ac powered DIY solder sucker - what nozzle material? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: jaqie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 12:38:21 pm
content: I have been kicking around this idea for some time to make an AC powered solder sucker for myself on the cheap just to see if it works (and if it does post it on the net as a cheap diy project)...I know I can get low power low suction (~2.5PSI) out of an aquarium air pump sealed and rigged with a nozzle on the housing, I have done it before. The thing will most likely be hooked to a small plastic container which is designed to collect the solder pieces and other sucked up bits after they solidify inside the tube.I know this in theory could work great, I just don't know what tube won't let solder or flux stick to it when it is hot and liquid or melt under such stresses - do I need silicone tubing, teflon, or something even more unique? I figure the tube at the first hand-length will have to be this stuff, and then prettymuch be safe afterwards to use normal tubing, so it doesn't have to be flexible.Ideas on what material could be useful for this?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 01:10:05 pm
content: Normally PTFE or silicone will work. PTFE is more rigid.

author: jaqie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2013, 11:05:53 am
content: Found a couple things on ebay, so I may be able to make a batt powered one, interesting to me how this is evolving.www.ebay.com/itm/271131348244"3v Mini oxygenation increasing oxygen pump Air pump for aquarium Fish Tank Toy"www.ebay.com/itm/140813892893"16ft. Aquarium Silicone Air Line Tubing for Fish Tank Air Pump 3/16" Standard"I figure these, an old bic pen shell, a pill bottle for the "waste tank", another for the motor and battery pack, a bit of wire with a tac switch, and some hot glue might be all I need. It would be great if this would be a totally handheld cordless tool!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2013, 11:29:27 am
content: I have a vacuum pump, reservoir and the valve from a defunct Tektronix Phaser 340 printer. Probably will be able to bodge one together from that. Thanks for making me think of that Jaqie.All operate off 24V, easy enough to make, i have a old DIN rail power supply somewhere that does 24VDC.I will suggest though to put a filter in line to the vacuum pump before the air valve. Just the smallest cheapest fuel filter with plastic barb fittings you can buy at your local motor spares counter. Not a metal high pressure one, just a simple one. That will get rid of particles that will block the pump. Replace every so often when it clogs.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2013, 10:19:03 am
content: I think that solder sucker (nice name btw) needs quite a potent vaccuum pump. I also think that the handpiece would need some form of labyrinth/filter/contrifuge-style separator to make sure that sucked solder won't make it to the pump.At some point i was experimenting with car tire pump, intended to be powered from cigarette lighter socket. It was really cheap ($8?) and had quite string air output. The only drawback was that it was extremely loud. I guess you could put that into air-tight container, bring the hose out to exaust air and that would produce vaccum inside the box. You could also suppress the noise somewhat. You can also buy a membrane type pump as a spare for chinese hot air or vaccuum pickup tool.

author: jaqie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2013, 11:37:53 am
content: the filter is super easy, just some open cell foam filter material from an old window air conditioner unit and a twistie or two around the intake to the pump in the catch container and I'm done.

author: jaqie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 09:52:17 am
content: The chinese supplier of that 3v pump sent me a broken english ebay message saying none are in stock and the supplier stopped making them. bummer. back to an AC aquarium pump once I get more stable financially.Irks me how they said they had 70 something in stock and never even had one.

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 09:53:19 pm
content: You might find an aquarium pump moves too little volume to work effectively.I had one of my desoldering stations open the other day and it used a sewing machine size motor driving a piston diaphram pump to generate vacuum. It's fairly robust.I've thought of setting up a system with a vacuum reservoir. A pump and sensor would keep the vacuum within limits and a solenoid valve would control vacuum to the desoldering gun.Think what happens with a solder sucker. You get a pretty high intensity pulse sucking the molten solder out.If your nozzle isn't heated you run the risk of having the solder solidify in the tube, blocking it completely.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 11:00:04 am
content: +1 to aquarium pump is useless. if you want "to get fancy" use microcontroller project... meet the failed one...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/a-simple-electrical-powered-vacuum-desolder-suction-pump-beginner-level/using conventional "hand operation" is more handy.

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 05:21:28 pm
content: Before you get too heavily invested in putting together a solder sucker, consider your useage. In my work experience, the only task IVe prefered a solder sucker (even the one in a nice weller WR3M) over solder braid was cleaning out empty plated though holes. If there is a lead in the hole, the wick works great, and the sucker is meh. However, you have to get good wick, and it has to be fluxed (or flux it with a flux pen yourself) Ive used mainly "Soder Wick" by chemtronics. On occasion when you get a hole which doesnt want to wick empty, a spring-piston solder sucker suits my needs. Maybe it excells at bigger stuff that Ive not been doing though, YMMV.

author: jaqie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 06:19:56 pm
content: yeah one of the things I want to do is make my own power supplies. I already do some work with big power stuff, and have a 140w weller nichrome soldering gun.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2013, 06:47:49 pm
content: Here is the stuff I have from a dead Tek printer.....All it needs is a vacuum switch to control the pump ( original printer did not have one, they just ran the pump for a minute before to build up a reserve then used the valve to apply suction to the print head via a big suction cup) which is easy enough to get, about $20 for a generic adjustable LP cutout for an industrial refrigerant compressor.