Need station + tweezers for desoldering large volume of DIPs - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bob jackson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 04:06:21 pm
content: Hi, I am looking for a soldering station/tweezer combo so I can remove hundreds of DIPs at a time more efficiently than a desoldering gun, which is what I currently use. I am only working on through hole boards (synthesizers and pro audio gear from the 80's/90's).The station would need to be able to heat pairs of long blade tips of different sizes, up to 32mm for DIP32 packages (even longer would be a plus but not totally necessary as I desolder those larger ones less frequently).So far my research has led me to a very expensive option: the JBC HT470-A tweezers and 2x HDE control units, over $2000 USD including tweezers. Can heat pairs of blades up to 37mm. My budget will not allow this, I would like to spend under $1000 including tweezers and tips.Do you have any suggestions? I am not opposed to buying used if there are good options out there. I just want to make sure that new tips are still available. I will not be using it that frequently, but I do have a couple projects which amount to over 400 DIPs, and I'm sure I will have more like that in the future.I also saw some DIP removal tips like these for a non-tweezer setup:which look great but I would need one for each size of DIP so that could get expensive, and I'm not sure they even make them anymore (I saw a couple sizes on google).

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 04:20:41 pm
content: Which part is important to you, the DIP chips or the board that they are being taken out of?

author: bob jackson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 04:54:33 pm
content: Well actually, I should have mentioned this in my OP, but I will mostly be removing sockets not actual DIP IC's, so the board is more important, as I will be putting new sockets in.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 05:23:38 pm
content: How big are the boards?Is it an option to heat them up in an oven or from underneath with IR or hot air, and pluck the sockets off the top?I sometimes strip large boards with a heat gun - when done right, the board survives intact...

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 05:34:45 pm
content: If you use large blades on a tweezers, you still have to clean up the excess solder, right? So if you just want an easy way to heat up all the pins and pop the socket out without damaging the board, you might try making a custom nozzle or nozzles for a hot air station. Try starting with a square BGA nozzle and cutting it down.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000116993320.html?src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&&albagn=888888&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&albcp=11473829221&albag=112083206157&trgt=489474619664&crea=en4000116993320&netw=u&device=c&albpg=489474619664&albpd=en4000116993320&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7YyCBhD_ARIsALkj54rCgfVXkE1bWuC14NP01P_eRgYof9VA9FGIg4PQA7t62TJW6sfZP28aAoQcEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

author: bob jackson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 06:58:16 pm
content: Right I would still have to clean the solder, probably go over the holes with the vacuum and some wick.I like the idea of hot air, it would be a lot cheaper. I had thought of this before but was not sure how to modify the nozzle to fit IC's so there would be little overshoot, I would like to avoid heating adjacent components. I could use a big nozzle like you linked to, and just cut a piece of metal in the shape of an IC and use that as a shield for adjacent components. I just roughly cut out a piece of aluminum foil as an example,https://imgur.com/a/6jSMe0AOr I could use kapton tape, though that would be more work.I tried googling "modify hot air nozzle, diy hot air nozzle, custom hot air nozzle" but did not find results relevant to this application. Do you (or anyone else) have any examples or ideas of how to do this? I imagine with a welding station it would be quite easy but I don't have one.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 07:14:36 pm
content: Can you pull the socket bodies off and then desolder the contacts individually?

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 07:36:07 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on March 06, 2021, 07:14:36 pmThat would be my approach.Or, if they're turned pin sockets and you're repairing a socket with just 1 or 2 faulty pins you can heat an individual pin with an iron then push up with the iron while grabbing it from the top to pull it out. Clean the hole and replace with a new insert taken from another socket.It's often quicker & easier to do this than replacing the entire socket, especially if power pins are connected to internal copper pours.

author: bob jackson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 07:43:52 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on March 06, 2021, 07:14:36 pmWould you just pry up the socket? I've never tried this but would there be any risk of damaging traces or pulling up pins?

author: bob jackson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 07:44:59 pm
content: Quote from: nali on March 06, 2021, 07:36:07 pmI'm mostly dealing with flat pin sockets.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 07:58:53 pm
content: Quote from: bob jackson on March 06, 2021, 07:43:52 pmI was assuming you are talking about cheap stamped contact sockets (e.g. TI), otherwise you wouldn't need to replace them. Usually the plastic pops off easily - give it a try.

author: bob jackson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 08:13:34 pm
content: Here's a socket from the next big project I'm working on (a Lexicon 224 reverb processor circa 1980). I have read that the sockets on this unit are a common point of failure, do you think these would pop off easily?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 10:12:26 pm
content: Method 1:Weller makes a few different DIL tips, this one is the DIL E24. If you are creative you can make your own to fit any set screw type iron. I would not make a channel but instead put a subtle taper and make them fit the inside width of the pins.. As with blades they work best loaded with solder, the mass is the important part.Method 2:Use an underside preheater and hot air from the top and gently lift them out.

author: bob jackson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 12:02:02 am
content: Method 1 looks great. Only problem is I cant seem to find many different tips of that style. I found:T0054173499 DIL 16WGT0054174799N DIL E 24T0054174499N DIL 16WGEC4003019040414 DIL 16SWGAnd none of those are in the current Weller catalog, though they are available from some online shops.Do you know any good quality irons that use a set screw? I have seen a pic of someone who bent a piece of metal into a U shaped channel, similar the tip you pictured, and screwed it into the iron. The Weller would be my first choice but I could try and do that if I ended up needing more tip sizes.