DIY Desoldering Tool Using Compressed Air / Ventura?

[GrievousAngel]

Many of the more expensive desoldering tools use positive compressed air applied to a ventura. One of the main advantages of using compressed air verses a vacuum pump is the comporessed is in a accumulator (~80 psi at low flow rates) waiting for a sol valve to shift. All this offers a near instantaneous vacuum to lift the molten solder up and away! While the vacuum pump has a significant rise time given the pump motor starts from an off state, i.e., zero vacuum pressure since no accumulator is present.

You locate an inexpensive desoldering iron (~ $16 - $20) with a 'piggy-back' container to hold the removed solder. Some use a flexible ball that you squeeze & release. The vacuum hose would replace the squeeze ball in this example.

If the vacuum pressure & flow rate was larger, the typical clogging and frequent cleaning would decreased significantly.

Has anyone tried this approach to desoldering? Any other suggestions?

Later, Billy

[Andy Chee]

I think poor desoldering is due to lack of heat, not lack of suction.

[johansen]

I desolder lots of crap by using a small tube and blowing the solder out of the joint.

[Analog Kid]

How 'bout a combination soldering iron/airbrush setup of some kind? I have a small compressor that I use with my airbrush; maybe could rig it up with a nozzle and a small valve placed near the soldering iron tip to just blow the crap away. (I've done that by just blowing with my mouth, but it's not very aim-able or controllable.)

[Xena E]

I desolder lots of crap by using a small tube and blowing the solder out of the joint.

Great way to reclaim components.

Bad way to repair a board. Solder particles and dust get under components, between leads, and into switches/pots.

[Terry Bites]

I once toyed with the idea of converting a foot pump into a vacuum source. Heat and stomp.
Anger out, solder out. Win win.