OldSynths

Excellent reply. Thank you!

Ballendo

--- In oldsynths@yahoogroups.com, The Old Crow <oldcrow@o...> wrote:
> 
>   I like the 1.5mm (that is the hole size) tip for general 
desoldering.  I 
> use the 'thin' 1mm tip for SMD rework, along with the hot air 
blowgun kit.
> 
>   If you treat the tips well (keep them clean and unclogged!) 
they'll last 
> a long time.  I'm still using the original 1mm standard tip on my 
older 
> desoldering gun.
> 
>   My tips for using this tool:  do not make the temperature any 
hotter 
> than absolutely necessary.  I keep mine under 500C, usually around 
450C.
> Also, do not use paste flux to clean the tip or suction tube; the 
liquid 
> flux will be pulled into the filter wadding, gumming it up.  Try 
not to 
> leave the gun on for long periods of time; this will wear out the 
tip/tube 
> faster..I clogged up a tip when I left the thing on over a 
weekend.  Keep 
> the tip clean constantly, and tinned.  The effectiveness of the 
tool 
> declines reapidly if the tip face is not wet with solder.  When 
using it, 
> try to hold the tool level or with the tip pointed slightly upward--
try to 
> avoid pointing the tip downward as this will increase the chance of 
> evacuated solder flecks falling back into the suction tube and 
clogging 
> it.  There is a cleaning rod in the handle of the tool, use it 
whenever 
> the airflow sounds impaired--just make sure to cool the cleaning 
rod with 
> a damp paper towel or sponge before storing it in the handle 
again.  For 
> more severe clogs, use the set of larger gauge cleaning rods that 
came 
> with the gun.
> 
>   Next, some joints or pads may require *adding* a bit of solder to 
the 
> jucntion before the desoldering tool will effectively remove all 
the 
> solder.  The idea is to get as much heat transfer through the joint 
so 
> that all the solder melts, then trigger the suction.  Run it for 
about 2 
> seconds at a time, and pull the tip away from the board while the 
trigger 
> is still down to let air push the solder out of the tube and into 
the 
> collection cartridge.  I sort of do 3 seconds to heat junction, 2 
seconds 
> of suction and about 1/2 second of suction sustained after the tip 
is 
> pulled away from the board.
> 
>   Oh, and 1-sided boards such as in the CS-50/60/80 are easy.  
> Plated-though boards are less easy to desolder, but with a clean 
tool tip
> and the above notes, it is not difficult.
> 
>   Clean the cartridge out after every session (not every single 
junction, 
> just at the end of a desoldering session.  Make sure the small air 
slots 
> at the bottom of the cartridge aren't plugged with solder--you may 
have to 
> pull out the filter wadding to chisel out such solder.
> 
>   Hope this helps,
> 
> Crow
> /**/
> 
> On Sat, 9 Oct 2004, ballendo wrote:
> 
> > Crow,
> > 
> > I bought one of these years ago at a flea market in silicon 
valley. 
> > The man had two, one with a tip, and the other without. Thinking 
the 
> > tips would be an easy lathe project, I chose the one which kept 
more 
> > money in my pocket...
> > 
> > And have regretted it ever since<G>
> > 
> > What size tip(s) would you recommend for "normal" through hole 
work?
> > 
> > Ballendo
> > 
> > P.S. Any tips gained through use you'd like to share? Do you use 
> > yours for SMD work too?