What desoldering gun/pump is best?

[XMA]

hello, so im looking to buy a desoldering gun/pump under $50 and so ive found these two options.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Aoyue-8800-Self-Contained-Desoldering-Gun-with-Internal-Vacuum-Pump-and-Carrying/202283288221?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/30W-220V-50Hz-Electric-Vacuum-Solder-Sucker-Desoldering-Pump-Tool-Repair/222616876561?hash=item33d4fff611:g:k1sAAOSw7NpZ1gFf

[Towger]

For your under $50 a decent Solder Sucker and good quality desolder braid, such as Chemwicks.

After that you need to move into pro quality equipment, ideally using a separate compressed (shop) air supply. eg the Metcal DS1 (+base), which can turn up on eBay for decent prices from time to time.

[bd139]

Agree with Towger. Unless you're desoldering lots, or desire to actually reuse the parts you pulled, a mains powered vacuum one isn't worth it and the cheap ones are all shit.

I usually just use Chemtronics soder wick. Big roll of it for $10 or so lasts a while. Snip the leads, heat and remove the leg, clean the hole out.

[sleemanj]

A cheap standard spring-loaded plunger type desoldering pump is greatly augmented by a couple cm of silicone tube slipped over the tip so you have about 2-3mm extending past the desoldering tip, allows it to conform around the soldering iron.

Or just cut a notch in the tip is better than nothing.  3mm ID silicone tube fits well over the end of my pumps.

Some of the plunger pumps from China are better than others, the main problem is the O-rings in them are not necessarily a great fit sometimes, easily fixed if you have an assortment of O-rings that has a couple of better fitting ones in it.

[MosherIV]

Hi

I got one of these
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d01849/desoldering-iron-sucker/dp/SD01702

It works for me.

Note: I am not suggesting you get it from the same company.

[james_s]

I never had any luck at all with those spring loaded solder suckers. Several years ago I bought a Hakko 808, it wasn't particularly cheap but it's not high end money either. It was one of the best tool investments I ever made, I find it absolutely indispensable. I'd never go back to wick and cheapo sucker tools.

[sairfan1]

I bought this tool years ago and working good for me, it has temperature setting on it

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/110V-220V-Desoldering-Gun-Electric-absorb-gun-S-993A-Electric-Vacuum-Desoldering-Pump-Solder-Sucker-Gun/32680307558.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.3.7ac373b9r0iWei&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10065_10151_10344_10068_10130_10342_10547_10343_10340_5722611_10341_10548_10698_10697_10696_5722911_5722811_10084_5722711_10083_10618_10139_10307_10059_10534_308_100031_10103_441_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620_5723011_5722511,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=62254d9b-dd0e-45ca-8137-8bfc635538ae-0&algo_pvid=62254d9b-dd0e-45ca-8137-8bfc635538ae&priceBeautifyAB=0

[Neomys Sapiens]

If you refer to non-heated 'solder suckers', I recommend the Soldapullt Successor, if still available.

On wick: besides Chemtronics, the Swiss 'Spirig' brand is decent. Also good is the 'Amasan' brand.

For very occasional heated desoldering 'on the road', there is a suction adaptor with a rubber bulb for Wellers W60/W61 temperature controlled mains voltage irons.

[mauroh]

I think you are referring to the Weller DS40, i was not able to find it at a reasonable price.
The chepest I could find of this type was the ECG J-045-DS, available at amazon for ~20$.

https://www.amazon.com/ECG-J-045-DS-Electric-Soldering-Temperature/dp/B00068IJSG/ref=sr_1_10?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1523398995&sr=1-10&keywords=Desoldering+pump

If someone could poin out one of this that works at 220V I'll appreciate, but AFAIK I could buy one of this and mount the suction element on an old main soldering iron.


Mauro

[james_s]

I got by for many years with the Radio Shack version of that suction bulb iron. Once I got my Hakko vacuum gun I couldn't believe how much better it was, like night and day. Some of the Chinese vacuum stations might be ok if you need lower cost.

[Neomys Sapiens]

I'm not referring to the DS40, which I did not know, but to a seperately sold, original Weller accessory to the Weller mains powered,  Magnastat-type controlled soldering irons. I have not recorded the article desigation, but I can ask someone. A similar accessory was once available for the TCP-type lov voltage soldering irons, which I did not mention, because stationary desoldering is better done with a real desoldering station, as others have already stated.

[joeqsmith]

The power of the EEVBLOG search engine. 

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/whats-a-good-solder-sucker/

[TechieTX]

I used one of these: http://www.edsyn.com/product/AS196.html  Don't get the blue plastic one unless you're desoldering parts that don't mind a static shock.  Huh.  It's still around the same price I paid Way Back When.

I bought about 10 spare tips when I got it 20-some-odd years ago, and still have 7 or 8 tips left.  I've used the vacuum tools, and prefer my Soldapullt.  It takes a bit of practice, but I can desolder with less heat into the board/part than with the vacuum thingies.

[not1xor1]

I think you are referring to the Weller DS40, i was not able to find it at a reasonable price.
The chepest I could find of this type was the ECG J-045-DS, available at amazon for ~20$.

https://www.amazon.com/ECG-J-045-DS-Electric-Soldering-Temperature/dp/B00068IJSG/ref=sr_1_10?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1523398995&sr=1-10&keywords=Desoldering+pump

If someone could poin out one of this that works at 220V I'll appreciate, but AFAIK I could buy one of this and mount the suction element on an old main soldering iron.


Mauro

TME sells it and it is quite cheaper than the amazon one.
I bought it several years ago and it works reasonably well.
It is sold as separate parts: solder and sucking pump, so you can just buy spare parts as needed.
see: https://www.tme.eu/it/katalog/#search=PENSOL-SR963-OD&cleanParameters=1

[Barny]

Hi

I got one of these
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d01849/desoldering-iron-sucker/dp/SD01702

It works for me.

Note: I am not suggesting you get it from the same company.

I got the same one.

Works fine for me.

When I use it to desolder heatsinks it needs a little time.
But for normal components its fast and easy.
I never ripped a solder pad when i use this nice tool.

Its cheap build but it'll do its job when you only use it from time to time.

But be aware that the cable is made of this extreme stinking plastic.
If you don't pay attention, you'll be able to damage the cable with the heated part.

[nanofrog]

If you're dead set on a self-contained vacuum desolder unit, you could take a look at a Gaojie S-993A (~C $135 shipped).

That said, unless you're doing a lot of joints at one go (i.e. stripping a board for parts), a manual desolder sucker and decent wick/braid win out IME. Faster and more convenient (you'll need wick anyway). I'd suggest taking a look at an Engineer SS-02 for this.  Works well (size is great), and I find the silicone tip produces a better seal than the nylon tips on other manual suckers such as on an Edsyn Soldapult (you can add a bit of silicone tubing to this type).

[mauroh]

If someone could poin out one of this that works at 220V I'll appreciate
Mauro

TME sells it and it is quite cheaper than the amazon one.
see: https://www.tme.eu/it/katalog/#search=PENSOL-SR963-OD&cleanParameters=1

PERFECT!!! Thank you so much, this is exactly what I was looking for.
For my desoldering needs is more than enouth, I personally don't like the "piston" one and the solder wick is a nigthmare on plated throw holes.
Ciao
Mauro

[woody]

http://nl.farnell.com/edsyn/ds017ls/desoldering-gun-antistatic/dp/835511?st=soldapullt

Easy to operate and easy to clean. Handles big blobs of solder.

For smaller stuff, SMD and to remove solder from pads and out of holes I use solder wick in different widths, 3, 2, 1 and 0.5 mm.

I had a very negative experience with an (early model) JBC desoldering station. That thing just never did what is was meant to do. It put me off desoldering irons, probably undeserved as I understand that the newer lines work great. But then they are very expensive (> €1200).

[VEGETA]

I plan to get this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Vacuum-Solder-Sucker-Desoldering/dp/B01N5HCZAW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1523531624&sr=8-8&keywords=desoldering+gun

from Banggood/aliexpress for free shipping. It seems nice and easier to use than normal pump sticks but also very cheap (30$ is nothing compared to 100$ for this small tool).

I tried Chinese solder wick stuff but they didn't work at all, not even a little! I put up to 450 degrees soldering iron on it and the junction but still nothing happens.

[aabbcc]

Had some cheapo things for 3 eur from a local shop which sucked *no pun intended*

Upgraded to a Engineer SS-02 and boy what a difference, totally worth the 25 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-SS-02-Solder-Sucker/dp/B002MJMXD4

[GerryBags]

I've just finished my first repair job using an Aoyue (I mentally pronounce it "Oi, you!") 474++ thing I bought for a hundred quid. It worked a treat. Using an iron to desolder on one of those awful FatMan itube amps was causing lots of lifted traces and PTHs that came off with the component. The PCB was really thick (2.5mm?) but the traces are barely attached and the solder mask just shatters. Horrible thing, but using the gun helped a lot.

A big thing seems to be making sure the foam filter in the gun is damp before you start and then stop every now and again to wet it, as the hot air being sucked up will dry it out fairly quickly. It definitely doesn't suck the same once it has dried out.

I have no idea how long it will last, obviously, but for now it's doing exactly what it is supposed to.

[Shock]

I'd cut your teeth with a solder sucker and wick as well just in case you havn't already, until you are somewhat proficient at it. Learning electronics involves a certain degree of "craft" and locking down some of those core skills allows you to gloat in front of others.

[lordvader88]

For your under $50 a decent Solder Sucker and good quality desolder braid, such as Chemwicks.

After that you need to move into pro quality equipment, ideally using a separate compressed (shop) air supply. eg the Metcal DS1 (+base), which can turn up on eBay for decent prices from time to time.

If u have the money or the time to save more, get the electric desoldering pump.

I had to spend 30-1hr today trying to desolder a 16 pin DIP off a little PCB full of SMD stuff. I have a decent spring/pump and solder wick, but it was still hell.

Also trying to get the solder out of the via's of a big heavy PSU PCB, without a vice .....trying to get the soldering iron tip on 1 side, and the pump on the otherisde, it was hell too.


After today I'm saving for an electric desoldering gun, and hotair gun.

[VEGETA]

I have a decent spring/pump and solder wick, but it was still hell.

Just a question: how does solder wick works?

I tried heating it with the junction but no success at all. I bought them from Banggood.

[Nerull]

Crappy solder wick doesn't work.