Non-heat conductive poking tool - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ransonjd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 03:03:57 pm
content: Any suggestions for a non-heat conductive, non-melting, non combustible tool that can be used to push parts under hot air rework?Thanks,John

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 03:53:07 pm
content: Google “ceramic tipped tweezers”Stainless dental picks or stainless tweezers is what I use though. Stainless steel doesn’t have very good thermal conductivity, and if you use something small and thin the conductivity is reduced even further.

author: ransonjd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 07:19:55 pm
content: I've considered ceramic tweezers, but I'll admit I'm looking for something more like a ceramic tipped pick or probe. Essentially, a stick with a ceramic end with a fine point.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 11:03:06 pm
content: What would be the advantage of the ceramic tip over stainless?Unless you are poking the thing for minutes at a time, I can't see much heat conducting.https://www.kismetmosaic.com/products/dental-pick-set

author: ransonjd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 02:22:45 pm
content: Yesterday I removed a small leadless IC with a thermal pad tied to four ground planes on a lead-free board. Even with a preheater and hot air, it took ages to get off the board. Since I was working under a microscope, I could only move my stainless tool so far away before I lost sight of it, and the air bouncing off the board heated it up. It got hot. This is my use case.Yes, the technically correct, but more expensive answer is a bigger preheater.

author: ralphrmartin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 04:49:08 pm
content: Quote from: ransonjd on February 15, 2018, 07:19:55 pmCut a pair of tweezers in half?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2018, 07:08:52 am
content: PTFE rod, with the end machined down to a blunt tip. Works well at reflow temperatures, and generally does not char unless you are going stupid hot on the point. Buy a length around pencil diameter of solid or glass filled PTFE and use an automatic pencil sharpener on it.

author: GerryBags
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 12:58:52 am
content: I have some titanium needles, one with a nice glass blob on the end, which are used far (ahem) dabbing shatter... but never mind that, they can take ridiculous amounts of heating and cooling without ill effects.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 01:12:41 am
content: I want to say "sharpen a stick"But I confess, I didn't read the thread.

author: ransonjd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 02:44:10 am
content: I've tried a sharp stick. While I enjoy the smell of wood smoke, I fear that my wife is going to think that I've accidentally lit the house on fire.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 11:00:11 pm
content: I use an X-acto knife. The tiny contact area of the point prevents heat transfer. The stainless is VERY unlikely to accept solder. Works like a charm.Jon

author: AllTheGearNoIdea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2018, 04:03:59 pm
content: Glass rod - been used in labs for +100 years

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2018, 04:52:53 am
content: QuoteSometimes you have room, perhaps, to just nudge the part with the side of the hot air nozzle, itself. I'll do this with the inside lip of the nozzle. The air flow has thus far been enough to prevent a part from sticking inside the nozzle or falling inside and blowing out the TRIAC, lol.

author: JonM
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2018, 04:17:26 am
content: Ceramic tubes or rods could be good. I used to use them for ion optics assemblies and probably have some in my materials bin. I will move some to a toolbox thanks to this topic.McMaster-Carr has a 1/8" dia, 12" long tube for $14.70. Ceramic would have a "more square" end than glass that has been fire polished to not be dangerous. The ceramic tube or rod would probably be a superior probe for the purposes of pushing a component off of a board.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2018, 03:07:34 am
content: Bit late, but I find it strange ceramic screwdrivers are not mentioned.https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=ceramic+screwdriverOrignally these were designed for adjusting HF inductors / capacitors because of their non magnetic / conductive properties, but because of the hardness of ceramics they stand up really well to all kind of abuse.(Untill they break, that is one of the few ways to wreck them).