Author Topic: Clogged desoldering station  (Read 16581 times)

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Offline Alex Eisenhut

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #25 on: July 25, 2017, 11:42:59 pm »
I see a 555 hack coming...

You see correctly. I've been giving dirty looks to my Hakko 707 and it's probably gonna get some sort of modification.
Hoarder of 8-bit Commodore relics and 1960s Tektronix 500-series stuff. Unconventional interior decorator.
 

Offline ciccio

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #26 on: December 15, 2017, 12:48:50 pm »
It is standard procedure, and essential, to let the pump 'run on' for a second or two to clear the tip after the tool is removed from the solder joint. I find it difficult to remember to do this, and my Pace MBT WILL clog reliably if I forget for a few joints. I have never seen a desolder system with a pump run-on timer, and intend to fit one the next time I have an idle hour.
BT
In effect, my 15 years old JBC desoldering station has this: a timer that power the pump for about one second after you relase the trigger buttom
But it has a lot of other ptoblems, so I bought a ZD-985 (for less thr cost of the spares my JBC requires, and I'm happy with it..
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Offline Langdon

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #27 on: January 26, 2024, 09:54:30 pm »
Copper wire is the way to go.
Get some pliers(your favourite pair, probably needle-nose) and grab it and push it gently down trhe hole to mel all the solder and unclog it.
Make sure you tin the tip with the wire inside periodically for good heat transmission.

Then just run the pump a bit to get it all out.

It is better to unclog it before it clogs completely.

Just give it a good ol' wire treatment every once in a while.

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Offline armandine2

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #28 on: January 26, 2024, 10:50:53 pm »


I have the drills and prongs but looking after your Hakko FR-301 is more involved than I imagined  :palm:
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Online edavid

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #29 on: January 27, 2024, 01:31:31 am »
Copper wire is the way to go.

No!  Use stainless steel wire that solder won't stick to.

You can buy this handy set from Metcal: https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/soldering-desoldering/soldering-desoldering-accessories/AC-TC
 

Online janoc

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #30 on: January 27, 2024, 01:05:43 pm »
Folks, that is a 7 years old thread you are reviving. The poster you are replying to possibly doesn't even have that device anymore.
 

Offline donlisms

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #31 on: January 27, 2024, 08:34:38 pm »
And yet... millions of people, all around the world, are still clogging their desoldering guns, and looking to this very forum for answers!

(Besides... stainless steel has an order of magnitude less thermal conductance than copper, so... maybe not such a good approach.  Solder sticks to copper in millions of circumstances, all around the world, every day, and people consider that a "good thing.")
 
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Offline Paceguy

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #32 on: January 27, 2024, 10:23:50 pm »
My Pace desoldering handpiece also clogs from time to time. I heat it up and use tip cleaning tool and un-clog it.
 

Offline Wallace Gasiewicz

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #33 on: January 28, 2024, 03:34:53 pm »
I started using Anti Seize compound on the inner tube of my solder suckers (Pace) and also on some tips that get stuck.  It works very well. the  stuff I bought at an auto supply is essentially aluminum and the solvent burns off quickly leaving a thin Al coating which helps a lot.  I also think there is a copper based paste. This sort of thing has been recommended by some  solder station manufacturers in the past.  Anti Seize compound is used on hot engine parts and also on jet engines etc... 
You just apply some of the paste to the inside of the tube with a wooden stick.I also have a clean out tool that looks like a thin screwdriver and a custom made round steel rod  that fits into the tube

Solder Suckers require maintenance, unfortunately.
 

Offline djc6

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #34 on: October 28, 2024, 09:44:48 pm »
Thanks for the tip on using a drill - let it cool down, I had to take the gun apart to use a drill from the back side of the heating element.  1/16th bit fit fine.

I found this method a lot safer than what I did a couple years ago which was remove a clog with the help of a soldering iron - since I wasn't having to use any force pushing the ramrod near a hot iron and hot desoldering gun.
 

Offline Langdon

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #35 on: October 29, 2024, 01:57:56 pm »
Unclogging a de-soldering iron is easy.
It just takes a little time.

1. Turn on the de-soldering iron/station and set it to the minimum temperature.

2. Get a piece of copper wire a bit thinner than the inside of the desoldering tip and hold it with some pliers.

3. Set the desoldering iron to the temperature required to heat the solder you use with ease.

4. If applicable, press the button on the back to get the iron ready to vacuum.

4. Wipe the tip of the desoldering iron and re-tin with flux core solder (probably lead-based solder is better for desoldering).

5. Push the copper wire slowly through the hole and let it heat up.

6. Use the copper wire to transmit heat from the tip to the clog to melt the clog.

7. Suck up the melted clog.


To prevent future clogs, make sure you preheat your desoldering iron for as long as possible at a low temperature before use.

Make sure the tip is always tinned and cleaned.

Always leave the tip wet with flux core solder to prevent corrosion.

If using a desoldering station, make sure to keep pressing the vacuum button until all solder is vacuumed out of the iron.

Any solder left behind will cause a clog.
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Offline Langdon

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Re: Clogged desoldering station
« Reply #36 on: October 29, 2024, 02:00:13 pm »
Copper wire is the best method.

Thanks Gyro!
My website used to be www.getpacman.gq
It is now www.langdonstaab.ca
"Low-tech solutions are beautiful"
 


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