: You buy a thousand for $50 (factory rejects sold
by workers, ghost runs etc.). Pay a couple of blokes $5/day each to pack and
post 50 each day (slap on printed stickers and tape up the envelope). Then
with $0.50 profit an item, you could grab $0.5x50 = $25 a day - $10 pay = $15
1000/50 = 20days of work, $15x20= $300 - $50 purchase price = $250 profit.

$250/20 = $12.5 a day earned by you, which would go a lot further
in an economy where you can get by on $5. Of course there would be extra
expenses, but I'm sure your average Chinese Ebay man would have a lot more
than one item on the go.

What I don't understand so well is how some smaller sellers sell items for
$6.00, but only move one or two a week (looking at the num. sold figures on
Ebay). I guess they could be stall holders who are just on the 'net for some
extra dough.

NOTE: I've never been to China and I don't really know the average wage for
working class Chinese. I'm just imagining a scenario based on the single figure
of item price and to me it seems possible.

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[pedro]

On Sat, 29 Mar 2014 19:14:08 +1100, "Bob Milutinovic"
<cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

"Computer Nerd Kev" <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote in message
news:lh4req$t0i$1@speranza.aioe.org...
Faced with the task of desoldering a couple of 40 pin DIP ICs, and my
eternally poor desoldering skills using normal cheap tools, I've been
looking into cheap DIY approaches to desoldering stations.

I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

snip

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html

I have one of those. Sort of works but to remove a 40-pin DIP from a
PTH board you're going to be at it forever.

Remember that the button to release the sucker is way up the handle,
so you wind up using a "dagger grip" (or two hands on the tool if
you're a Tasmanian with a spare). It is a most awkward way which is
a PITA on high pin counts.

If the O/P isn't trying to salvage the chip, (s)he should just cut the
legs and remove them one by one. The amount of residual in the holes
on the 40-pinner is going to make dislodgement after the first round
of sucks far from easy.

BTDT

 

[Computer Nerd Kev]

Adrian Jansen <adrian@qq.vv.net> wrote:

On 29/3/2014 4:20 PM, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

Thanks but they're rare ICs that I'm trying to salvage, best I've seen is
about $14.00 each to buy them online, and this way I get a tool I'll be
able to use in the future as well.

If you are trying to save the chips themselves, best way I have seen is
to heat the board from the bottom side with a heat gun ( paint stripper
) and pull on the chip with an IC extraction tool ( pair of tweezers
with the tips bent to fit over the ends of the chip ). Clamp the board
vertically in a vise, heat from botton side of board, pull gently from
top side. Usually works.

Problem is that heat guns are relatively expensive too. But today I
discovered another option along the same lines:
http://hackaday.com/2014/03/30/reflowing-with-a-hair-straightener/

I posted a comment about my idea that such hair straighteners could be used
to desolder ICs. I'll have a look in some Op-Shops for old ones at the end of
the week.

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[Adrian Jansen]

On 29/3/2014 4:20 PM, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

Phil Allison <phil_a@tpg.com.au> wrote:

** If the IC is faulty - what you do is cut the pins off near the package
and remove each pin from the PCB separately with tweezers and a fine, hot
tip.

Clean up with a solder sucker or wick.

Then you can install a 40 pin socket or two, 20pin strips to the holes.

Thanks but they're rare ICs that I'm trying to salvage, best I've seen is
about $14.00 each to buy them online, and this way I get a tool I'll be
able to use in the future as well.

If you are trying to save the chips themselves, best way I have seen is
to heat the board from the bottom side with a heat gun ( paint stripper
) and pull on the chip with an IC extraction tool ( pair of tweezers
with the tips bent to fit over the ends of the chip ). Clamp the board
vertically in a vise, heat from botton side of board, pull gently from
top side. Usually works.

--
Regards,

Adrian Jansen adrianjansen at internode dot on dot net
Note reply address is invalid, convert address above to machine form.

 

[Computer Nerd Kev]

Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:

But today I
discovered another option along the same lines:
http://hackaday.com/2014/03/30/reflowing-with-a-hair-straightener/

I posted a comment about my idea that such hair straighteners could be used
to desolder ICs. I'll have a look in some Op-Shops for old ones at the end of
the week.

Well it works with leaded solder, but lead-free stuff (even doped) on a
double sided board won't budge. I tested it on 14pin DIP ICs by holding the
boards in a vice while prying the chips up from underneath with a small
screwdriver.

I used some copper tape designed to be put around pots to stop slugs/snails
(sold as "slugga") on the pads to make them conductive. It takes quite a
while to tin something like this...

Tried it with a Remington S3500 I got from an Op-Shop (same model as used in
the above webpage). Next step would be to see if I can make it get hotter, but
Annoyingly I can't figure out how to take it apart, I got all the screws out
that I could find and removed one of the heating pads, but the inside plastic
panels are still held on somewhere under the hinge.

I also bought about six other hair straighteners and curlers (they were all
either one or two bucks), but the other likely candidates have screws in
particularly inaccessible places, so I haven't been able to begin getting
into them.

So in the end it works, but only with leaded solder. Annoyingly the 40pin
ICs I originally wanted to salvage are on a double sided board with lead-free
solder, but at least I have a method I can use in the future.

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[Clocky]

On 30/03/2014 7:07 AM, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:
"Bob Milutinovic" <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:lh5vct$ifm$1@cognicom.eternal-september.org...
"Computer Nerd Kev" <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote in message
news:lh4req$t0i$1@speranza.aioe.org...
I soon came across this page (and others like it):
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/desolder/

Looks good, but it's based on "desoldering irons" sold by UK companies
- Maplin don't take Australian orders and Rapid charge a mint.

snip

USD$10 including postage from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1343912318.html

But that's the same model as the Ebay one I linked to.

Or moving upmarket, if you want to avoid getting cramps in your thumb (from
repeatedly re-arming the sucker)...

More avoid getting electrocuted by the barrel or having the plastic melt at
my fingertips. I'd be replacing the manual solder sucker with a vacuume pump
anyway, as in the web page that gave me the idea.

USD$97 including postage;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/716919381.html

Cheaper to get a replacement iron for a desoldering station like the one I
linked to, then just use my existing vacuume pump and power supply.

USD$167 including Fedex courier delivery;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1428629757.html

Thanks, but if I wanted to spend that sort of cash, I'd probably already have
bought the desoldering station from Rockby (if they have stock).

I put off buying a desoldering station for a long time and regret it
now. Such a useful tool, and desoldering a 40 pin IC cleanly in a about
a minute and easily...

Not only that, I've got a few jobs desoldering and socketing chips for
others to repair vintage equipment so it's paid for itself.

Out of curiousity, what are the two 40 pin chips you are/were trying to
salvage?

 

[Clocky]

On 19/07/2014 7:22 AM, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

Clocky <notgonn@happen.com> wrote:

I put off buying a desoldering station for a long time and regret it
now. Such a useful tool, and desoldering a 40 pin IC cleanly in a about
a minute and easily...

Not only that, I've got a few jobs desoldering and socketing chips for
others to repair vintage equipment so it's paid for itself.

Out of curiousity, what are the two 40 pin chips you are/were trying to
salvage?

The chips are PPI-8255 Parallel Interface ICs, a product of the early PC era.

I want to grab one off a control board I was given from an old Dot-Matrix
printer so that I can build an IC tester as described here:
http://dsaprojects.orgfree.com/electronics/ic_tester/ic_tester.html

I looked inside the highest wattage hair straightener I got to see if the
temperature range could be extended. Unfortunately there's no info online
about the chip used (likely some cheap clone because the "ST" logo is
actually printed upside down). I'd probably end up just building a
self-destruct funtion into the hair straightener anyway.

The best option is probably buying that spare desoldering gun at rockby
and using my existing vacuum pump and transformer.

I haven't really started the project yet anyway because I want to work out
a good method for making the PCB (I don't want to lay out that whole circuit
on Veroboard like most other things I do). Last time I tried, with a small
single layer board, I used almost all of a $45 transparancy film pack trying
to get a passable result and ended up with traces like Swiss Cheese and
some having to be cut with a Dremmel.

The printer I was using jams with photo paper (and a lot of normal paper
for that matter), but I've actually got a few laser printers around so one
day I'll have to try the full fleet. I read that the backing from sticker
paper works, which could be good because I know where I could get some cheap,
but I don't know how I'll go feeding it through a printer.

I received an old Casio fax board today with 5 M5L8255AP-5's on it. I'm
happy to desolder one and send it your way if you don't want to tackle
the desoldering yourself.

Alternatively the other poster mentioned new ones available for about $6
posted on Ebay, which is a pretty good option too.

 

[Computer Nerd Kev]

On 19 Jul 2014, Tony wrote:

On 19/07/2014 7:22 AM, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
I want to grab one off a control board I was given from an
old Dot-Matrix printer so that I can build an IC tester as
described here:
http://dsaprojects.orgfree.com/electronics/ic_tester/ic_tes
ter.html
snip

Quite an effort.
They are $6 delivered on ebay.

Look at the list of supported ICs, I looked into those first
and they're hopeless.

I've looked at a few projects out there and this one seems to
have the best set of tested ICs (excluding designs relying on
even harder to find parts) and the ability to program in new
ones. Plus it tells you what part of a chip test failed.

If something like this (or newer):
http://www.andysarcade.net/personal/tech/ABIICIT/index.htm
popped up cheap, I'd definitely be after it instead.

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[Computer Nerd Kev]

On 21 Jul 2014, Clocky wrote:

On 19/07/2014 7:22 AM, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
Clocky <notgonn@happen.com> wrote:

I received an old Casio fax board today with 5
M5L8255AP-5's on it. I'm happy to desolder one and send it
your way if you don't want to tackle the desoldering
yourself.

Thanks, that would be great. I can pay for postage by PayPal if
you want - should be able to send it as a "Large Letter" for
$1.40.

You can send me a message at:
spamable
-you know what symbol I mean-
safe-mail.net

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