I was working on replacing the clicker in my Logitech mouse and had a tough time getting rid of the factory solder. I heated it up to 720°F, but my desoldering wick wasn't absorbing as it should. Even when I tried sandwiching the wick between the iron and the terminal, it just wouldn't work. I eventually managed to remove the clicker with some effort, but I ended up clogging a hole with solder while trying to clean up. I melted the clog and pushed the new clicker through, and surprisingly, soldering it back on worked out well. I'm looking for recommendations on a good desoldering pump, as I want to avoid spending time on a poor product. Also, what type of flux would work best for desoldering? I didn't have any when I needed it!
6 Answers
I personally use a desolder pump with silicone tips, which helps me get right on the solder joint. While I prefer Chemwick desoldering wick with good flux, this pump has worked well when I need it.
I also vote for this pump. I have one and even bought a second for my repair work.
Another trick is to apply new solder onto the old stuff before using the wick. It seems counterintuitive, but it actually helps melt the old solder more easily.
I’m going to try this next time! Seems odd, but I've heard similar tips from others.
I got a Yihua desoldering iron recently, and it’s been amazing! When dealing with stubborn solder, I add a little leaded solder to the joint to help everything melt smoothly before using the pump.
If you’re using a soldering iron, make sure to switch to a pencil or conical tip. They provide less surface area for heat transfer compared to a chisel or bevel tip.
I usually use a small chisel tip—works pretty well!
I’d suggest checking out the SS-02 model, which looks like it was upgraded to the SS-03. It should work great for you! For flux, just adding some flux core solder can help a lot, too.
Can you still use that pump if you accidentally lose an eye? Just asking for a friend.
This looks like quality! Does the plunger wear on the thumb after extended use?
Wick works much better when you apply some flux paste first. Without it, even the high-quality stuff tends to struggle!
Exactly! Even my top-shelf wick barely works without flux.
Thanks! So the silicone tips shouldn't melt when in contact with solder? What would you consider as good quality flux?