budget desoldering pump

[gedong]

Hello,

i'm looking for advice for cheap and decent desoldering pump. currently looking at S993 and proskit SS-331H.
they are about the same price, proskit have dedicated station which should be easier to repair.




anyone have any experience with this ?

thank you

[Cliff Matthews]

The first one looks like a re-hashed ZD985 and some say the other one sucks... 

[Bridiges]

What is the source of most of the information that comes from this forum?

[BradC]

What is the source of most of the information that comes from this forum?

It's about a 50/50 mix of real world experience and google/crowdsourced speculation/ponitification/pulling it out of someones arse.

That's a higher proportion of real world experience than is generally found on a forum, so I think we're ahead.

[t1d]

I have built a couple... DIY... I made it rather fancy, for less than $50, as I recall. I used nebulizer pumps, from the thrift store. Open it up and change the output hose, to be the input hose. Change the hose to automotive silicone, so it won't melt. Second critical part is the soldering iron. This type... https://www.amazon.com/ECG-J-045-DS-Electric-Soldering-Temperature/dp/B00068IJSG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535705683&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=desoldering+iron+bulb It has a changeable tip and a suction bulb. Cut the suction bulb pipe, about 1", from the head. You need it to be short, so the solder doesn't cool in the tube. Add a small aluminum fuel filter, at the head, with a short piece of tube. Stick the soldering iron tube, onto the suction hose. I added a footswitch, power supply and solid state relay, to drive the pump. Works well. And, you can save up for a Hakko... But, I like mine well enough, as is. YouTube has examples. Also, watch videos, there, on how to use a desoldering pump... There are a few tricks...

[nanofrog]

For a really decent hand operated desolder pump, I'd suggest an Engineer SS-02 (when there aren't enough joints to crank up a powered unit).

Between the Pro's Kit SS-331H and the S993, I'd opt for the Pro's Kit as it's handle is separate from the pump (much easier to manipulate). Or a Zhongdi ZD-985 or equivalent unit (FWIW, I suspect the Pro's Kit unit is better built).

Now if you're doing a lot of desoldering, I'd suggest saving up and getting a proper desoldering station from a known brand such as Pace (they invented desoldering stations, and still reign in that arena IMHO). Seriously, there'd be a huge difference between one of their stations and say the Pro's Kit. Less clogging and much easier to use (= drastically better user experience).

[gedong]

Thanks for the suggestion, however since i live in asia, my only source is aliexpress, or banggood, as they offer cheaper shipment. 

i usually don't need desoldering station ( already have $10 electric pump), but lately i've been getting alot of garbage lying around, so i think it would be better if i could salvage some usable component before they go into bin.

just quick questions, can you say that using this pump is more likely not damage (lifted) pcb through hole compared to cheap manual desolder pump ?

thanks

[nanofrog]

just quick questions, can you say that using this pump is more likely not damage (lifted) pcb through hole compared to cheap manual desolder pump ?

thanks

If you're using a decent soldering station (iron) with a manual desolder pump, you won't damage the PCB. Nor would this be a problem with a desolder station so long as it can keep up with the thermal load (same with the soldering station).

In the case of the Engineer SS-02*, it uses silicone tubing so makes a really good seal, allowing it to do a good job. And as it seems you're not doing that much desoldering, this would be a better way to go IMHO (still need decent desolder braid/wick to further clean up the pads). Not to mention it's less expensive, even compared to an inexpensive powered desoldering unit. 

* Given your location, your best bet would be to get one from a seller in Japan, such as the one linked (seller will ship to Indonesia).

[gedong]

that might be the case why i keep damaging PCBs. until i bought Hakko FX888 with screwdriver tip.

i never knew about silicone tip pump, i kinda have silicone tube for my fish tank ( used for peristaltic pump), i might try putting it to the sucker

ima wait till next big sale on aliexpress ( 9.9 ) hopefully they offer discounted price. i do really want to own one to make my life bit easier.

[sairfan1]

I bought 2nd one in your pictures about 3 years back and its still working good for me, I never had any experience with some branded/expensive one that's why not sure about difference.

[gedong]

$100 for 3 years and still working is a good investment.

well, i might go for proskit, also look nicer on the bench 

will i need extra glass tube ? it seems they offer variety of parts ( tips, filter, tube, heating element)

[nanofrog]

i never knew about silicone tip pump, i kinda have silicone tube for my fish tank ( used for peristaltic pump), i might try putting it to the sucker

Give it a shot, and see if it doesn't perform better than it has previously. 

[Microcheap]

I have a S-993A that I got very cheap from Aliexpress using some discount coupons and although I don't use it very often, it does the job well. I like it because it's compact and don't take to much space on my workbench and the metal stand is very sturdy too. I can't say much about its durability as mine is relatively new, but one problem I see with this model is the lack of replacement parts, there's only a few sellers offering it on ebay or aliexpress and they are kind of expensive comparing with the price of the whole unit.
But it's definitely an improvement from the use of a manual pump and I don't regret that I bought one. Here in Brazil is very common to use a peace of silicone tube attached to tip of the sucking pump, it helps improve the suction, (here we call it a "tip protector" or as it is popularly known "condom" and it is sold in electronics parts shops and costs just a few cents). You could try it and see if it solves your problem, but if you decide go for the S-993a I would recommend that you get the full kit with the spare tips and heating element.

[KL27x]

^A potential problem with some of the cheap sheet metal solder suckers is there may be a threaded plastic bit screwed into really shallow threads at the top of the tube. This eventually disintegrates. You can pin it back in, but you have to be able to remove it for emptying the solder.

A company called Edsyn has been perfecting the solder sucker for many decades. The all plastic body has large locking lugs rather than threads. And the spring is a stretch spring installed in the back, separated from the solder bits and flux residue by the O-ring. This means you can open the thing up with a quarter twist, dump the bits, and be back to operational, all in a matter of seconds. Some occasional cleaning of the steel nozzle clearing pin is the only other bit to take care of. The frequency is dependent on how much flux residue you are sucking in. I try to avoid adding flux/solder to the joints to be desoldered, except as actually necessary. It's the flux that gums up a desoldering gun/sucker.

The Oki Industries DP-100 is a clone of one of the most popular Edsyn models that is out of patent. It was originally called the Soldapult, as made by Edsyn. But quality of these Oki clones can be sketchy. I have seen copies that are defective and don't seal, properly. If you want a really good solder sucker, I recommend Edsyn.