Desoldering gun's bit clogged - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: kamalj473
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 12:53:49 pm
content: Dear all members,i am using the Desoldering Gun(Weller), I face a same issue always that the gun's bit is clogged so fast and life of bit is so short.Please help me to short out the problem and what can do for future reference.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 02:36:30 pm
content: To avoid damage to the tip plating use a very light pressure and float the tip in the molten solder. Sometimes adding more solder before desoldering can make the process of desoldering easier as the fresh flux will make the solder flow and release.To avoid clogging first wait until you have complete melt through as when you press the vacuum button this is when suction and cooling start at the same time. Press the vaccum button and keep it held down until the solder clears. While vacuuming rotate the tip in a slight circular motion so the solder has less chance to reform a sweat joint in the hole. Once you remove the solder remove the tip from the pcb then let go of the vacuum button.Replace filters and empty the reservoir before it becomes fully clogged that way you get better vacuum performance. The better the vacuum performance and the less releasing the button before solder has fully cleared the less clogs you will get. You can use tip cleaners but being too aggressive inside the tip will cause solder to stick.If you have further problems I think you should contact Weller. Here is a Pace video showing the technique and what you are ideally looking for with melt through.

author: jeffjmr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 02:39:01 pm
content: Even my pricey Pace unit gets clogged unless I set the temperature higher than necessary to just melt the solder at the joint.The long tube needs to stay hot enough to keep the solder molten until it gets to the reservoir. The other possibility if you are using a higher temp is I find mine also clogs if I suck up too much old flux that seems to harden, especially in the smaller orifice tips.Hope this helps.Jeff

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 03:24:18 pm
content: This is my experience with the DSX 80 desoldering gun as well. Its fine for general occasional repairs and such, but I wouldn't place it into a production area, where it is used sometimes 8 hours a day. I know its an equipment that shouldn't be used a lot in the first place, but hands up someone who didn't make a mistake in the design.Lots of down time due to maintenance, expensive replacement parts and messy cleaning.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 03:57:51 pm
content: Make sure the temperature is high enough, but not too high. A very high temperature will encourage quick formation of oxides which can be much tougher than just metal.Shock said, "Once you remove the solder remove the tip from the pcb then let go of the vacuum button.". Absolutely correct, but I would state it a little differently: Let go of the vacuum button ONLY after you remove the solder remove the tip from the pcb. This allows some air to move through the tube and remove any molten solder trapped inside. If that solder sits there, it will oxidize and become hard and nearly impossible to melt.In extreme cases of clogging, you might need to drill the blockage out, followed by cleaning with an appropriate pin. Have a look at airbrush tip cleaning tools, welding torch tip cleaning tools, or carburetor cleaning tools. Any of those can be had for just a few dollars on ebay or wherever you like, and will have multiple sizes of pins that work well for this.FWIW, I have desoldered many joints with my Metcal MX-DS1 and have only clogged the tip once or twice - ever. I routinely do dozens to hundreds of joints successively without any problem. This had never been the case with my previous electric pump driven tool. The Metcal uses a venturi powered by compressed air to generate vacuum. The heating power of the tips is amazing too. I have desoldered through-hole electrolytic capacitors from computer motherboards (probably well over 10 layers) without much grief. Not many tools could do that in the hands of an amateur like me.edit:I'll add that you should make sure that the filter(s) are not clogged up which will greatly reduce air flow. These clog up with fumes from flux, etc., and you can't necessarily see the problem. Replace or try cleaning with IPA (soak/rinse/dry).