This tool came with my soldering station, what is it? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: GnatGoSplat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 10:17:23 pm
content: I've had my soldering station over 6yrs now. It came with this tool that I have no idea what it is or what it's called in order to search for what it's used for.What is this, and how do I use it?Only took me 6yrs to get around to asking.

author: LateLesley
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 10:40:59 pm
content: It's apparently an IC extraction tool.https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32922475546.html

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 10:55:50 pm
content: I got one also with my hot air gun. I assumed its for grabbing the IC to get it off the field of battle without disrupting other nearby components while hot and presumably mobile. But like you Ive never used it for that.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 11:25:38 pm
content: It is a chip lifter for hot air rework. You slide it under the SMD IC before heating, and it allows you to lift up to see when the solder reflows, so you can easily remove the IC without disturbing the pads. This works best on gull-wing QFPs and TSOPs.The alternative method of chip removal is to use a vacuum pen to lift upwards from the center of the chip. You should not be using tweezers on large flat paks as they are too easy to slip and cause damage to the chip or the board.

author: GnatGoSplat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 12:29:28 am
content: Thanks! I thought it might be something like that, although the prongs seemed a bit large for fitting under components easily.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 02:14:46 am
content: It is in theory for pulling TQFP packages, in practice it does not work unless you only have one IC and absolutely nothing around it. Basically a useless tool.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 02:24:16 am
content: Its name? Well its not a spork (a spoon fork, as given to passengers on airlines everywhere) but the name spork seems to fit.

author: GnatGoSplat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 02:50:14 am
content: Ah, I see it goes under the pins. I was having a bit of trouble visualizing it.I doubt I'll be pulling many of those, but if I ever do, I hope I still remember what that tool does (I have a funny feeling I knew what it did 6yrs ago and forgot sometime in-between).

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 02:53:21 am
content: Also, be careful, this tool can apply quite a bit of leverage even if not held in the hand, it is super easy to pull the trace if a few last pins have not melted yet.And if you are holding it, it is very hard to gauge the pressure. This tool sucks all round.

author: Unixon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 09:57:02 am
content: This is clearly a tool for board destruction by lifting many pads with a chip and damaging nearby components.It's better to keep touching a chip gently with tweezers or a wooden toothpick (while heating it up) until it starts floating / freely moving, and only then apply any removal tool whether it is a vacuum pen of tweezers or some special bracket.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 08:22:58 pm
content: whats a good cheap tool that is preferable ? Ive seen vacuum pens used, but on larger chips than Ive tried to remove so far, what about very small chips?

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 08:26:57 pm
content: I personally just use thin gauge wire passed under the chip similar to how this tool does. Pass the wire from two opposite sides and tie it on the top at some distance from the IC (2" or so).This leaves plenty of space for the heat, and when needed you can remove the IC using this wire. The wire also lets you apply well controlled amount of force.

author: Acecool
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 11:52:30 pm
content: There is a tiny gap along the side of the pins this fits nicely in... but yeah - as others have said this does apply leverage and it can rip up pads. I personally prefer tweezers... apply heat until they swim and then either slide them off, or lift up...