You have to be old if your wick stops working.
I’ve had low success making my own from shielding etc though. The premade has always done much better for me.
I’ve had low success making my own from shielding etc though. The premade has always done much better for me.
Depending on your skills with an exacto knife, it can be done. I have used a number 11 blade that has been broken off at the right point to give the desired width, and then, using magnification, drag the side, or even the edge on end, over the solder until you are close to the board. After getting things about where you want, you can go ahead and make the final scrapes to expose the circuit board.
Is sometimes better than continually heating the board attempting to get the pool to cooperate.
Is sometimes better than continually heating the board attempting to get the pool to cooperate.
Well I have spent hours with an Xacto knife trying to move the solder off the traces. It won’t budge. I haven’t tried quite the techniques you described.
I have ordered some very fine solder wick and am still attempting to make a very fine solder sucker. This repair is beginning to look like it is beyond my capabilities.
I have ordered some very fine solder wick and am still attempting to make a very fine solder sucker. This repair is beginning to look like it is beyond my capabilities.
Do you have a hot air station? Using a small (reduction) nozzle and at high speed you can try to blow it away, I`ve done this accidentally.
Alas, no hot air station. Used to have one, wish I still - did as I think it would work like you said.
Get a heat gun...overgrown hair dryer, it was used here before hot air stations were available.
You have to be fast with them, very powerful.
Or a hair dryer, but I think it will not have enough power.
You have to be fast with them, very powerful.
Or a hair dryer, but I think it will not have enough power.
1. Flux. use generous amount of flux, a lot of it. Literarily pile the flux up on the job. there is no such thing as using too much flux. The excess can be easily washed off with propyl alcohol after. What breaks the bridges is the surface tension of the molten solder, and surface tension is best encouraged by flux. Keep the job wetted, very wet!
2. Tip. if braid wire does not work well, try a soldering tip with concave working surface, like this one
or DIY a concave tip by grinding a cavity on the flat tip surface with a Demel tool. This cavity would pick up a small amount of solder from the job, then be emptied by wiping on a damp sponge prior to next attempt. Soldering tip must maintain well tinned and without oxidation.
3. Temperature. Maintain the tip temperature in range of 325C-350C for leaded solder jobs.
2. Tip. if braid wire does not work well, try a soldering tip with concave working surface, like this one
or DIY a concave tip by grinding a cavity on the flat tip surface with a Demel tool. This cavity would pick up a small amount of solder from the job, then be emptied by wiping on a damp sponge prior to next attempt. Soldering tip must maintain well tinned and without oxidation.
3. Temperature. Maintain the tip temperature in range of 325C-350C for leaded solder jobs.
Oh there were great globs of flux all over everything. 😀 That darn solder just does not want to leave its happy home.
I had forgotten about the concave iron tip. Haven't seen one in years. Worth a try!
I had forgotten about the concave iron tip. Haven't seen one in years. Worth a try!
Try compressed air, it does make a mess. The cans with the thin nozzle tube work well. I have a reusable can with a nozzle tube which I can fill with my compressor. 1 - 3 psi max.
Maybe try a miniature diamond grinding point, attached to a dremel (or similar) rotary tool.
Ive used this type of device to cut through unwanted copper traces on circuit boards.
Ive used this type of device to cut through unwanted copper traces on circuit boards.
Let`s go for some chemical warfare. Soak it in NaOH - tin dissolves in it but copper is resistant.
I would not use air, too much risk of solder balls causing shorts.
If you are going to the city, ask your friends / local people, take it along to a repair man, it is a small job for someone with the right tools, steady hands and SMD work experience.
If you are going to the city, ask your friends / local people, take it along to a repair man, it is a small job for someone with the right tools, steady hands and SMD work experience.
Joke alert. Apologies in advance.
This thread reminded me of a song from Nick Mason's Ficticious Sports. Let's hope it doesn't get that's far...
Can't get my motor to start
Can't get my motor to start
Can't get my motor to start
Can't you get it to go?
Is your battery low?
No, I don't think so
Try pullin out on the choke
Try lookin' under the hood
Try pullin out on the choke
Try lookin' under the hood
Lookin under the hood
Never did any good
The choke must be broke
Try beatin' down with your feet
Looks like she's startin' to crank
Let's take the gasoline out
Try puttin' beer in the tank
Bring the beer over here
'Cause I need it to steer
Try pullin out all the wires
Try stuffin' cheese in the cracks
Try dynamitin' the tank
Smash all the glass with an ax
Do you have any grease?
Pour it over the seats
What did you do to my car?
What did you do to my car?
What did you do to my car?
What did you do to my car?
Well we took it apart
But we can't make it start
We wanna go for a ride
Let's push it over the hill
We wanna go for a ride
Let's push it over the hill
Better not get inside
'Cause she's startin' to slide
This thread reminded me of a song from Nick Mason's Ficticious Sports. Let's hope it doesn't get that's far...
Can’t Get My Motor To Start
Can't get my motor to startCan't get my motor to start
Can't get my motor to start
Can't get my motor to start
Can't you get it to go?
Is your battery low?
No, I don't think so
Try pullin out on the choke
Try lookin' under the hood
Try pullin out on the choke
Try lookin' under the hood
Lookin under the hood
Never did any good
The choke must be broke
Try beatin' down with your feet
Looks like she's startin' to crank
Let's take the gasoline out
Try puttin' beer in the tank
Bring the beer over here
'Cause I need it to steer
Try pullin out all the wires
Try stuffin' cheese in the cracks
Try dynamitin' the tank
Smash all the glass with an ax
Do you have any grease?
Pour it over the seats
What did you do to my car?
What did you do to my car?
What did you do to my car?
What did you do to my car?
Well we took it apart
But we can't make it start
We wanna go for a ride
Let's push it over the hill
We wanna go for a ride
Let's push it over the hill
Better not get inside
'Cause she's startin' to slide
Very small soldering pads like those found with surface mounted devices require very small soldering bits and an extremely steady hand. That is one reason why hot air and specialised fluxes are used. Flux for SMDs should prevent molten solder from forming shorts between adjacent device pins, pads and tracks.
My advice is to watch some videos by Louis Rossmann on youtube.
My advice is to watch some videos by Louis Rossmann on youtube.
I can see how SMD flux might be better. But really if I had not gotten so much solder in there in the first place the repair would probably be working. It’s touchy at that scale and takes practice and experience that I don’t have.
Should have some canned air soon and some tiny solder wick in about 10 days. If that doesn’t work then I won’t sink anymore time into this turkey.
Should have some canned air soon and some tiny solder wick in about 10 days. If that doesn’t work then I won’t sink anymore time into this turkey.
Just for the records, please note I meant:
Try to get help from gravity: place vertically the traces "and then remove the excess solder" with a lot of flux.
Sorry if you'll give up... 🥷