Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors, thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL I must admit I prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks

"*sigh*" wrote in message
. ..
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors, thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks

You can remove many components at once by using an electric hot air heat gun
on an area of a board.
Be warned that it does create choking fumes which are probably poisonous -
so you would need to do it outdoors and use a good safety mask - one that
filters-out the fumes.

Dave

You can remove many components at once by using an electric hot air heat
gun
on an area of a board.
Be warned that it does create choking fumes which are probably
oisonous -
so you would need to do it outdoors and use a good safety mask - one
that
filters-out the fumes.

Dave

Thanks but I was more thinking of using some kind of solvent and/or acid
that would remove some of the print's back side and the soldering material.
Best would be if I could let it stand overnight(properly ventilated), wash
it off and then recover the components.

Yeah, the heating method(and soldering in general) produces some fumes that
I prefer not to get into my lungs too often

I take off good stuff all the time - things worth more than 10cents (large
capacitors, switches, transformers, etc.) I just use a soldering iron, with
a fan nearby and my windows open *grin*

It's a great source of goodies - I always leave the ceramic capacitors, ICs,
and all resisitors alone though - they're not worth the trouble cost-wise.

Matthew

"*sigh*" wrote in message
. ..
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors, thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks

I use a de-soldering iron. Workss for me.
I have used the one sold by Radio Shack.
I have to replace the tip quite often as i gets worn out quickly.


"www.ChantCd.com" wrote in message
news:FhXMc.158622$a24.90789@attbi_s03...
I take off good stuff all the time - things worth more than 10cents (large
capacitors, switches, transformers, etc.) I just use a soldering iron,
with
a fan nearby and my windows open *grin*

It's a great source of goodies - I always leave the ceramic capacitors,
ICs,
and all resisitors alone though - they're not worth the trouble cost-wise.

Matthew

"*sigh*" wrote in message
. ..
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors,
thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often
destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding
away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things
end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks

Depending on just how much of this you do there are some rather nice self
contained dedoldering stations. Check with some of the suppliers for specs
and cost. I find This is the most appropriate way to approach doing this on
a "small" personal scale. Gives one a bit of experience in perfecting their
soldering and desoldering techniques to minimize destruction to either the
pcb and/or the components.
"Aurel Boisvert" wrote in message
e.rogers.com...
I use a de-soldering iron. Workss for me.
I have used the one sold by Radio Shack.
I have to replace the tip quite often as i gets worn out quickly.


"www.ChantCd.com" wrote in message
news:FhXMc.158622$a24.90789@attbi_s03...
I take off good stuff all the time - things worth more than 10cents
(large
capacitors, switches, transformers, etc.) I just use a soldering iron,
with
a fan nearby and my windows open *grin*

It's a great source of goodies - I always leave the ceramic capacitors,
ICs,
and all resisitors alone though - they're not worth the trouble
cost-wise.

Matthew

"*sigh*" wrote in message
. ..
Anyone have a few tips on recovering things like transistors,
thyristors,
coils and other parts from thrown transistor radios, VCR's and such?

A mini blow torch works fast but it gives a lot of smoke and often
destroy
the whole thing if I'm not careful. I have most success with grinding
away
some of the back of the print and simply pulling the components off
with
the
'legs' still on but it's still rough and destroys some of the things
I'm
after, in particular the smaller, brittle components.

I live close to a public 'recycling station' so I have access to tons
of
weird electronics from both private/company stuff. The weirdest things
end
up there, just can't help messing around with it LOL I must admit I
prey
on the cable container too, my house is fitted with lots of reused
stuff
like plugs and sockeys (my local electrician inspects it for me now
and
then
so the insurance folks dont get too unhappy)

All useful input appreciated thanks

Don't they get fried in the process? How much heat can they take?

Initially they were soldered to the circuit board in the manufacturing
process, enduring the thermal rise of wave soldering process, etc. Proper
application of desoldering equiptment will not damage them. The key is
proper, intelligent, & professional use of the equiptment. "Crowbar will
open a door but tends to make the structure unfit for reuse, the key works
more effeciently and allows continual passage". Eh??
"*sigh*" wrote in message
. ..
Don't they get fried in the process? How much heat can they take?