weller de-soldering tools - don't last very long

[Reeltarded]

Nooooooooooõœôöóøoō°!!!!

[Blackburn]

Incorrect.

It's gum.

[Phil_S]

Incorrect.

It's gum.

...and you're a turtle! And as it was taught to me in my youth back in the '60's, it comes out soft and sticky. Ummmm....what was this thread about, again?

[Blackburn]

Incorrect.

It's gum.

...and you're a turtle! And as it was taught to me in my youth back in the '60's, it comes out soft and sticky. Ummmm....what was this thread about, again?

Okay sticky then... And to answer your question, opinions.

[Cygnus X1]

Been using that blue Soldapullet (is that it?) for a while now.
Works good.
My Rat Shack unit still works after ten years as well.

Clean, and lubricate for best health!

[pula58]

The trigger latch is in a separate compartment from the solder residue and is totally clean. It seems like what is happening is that the trigger itself is getting worn, and no longer holds.

[Leo_Gnardo]

What goes in hard and dry and comes out soft and wet??

Chewing gum. I went to first grade ya know...

And the first solder sucker I encountered was the Soldapullit. Good unit but gave up on'em after getting smacked in the eye a couple times.

I use the cheap blue aluminum-tube ones from Mouser now. Replaceable tips there too. I keep 4 of 'em in a plastic bucket on the workbench where all the metal scrap goes. When one loses its latching capability, into the scrap pile it goes. When the tip clogs I clean 'em out. I keep a handful at the ready because I don't like to interrupt progress as I'm steaming thru a vintage amp. And 7.95 or so per unit isn't anything to worry about. Bench supplies = tax writeoff.

[C Moore]

Funny how "polarizing" this gets.
I had the same problem a few years ago. Kept burning up, or wearing out a 25 dollar solder sucker.
Then, some of the guys said they had good, long luck with a sucker from Radio Shack. So I tried that 2-3 years ago. It has stayed with me ever since.
It is a bit smaller than the others, and is kind of a shiny, blue metallic job.
Guess we just have different luck with certain tools. Does not seem to be a right or wrong. Just whatever happens to work out for each of us..... for some reason or another.
best

[Blackburn]

Funny how "polarizing" this gets.
I had the same problem a few years ago. Kept burning up, or wearing out a 25 dollar solder sucker.
Then, some of the guys said they had good, long luck with a sucker from Radio Shack. So I tried that 2-3 years ago. It has stayed with me ever since.
It is a bit smaller than the others, and is kind of a shiny, blue metallic job.
Guess we just have different luck with certain tools. Does not seem to be a right or wrong. Just whatever happens to work out for each of us..... for some reason or another.
best

Are you talking about the one with the small Weller sticker towards the sucker? If so, that's mine too. Really just need to keep it clean and be thorough about it and it should last many a year. Not real difficult.

[shoggoth]

I tried braid and the solder suckers years ago, they didn't do it for me. Braid was a pain to use, and the suckers never seemed to work.

Now I use a $15 desoldering iron I bought from Radio Shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2062731

[img:345:235]http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_ ... 44w345.jpg[/img]

It's worked well for a long time, even with the tip getting a bit funky (because I get lazy about cleaning it).

The only downside so far is that it has that big bulky hot metal area above the tip, and I've gotten sick when it accidentally bumps up against PTFE wires - PTFE fumes are absolutely horrible. I don't think I'm going to be using PTFE wire in the future...

[Leo_Gnardo]

Guess we just have different luck with certain tools. Does not seem to be a right or wrong. Just whatever happens to work out for each of us..... for some reason or another.
best

Horses for courses, what they say in the UK...
I say courses for horses but it means the same.

As long as you're not getting poked in the eye with the plunger, and definitely steer clear of Teflon (PTFE) fumes, it's all good.

I like braid too, but it's expensive so I try to get done what I can with the solder suckers.

[C Moore]

Professor 'Clyde Crashcup' and his faithful assistant.....Leonardo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnheB_ETwfo

[Leo_Gnardo]

Professor 'Clyde Crashcup' and his faithful assistant.....Leonardo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnheB_ETwfo

umm... thanks for reminding me. I've left all the Crashcups to their own devices. You noticed who always got things fixed? Saved the day? Pulled "his nibs" bacon out of the fire? And NEVER got any dialog? Oh, extra pay for that, but none for me. And in the non cartoon world, more of the same, keeping the rock stars from getting hoisted by their own petards, all for farthings in the paycheck and little to no respect. The faces were different but the plots the same. Now I'm on my own and success is within my grasp! About time. Darn glad to be here in TAG. See you around!

[jelle]

I use three suckers of various sizes, keep them clean, lubricated with deoxit, ans replace the tip as they wear out. Works for me, but like any tool, it took me a bit to learn how to use it best.

[randalp3000]

I got spoiled when I got a Pace rework station from Jon Cusack of Cusack Effects for cheap. I keep that at work for guitar repairs and needed something for at home to build amps. I bit the bullet last fall and it's awesome.