Instructables: DIY de-soldering tool uses simple lead bath - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: nzo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2011, 11:55:04 pm
content: Just came across this:http://www.instructables.com/id/Desoldering-tool/There are 3 short videos at the foot of the page, showing it in action.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2011, 01:58:18 am
content: All i can think of is the mess it would make if it fell overespecially on the carpetYou can get pre-made solder pots for US$16 on DX (they have bigger sizes too)http://www.dealextreme.com/p/150w-temperature-controlled-soldering-pot-blue-golden-220v-48761Though i'd probably take it apart and check it for safety before powering up.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2011, 02:11:30 am
content: Very dangerous toy. I think it's too light, it may turn over.

author: nzo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2011, 02:34:37 am
content: Fair comment.Lifeis dangerous!If this is not your thing, modd it to make it safer.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2011, 04:44:26 am
content: I have one like Psi posted, do not use it very much though.

author: shadewind
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2011, 01:23:38 am
content: It a cool idea but surely there must be ways to desolder stuff that are less... crude? I mean, there's always hot air for SMT components and desoldering guns for PTH parts.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2011, 02:26:02 am
content: Yes, use the right tool for the job. Desoldering a DC Jack in some boards, for instance, is a pain, and the solder bath does not help, since there are SMDs on both sides of the board. But solder bath is great to remove components from single sided boards and specially if you need to tint a lot of wires.In the old days we used solder bath to remove HDD connectors, memory slots and processor sockets.

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 29, 2011, 03:37:27 pm
content: I would have placed a floor tile under it instead of a book (or heck, a frying pan), and use shorter screws. The center of mass on that thing is a little tall...

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2011, 05:20:04 am
content: That's my point. But it's a nice instructable anyway. I like home made tools.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 30, 2011, 10:01:03 am
content: Oh dear...an accident waiting to happen. Look how high that pot is held by those four screws...Proper pots have means of bolting them down on a bench. That would be a nice addition to this tool I think. Example:http://www.rapidonline.com/catalogueimages/module/M073129P01WL.jpgI got an Ersa pot from ebay really cheap and it was NIB. This one:http://www.blundell.co.uk/photos/T07_large.JPGFilling it up in the first place was a bit of an..investment. I use it for tinning wires and component leads. I suppose you can use it for soldering a large number of populated components at once, not sure about how nice the board will look afterwards...I thought solder pots were rare amongst hobbyists, I mean you can/should use a hot air gun or low melting point solder or vaccum desoldering or desoldering braid for DIP type components. What do you guys use it for?

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2011, 01:17:02 am
content: So Glad people here are not senseless. NOT funny until it fell on your laps. Solder melts at nearly double the boiling point of water, so you get 2x the burn?? of a cup of hot water. Like Alex said, those pots are made for thinning leads, don't try covering it with a pcb, some leads will get stuck by the edge and hook then tip the pot.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2011, 01:30:13 am
content: Quote from: nukie on October 03, 2011, 01:17:02 amCase in point, I filled a cup-ended banana plug with molten solder to fix a wire into it. A banana plug is tiny and the amount of solder involved was minuscule. But silly me, I knocked it with my wrist while reaching over it and burned my arm. The contact was for a fraction of a second covering an area about 5 mm across, but still I got a significant burn with a scab that will take many days to heal.The injury from spilling several pounds of molten solder on yourself does not bear thinking about. You would probably be scarred for life and would certainly need plastic surgery and skin grafts. Don't go there, kiddies.