My new solder wick sucks... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2011, 07:07:20 pm
content: ...or rather it doesn't. Grrr.I've just spent half an hour unsoldering a simple DIP14 package and discovered my newsolder wick is rubbish.What brands can you recommend? The last I had was "Soder-Wick" made by Chemtronics.I thought that worked very well.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2011, 07:42:06 pm
content: Quote from: david77 on October 03, 2011, 07:07:20 pmWait a minute.QuoteOk, that makes more sense.QuoteSoak it in flux.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2011, 09:53:04 pm
content: Chemtronics "Soder-Wick" is about the best, However even good wick is not very good at desoldering plated-through-hole pads though unless the holes are quite big- a vacuum desoldering tool or solder-sucker works a lot better.

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2011, 10:04:00 pm
content: Yes, I know. Desoldering parts from double sided THT boards is always a pain.Even less fun on Philips boards from the 70's, I always find thema bitvery crap.The pads come off so easily.Maybe it's time to invest in a proper desoldering tool. If Weller wasn't that expensive.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 12:37:15 am
content: I also have a problem with solder wick. I use "goot wick" brand, but sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not. The plastic packaging is different every time I buy it. I've heard that many chinese sellers sell false goot wick.I was thiniking about testing chemtronics, but as I see on this topic, it seems that it won't do any big difference.Is there any other reliable brand?Chemtronics is much more expensive than Goot Wick.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 12:56:36 am
content: Quote from: david77 on October 03, 2011, 10:04:00 pmyou can enhance your skill or your tool. your choice, i also got this rubbish type wick, but when i did what BaW said, it makes wonder. you can argue, that a wick without built in flux is a crap, but for me, well... not using what you have bought is even crappy, imho. and fyi, i just found out in order to suck faster and larger amount of solder, you can pull spread the wick into greater width and start wicking. and use of bga flux (liquid) is easier then the sticky flux. for rough work, i even used that crappy zinc chloride "plumber" flux. cheap!Quote from: ablacon64 on October 04, 2011, 12:37:15 amfalse copper?Quote from: ablacon64 on October 04, 2011, 12:37:15 amso now you know, a copper, is just a copper.Quote from: ablacon64 on October 04, 2011, 12:37:15 ammaybe chem got 2 bosses than goot only 1. so chem need to pay more to their bosses

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 03:52:07 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on October 03, 2011, 07:42:06 pmWhat he said.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 04:32:39 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on October 04, 2011, 12:56:36 amheheh... I understand what you mean. I've had great results using Goot with liquid flux. A very strong flux made of isopropyl alcohol and rosin. But I was thinking about a solder wick that would not need to be soaked in flux.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 05:23:59 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on October 04, 2011, 12:56:36 amhehe, not as far fetched as it seems.I got a box of CAT5 cable once, turned out to be some other metal plated with copper.

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 05:27:21 am
content: I don't know why, but the last time I picked up some solder wick, I decided to try one from MG Chemicals... I was very pleased with it, works a treat. I've been looking for my package so I could pass on the details but..... well... my bench is a disaster area and I can't find it. I do have a sneaking suspicion that solder wick is prone to aging and that fresh product works better than stuff that's oxidized, flux or not.RegardsChristian

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 03:17:58 pm
content: Quote from: ablacon64 on October 04, 2011, 04:32:39 amFlux is a light acid intended to dissolve the oxidized layer on the surface of metals; this layer impedes the metal-to-metal bonding process. What makes the situation inherently difficult is that copper has a natural tendency to slowly oxidize when exposed to air. Without flux, copper wick reworking is often times the asymptotic equivalent to sex with your pants on...and if you're not careful, the damage done by applying excess heat may be comparable to getting your junk caught in the zipper.In short, use flux and a serviceable screwdriver tip for maximum surface contact when desoldering with wick.

author: bilko
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 05:25:50 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on October 04, 2011, 05:23:59 amUsually CCA copper clad aluminium if you're not careful

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 05:31:16 pm
content: i thought aluminum is more expensive than copper.

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 06:32:05 pm
content: You may have wick that is too thick for what you are trying to do. I had 2 widths from the same brand at work, the wider one is terrible, the thinner is very reliable.Neil

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 10:41:31 pm
content: I did get two rolls of "swis stone" brand solder wick today and after a first test this one works much better than the cheap stuff I was complaining about before, I've also brewed up a bottle of rosin/alcohol solution to use as flux with it. Works a treat.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 03:36:29 am
content: I used Chemtronics for years it works very well. A few years ago I switched to Goot. I find that Goot sometimes needs a bit of flux for encouragement. Goot is thick and not as densely weaved/packed as Chemtronics. So Chemtronics tends to hold less solder, I find myself cutting Chemtronics used wick frequently. Chemtronics wick also leave behind very thick brown flux that is quite hard to remove. Make sure you get genuine Goot, plenty of authorize distributors, lots of fake floating around.Flux is the magic. Not only it enhance flow but also improves heat transfer. If your wick is not hot, it won't soak up the solder. Don't inhale flux fumes!For some reason, I feel that solder wicking is harder skill to master than soldering. The action is not about dabbing but more of wiping across solder pads with a light touch to avoid the fine strands of wick from catching and tearing pads from the clad board.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 04:57:01 am
content: nukie, about the thick brown flux leftover, try to remove it with ethyl acetate (CH3COOCH2CH3). Very strong solvent, not harmful and does a great job. You don't have to buy pure ethyl acetate, the diluted solution that is found in drugstores is enough. Give it a try.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 05:17:59 am
content: I've tried Chemtronics in the past, but lately I've been using Techspray no-clean solder wick, and I find it works really well, and doesn't need extra flux and doesn't leave a mess to clean up either. I see nobody has mentioned Techspray here, so I thought I would chime in with my results.I've had no problem with plated through holes. Temperature is important, I use around 650F and sometimes go as high as 700F depending on how much metal there is. Also the wick will get saturated fast, you have to move it to a clean spot, often before you are finished, in order to get the best action. I can usually clean a hole in about 1 second and move on to the next one.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2011, 01:59:30 am
content: Quote from: Psi on October 04, 2011, 05:23:59 amSteel plated with copper would work just as well as solid copper for high speed communications since the skin effect means that only the outer part would be used, about 20 microns or so at 10MHz and going lower as frequency increases. It will definitely reduce the maximum run length of PoE, though.You'll also note that RG6 coax uses a copper plated steel core, because using solid copper is a waste at high frequencies.

author: zaoka
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2011, 12:36:32 pm
content: Bach home I used Ersa wick, in america I tested few and this one is the less expensive one and works the best, no complains at all!:Available atwww.globalsemi.comand Digikey

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2011, 04:18:31 pm
content: I like the 2mm Chemtronics braid for my hobby electronics, can't say I've had a problem with it really on either LF or leaded.