Along with all Ron's good comments, I would like to add one more technique for clearing solder filled holes or holes partly filled with solder - a tapered stainless steel needle. Heat the hole and the needle and when it is hot enough push the needle through and the solder will easily clear.
The only condition is that the component lead has already been removed - easy enough if you cut the pins and pull them out one at a time. If you can't pick up one of these tools at a hamfest, a large sewing needle glued into a small hole drilled into a 1/4 inch dowel (dowel long enough to serve as a handle - your choice for the length) will do the job nicely. 73, Don W3FPR > -----Original Message----- > > I put the sucker on the opposite board from the iron and have excellent > results on the first try. I do it like this: > > Carefully choose which side of the board to touch with the iron. > Choose the > side with the fewest heat-sensitive parts like relays, trimmer caps and > pots, etc. Generally, that's the "bottom" of the KX1 PCB. So you position > the board in the vice so you have a clear view of the side you > are going to > touch with the iron then, with your hand supported on a rest to hold it > steady, position the solder sucker on the opposite side over the hole with > your finger/thumb on the trigger. Now, while looking at the pad where you > are going to touch the iron, touch the iron carefully to the pad and, as > soon as the solder melts, squeeze the sucker trigger and WHACK! You have a > clean hole. > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
