Tips for desoldering multistrand wire - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: aabbcc
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 02:11:48 pm
content: Every now and then I run into having to desolder multistrand wire from either a PCB or some kind of connector.My issues is that I'm able to get most of the solder out but by then the plastuc securing the terminal on for example an iec connector has slightly melted due to the heat or small strands of wire are left in the terminal hole.How do you do this cleanely? Tried with both wick and desolder pump, there has got to be some secret technique I'm unaware of

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 02:36:51 pm
content: Usually I pull the wire off the board / connector while heating the solder joint. If there were broken strands, they will be left at the joint, I try to remove them with the iron and tweezers. If necessary, use wick or pump for the left over solder, often it's not necessary to completely remove the solder.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 04:13:43 pm
content: Mate the connector with a spare one of the opposite gender to support the pins while they are hot. Use the biggest bit that you can get onto a single pin at a time, and a high wattage iron, as you need rapid heat transfer while the wire's still in there. Capt bullshot has described the general technique. Desolder braid is too slow and suckers perform poorly on a blind hole so they aren't much use for connector cleanup. You can try heating the terminal and rapping the whole connector body on the edge of a shallow tin so the solder spatter goes in the tin rather than everywhere across your bench. However if the original joint was good, there will be about the right amount of solder left to make a new joint with a freshly tinned and fluxed wire end, by simply pushing it in as soon as the terminal reflows, and only adding extra solder if the fillet is deficient.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 07:11:18 pm
content: Quote from: capt bullshot on April 21, 2019, 02:36:51 pmThat is exactly how I do it. I use the tip or iron with the largest heat capacity which can be applied and wet it with solder if necessary. I apply the tip for maximum heat transfer while gently pulling on the wire. Often the wire pulls out leaving most of the solder till in the connector or hole in a solid state.It is better to use a larger heat capacity than a high temperature. A higher temperature is more likely to lead to melted plastic and burnt materials.

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 10:28:09 pm
content: I usually get the iron as hot as it will go. Wait a few minutes when it gets there so it's really that hot. Use you biggest tip. Then I push from the back. I'll pull on wires while pushing. If you use a bevel tip, fill it up with a glob of solder. This helps with the heat transfer.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2019, 02:23:39 am
content: If you're not trying to save the wire, cut the wire close to the connector/pcb...just leave enough for grabbing purposes. Then you won't be losing gobs of heat to the wire and the job gets easier.