On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:20:59 GMT, "Arfa Daily" wrote:

:
:"Ross Herbert" wrote in message
.. .
: On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:34:29 -0600, Ignoramus19508
: wrote:
:
: :On 2008-01-30, Ross Herbert wrote:
: :
: : Your desoldering tool (like most) is probably fitted with a small
: diameter
: tip
: : (approx 0.8mm - 1.00mm inside diameter)
: :
: :Yes.
: :
: : designed for sucking solder from around small gauge component leads
: : and IC pins where the tip make full peripheral contact with the
: : board. When the solder melts around a pin all the air passes solely
: : around the lead and maximum effect is achieved inside the through
: : hole.
: :
: :Well, it does this pretty well with a real vacuum pump attached
: :instead of the "desoldering station pump".
:
: Yes, of course it will. But the desoldering station pump is NOT a
: specialised
: 1/3HP vacuum pump. It is designed as being adequate to suck solder from
: around
: component pins ONLY when the nozzle completely surrounds the lead AND make
: 100%
: peripheral contact with the pcb solder pad.
:
:
:Well Ross, I gotta tell you that I use my Weller desoldering station just
:about every day, I keep the same sized tip on it with a 1mm hole at all
:times. It is used both for pin sizes where the hole will fit over the pin,
:as you describe, and also for any other joint that I need to get the solder
ff as well. I have never had a problem with it developing enough suck to
:remove solder from a joint that requires the tip to be applied in a way less
:than your stated 'ideal', unless it has reached the point where it needs
:servicing. I think that in common with most soldering / desoldering tools,
:it depends on how often you use it, and hence how much skill in its use,
:that you have developed.
:
:Arfa
:

Yes Arfa, I agree with what you say. I also can use my Hakko to remove solder
from around larger pins quite quickly, but due to the large amount of solder
which often must be removed from large terminals, several attempts may be
required and sometimes the tip requires a clean out to complete the job on a
single switch. I can't say if there is anything wrong with the OP's desoldering
station, although this may be the case. I find that for small number of large
terminals the old Soldapult takes less time and requires less cleaning.