Reusing components from hi-fi, tv's etc

S

*sigh*

Guest
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors, thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL :) I must admit I prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks
 
You can remove many components at once by using an electric hot air heat
gun
on an area of a board.
Be warned that it does create choking fumes which are probably
oisonous -
so you would need to do it outdoors and use a good safety mask - one
that
filters-out the fumes.

Dave
Click to expand...
Thanks but I was more thinking of using some kind of solvent and/or acid
that would remove some of the print's back side and the soldering material.
Best would be if I could let it stand overnight(properly ventilated), wash
it off and then recover the components.

Yeah, the heating method(and soldering in general) produces some fumes that
I prefer not to get into my lungs too often ;)
 
"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:41036381$0$270$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors, thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL :) I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks

You can remove many components at once by using an electric hot air heat gun
Click to expand...
on an area of a board.
Be warned that it does create choking fumes which are probably poisonous -
so you would need to do it outdoors and use a good safety mask - one that
filters-out the fumes.

Dave
 
I take off good stuff all the time - things worth more than 10cents (large
capacitors, switches, transformers, etc.) I just use a soldering iron, with
a fan nearby and my windows open *grin*

It's a great source of goodies - I always leave the ceramic capacitors, ICs,
and all resisitors alone though - they're not worth the trouble cost-wise.

Matthew

"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:41036381$0$270$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors, thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL :) I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks
Click to expand...
 
I use a de-soldering iron. Workss for me.
I have used the one sold by Radio Shack.
I have to replace the tip quite often as i gets worn out quickly.


"www.ChantCd.com" <hormel77@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:FhXMc.158622$a24.90789@attbi_s03...
I take off good stuff all the time - things worth more than 10cents (large
capacitors, switches, transformers, etc.) I just use a soldering iron,
with
a fan nearby and my windows open *grin*

It's a great source of goodies - I always leave the ceramic capacitors,
ICs,
and all resisitors alone though - they're not worth the trouble cost-wise.

Matthew

"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:41036381$0$270$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors,
thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often
destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding
away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things
end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL :) I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks
Click to expand...
 
Depending on just how much of this you do there are some rather nice self
contained dedoldering stations. Check with some of the suppliers for specs
and cost. I find This is the most appropriate way to approach doing this on
a "small" personal scale. Gives one a bit of experience in perfecting their
soldering and desoldering techniques to minimize destruction to either the
pcb and/or the components.
"Aurel Boisvert" <aurelbois@NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:g07Nc.1772$KLu1.1717@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
I use a de-soldering iron. Workss for me.
I have used the one sold by Radio Shack.
I have to replace the tip quite often as i gets worn out quickly.


"www.ChantCd.com" <hormel77@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:FhXMc.158622$a24.90789@attbi_s03...
I take off good stuff all the time - things worth more than 10cents
(large
capacitors, switches, transformers, etc.) I just use a soldering iron,
with
a fan nearby and my windows open *grin*

It's a great source of goodies - I always leave the ceramic capacitors,
ICs,
and all resisitors alone though - they're not worth the trouble
cost-wise.

Matthew

"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:41036381$0$270$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors,
thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often
destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding
away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off
with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things
I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons
of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things
end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL :) I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused
stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now
and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks
Click to expand...
 
Don't they get fried in the process? How much heat can they take?
 
Initially they were soldered to the circuit board in the manufacturing
process, enduring the thermal rise of wave soldering process, etc. Proper
application of desoldering equiptment will not damage them. The key is
proper, intelligent, & professional use of the equiptment. "Crowbar will
open a door but tends to make the structure unfit for reuse, the key works
more effeciently and allows continual passage". Eh??
"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:41080b4a$0$251$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Don't they get fried in the process? How much heat can they take?
Click to expand...
 
Initially they were soldered to the circuit board in the manufacturing
process, enduring the thermal rise of wave soldering process, etc. Proper
application of desoldering equiptment will not damage them. The key is
proper, intelligent, & professional use of the equiptment. "Crowbar will
open a door but tends to make the structure unfit for reuse, the key works
more effeciently and allows continual passage". Eh??
"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:41080b4a$0$251$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Don't they get fried in the process? How much heat can they take?
Click to expand...
I see, I get the picture :)

I still prefer to remove them without heat though. It's faster that way and
it doesn't matter how many 'legs' they have... ;)
 
I do not believe it's possible to remove components without heat. Components
are connected to the PCB with solder which is a metal. I just use my
soldering iron and trusty old solder wick. The solder wick soaks up all the
solder Just make sure you do it correctly - place your solder wick on top of
the solder pad and then the iron on top of the solder wick. You may have to
move the wick slightly as it soaks up the solder but this method works very
well for me. BTW - I certainly envy your proximity to the recycling station.
People throw away the darndest things :eek:)


"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:410935e0$0$271$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Initially they were soldered to the circuit board in the manufacturing
process, enduring the thermal rise of wave soldering process, etc.
Proper
application of desoldering equiptment will not damage them. The key is
proper, intelligent, & professional use of the equiptment. "Crowbar will
open a door but tends to make the structure unfit for reuse, the key
works
more effeciently and allows continual passage". Eh??
"*sigh*" <nospam@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:41080b4a$0$251$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk...
Don't they get fried in the process? How much heat can they take?

I see, I get the picture :)

I still prefer to remove them without heat though. It's faster that way
and
it doesn't matter how many 'legs' they have... ;)
Click to expand...

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