Good Source for Solder Wick - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2020, 08:21:12 pm
content: I'm running low on solder wick that someone gave me. It seems to work well, and believe I'd like to buy the same stuff, however, the price range I've found differs greatly.The stuff I use is: Easy Braid, Quick Braid Rosin, Size D, 10ft, CAT. No. Q-D-10ASI found prices from approximately $6 to $15. Does anyone have input on name/type and have a source that has good prices?

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2020, 07:23:53 pm
content: I plan to buy more soon, does anyone have input?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2020, 08:30:26 pm
content: Buy Chemtronics Soder-wick instead. Literally all the other stuff I've tried is crap. Sources, not sure in the US. Have a Google around. It's easy to get hold of which is another good thing about it!

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2020, 09:18:59 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on January 07, 2020, 08:30:26 pmTHIS. Chemtronics is simply the best.I have rolls of chemtroncs that are 20 years old and still work perfectly fine.

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2020, 10:11:15 pm
content: +1 for Chemtronics. It's the best I've come across.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2020, 02:27:20 am
content: Any particular size, type, etc...?

author: nigelwright7557
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2020, 04:14:03 am
content: I have bought a few off ebay.However the quality was a bit of a lottery.Some wicked up solder very well and others didn't.Its not just copper braid but there is also flux in it as well to ensure good wicking.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2020, 04:19:29 am
content: Quote from: bostonman on January 08, 2020, 02:27:20 amThis video has a bit of info. Like any consumables buy a small quantity and try it out. When I brought my last lot they had small lengths, can't remember the exact price but it wasn't all that expensive to get a bunch of them.

author: 48X24X48X
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2020, 05:01:37 am
content: Get the Chemtronics, nothing else. It is softer which helps when pressing in tight spot. Buy a full tub (tub of 10) so you can keep out the air and moisture.

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2020, 01:32:50 pm
content: Quote from: bostonman on January 08, 2020, 02:27:20 amhttps://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/desoldering-wicks-braids/3829832/?relevancy-data=636F3D3126696E3D4931384E53656172636847656E65726963266C753D656E266D6D3D6D61746368616C6C7061727469616C26706D3D5E2E2A2426706F3D31333326736E3D592673723D2673743D43415443485F414C4C5F44454641554C542673633D592677633D4E4F4E45267573743D6368656D74726F6E6963732031302D356C267374613D6368656D74726F6E6963732031302D356C26&searchHistory=%7B%22enabled%22%3Atrue%7D

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2020, 04:13:26 pm
content: Weird that Chemtronics is getting so much love as I've had nothing but bad results with it. Oddly enough, I've had the best luck with NTE no-clean wick, but maybe I'll give the Chemtronics another try.EDIT - it might have been Techspray wick that didn't work well for me... vvvEDIT 2 - even when soaked in Kester #951 liquid no-clean flux.

author: GerardG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2020, 10:05:04 am
content: https://printtec.nl/contents/nl/d306_Desoldering_braid.html

author: OwO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2020, 10:55:57 am
content: If you add some flux even the cheapest crap solder wick works well.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2020, 10:56:06 am
content: Make sure you get chemtronics wick from a legit source. Like digikey or something.If you get it from ebay/amazon/aliexpress it will be fake.

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 10:53:41 am
content: Quote from: MagicSmoker on January 08, 2020, 04:13:26 pmI accidentally bought the rosin fluxed Chemtronics wick (#80-2-5) for (re-)testing rather than the no-clean version, but it does work well... for now, anyway. I say this because I found the roll of bad wick that I kept as a reminder not to ever buy it again (after ordering the above... go figure) and it is, indeed, Chemtronics 80-2-5. In fact, I tried dabbing this wick with an rma flux pen and exactly as I remember it still doesn't work; solder just beads up around it once it melts under the wick. Very puzzling, as the only good explanation I can come up with for this behavior is that the bare wick was allowed to oxidize before the flux was applied to it.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 11:01:45 am
content: I once got a bad chemtronic wick too.I just assumed it was a fake, since they definitely exist.The stuff i get now is in a white plastic roll and i buy it from digikeyChemtronicsSODER-WICK ROSIN (I think they are trying to troll the rest of the world with their spelling, but meh, it's good wick so i will add an L with a sharpie and use it)Size 4450-4-2525ft/7.5mMade in USA

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 11:14:29 am
content: You’d be surprised how much counterfeit wick is out there online.Buy it from reliable sources like Digi-Key and you won’t have a problem. I like the goot wick as well, but everything I’ve bought online has been crap, but buying from jaycar it is genuine and works well.

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 11:32:35 am
content: Quote from: Psi on January 14, 2020, 11:01:45 amWell, I was all ready to refute this with a claim I bought this wick from Digikey or Mouser, as is usually the case, but I flipped it over and saw a just barely visible price of $2.00 marked on it which means I must have got it from Skycraft, the legendary surplus store in Orlando, FL. So, yeah... it might very well be fake.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 11:43:46 am
content: If it's old and the flux is shot that could be the problem as well.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 01:29:51 pm
content: Good point. Mine comes from RS in UK and it’s sealed per reel in a bag. Lives in a zip lock bag as well.

author: djnz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 11:54:37 am
content: This is a somewhat different opinion, but I have come to believe that the actual brand of the wick does not matter that much. if you have "bad" braid, apply some liquid flux before use to it to the side that will come in contact with the board; the flux vaporises / smokes and escapes through the braid, the escaping vapors create lower pressure which in turn sucks up the solder.I am aware many people say use only brand x, but I think it does not matter that much if you apply flux manually.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 12:18:03 pm
content: Capillary action and solder flowing towards the heat source is what all the cool kids say.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2020, 05:42:06 pm
content: Amazon has Chem-wick all day long.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 01:36:14 am
content: Quote from: djnz on January 17, 2020, 11:54:37 amMost of what makes a "good wick good" or a "bad wick bad" is the amount and quality of the flux added.So yes, if you add some good flux to bad wick it will magically start working well most of the time.There are some bad wicks where the copper braid itself is not very clean/shiny copper and so doesn't work well.So it's safer to just get good quality wick to start with.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 04:40:19 pm
content: Chemtronics is OK, but it’s not the best. I prefer MG Chemicals, which has a much finer weave that works better. And it’s cheaper to boot.I posted some close ups of various wicks here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/desoldering-advice-please-removing-dip-ic_s-without-damage/msg833426/#msg833426

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 08:31:48 pm
content: Yeah, that "MG" used in the first post/vid of that link looks weird, like it's falling apart or woven too loose. I have never used MG, but the Chemwik stuff I have is like a high quality copper cloth, super soft and flexible, and the threads don't seperate like that. It's way different from the cheap stuff, what looks like that vid. I am guessing that MG stuff is fake.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 11:26:23 pm
content: I use at work Chemtronics and at home MG Chemicals. To me they perform equally well for my jobs.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 12:46:30 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on February 15, 2020, 08:31:48 pmAgreed. My MG doesn’t fray at all in normal use.At work, we have Stannol wick, which is just as fine as the MG. First time I encountered a brand as good as MG.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 01:03:29 pm
content: I used a friends "soldamop" wick once, and it seemed just as awesome as chemtronics.So if you find chemtronics hard to source have a look for soldamop.Just make sure whatever 'good' brand you buy it's from an official distributor

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 01:38:30 pm
content: How about a source based on pricing? I didn't realize solder wick is so expensive because everything I have was donated to me from old stock people were tossing. Now I'm running out.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2020, 11:32:13 am
content: Quote from: bostonman on February 17, 2020, 01:38:30 pm$18.34 for 7 meter spoolhttps://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/chemtronics/50-4-25/50-4-25-ND/306989

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 10:23:53 pm
content: Quote from: OwO on January 09, 2020, 10:55:57 amIt works muchbetterbut it does not work quite as well as good braid. The problem with the ultra-cheap crap is the braid is thick copper wire, the good stuff has a very fine weave. tooki linked some photos for an idea.

author: Russ314
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2020, 11:28:08 am
content: I just bought this MG Chemicals Superwick on Amazon last week:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008O9VZ3K/ref=twister_B008UH3HLE?_encoding=UTF8&th=1It's incredible. I was replacing a roll of the exact stuff, except... it's not the exact stuff anymore. MG has changed the packaging and the formula. It has a LOT of flux on it now. It works a thousand times better than the old stuff (plus my roll was ~5 years old), but the downside is that if you twist the braid around, it sheds a bunch of powdered flux onto your PCB. More flux = better wicking = bigger mess. Overall, I much prefer this new formula because it works so fast that you really don't put any heat into the parts; it's literally instantaneous wicking. In 20 years of using various wicks, I've never seen it work this well or this fast.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2020, 10:58:22 am
content: Quote from: Russ314 on February 20, 2020, 11:28:08 amYeah, that's normal. Chemtronics wick does that too.Cloud of white powder if you bang the wick against something hard or twist it