How do you get the big blobs of solder off of old chassis?

[JWK]

Specifically, I've got an old Traynor Voicemaster. I need to get the big grounding blobs of solder off places like the old cap cans. I have an old Weller soldering gun, but just with the regular tip. I've heard you need something with more mass, but an internet search hasn't come up with anything for me.

So I'm guessing I need some kind of special tip for my Weller gun and a solder sucker. Any suggestions?

[The New Steve H]

You need a solder sucker. The proper name is probably something like "desoldering gun." It's a pump you can cock. You put the tip on the molten solder and push the trigger, and the pump sucks the solder up. Not expensive.

[Super_Reverb]

You can use a solder sucker or solder wick (works better if you add additional flux). For regular use, solder suckers are faster, but sometimes solder wick is invaluable.

If your regular bench iron won't heat fast enough, Harbor Freight sells a mega unit on the cheap. I use one to solder bus wire to pot housings.

http://www.harborfreight.com/180-watt-i ... -4328.html

Be careful with cheap solder suckers. Theyr're cheap and work out of the box, but may die prematurely unless they only get casual use.

cheers,

rob

[JWK]

I didn't make myself clear. The problem is melting the solder in the first place. I have an old Weller 8250a that is 250 watts. This should do it, but the last time I tried it didn't touch it. I've poked around a little and I think I might have to take the tip off and clean any corrosion off really well. This thing is old and was given to me about 10 years ago. The handle got really hot when I tried to desolder an old chassis and didn't melt the solder. I will try to clean the tip contact area and see if that works.

This old tip on this thing looks pretty beat, though. I can't find a replacement tip for this model (which obviously hasn't been made in years). Am I out of luck or is there some tip for the newer models that will still fit this?

Thanks for any help.

[xtian]

I have a small Weller butane powered tool:

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-P2KC-Profe ... B000WOHSHM

Works great for melting solder blobs on chassis using the pin torch.

[Jana]

If you already have the rest of the parts stripped from the chassis, just get a propane torch, one of those cheapies from the hardware store, stand the chassis on end and heat up the blobs. They should just roll off.

For maximum effect, do this on the dining room table and let the blobs drop onto the table--nice little, round burn marks on the table which are guaranteed to generate discussion at the next Thanksgiving dinner.

[Phil_S]

I've gone the torch route. It works, but it discolors the chassis. If you don't care about that, it's good. Wear leather work gloves. The chassis get's HOT!

Your 250 Weller should do the job. Try a new tip.

[Randy Magee]

I bought a cheap 150 watt soldering iron with a chisel tip off eBay that was designed for stained glass... it takes a while to heat up, but solder just runs from it even on a steel chassis...

[surfsup]

JWK, clean the tip. I had an old radioshack crapola model and it started doing what you describe. I finally took it out to the sidewalk and rubbed it while turning it so the tip would be ground down into a pencil type cone. I tinned it and it worked great again

for a while...

(If you don't care about the tip and they are cheap to replace)

Also I find putting a good blob on the tip helps melt a blob on the amp. You need more solderbraid, but it gets it melted and flowing...

[Structo]

Those old guns get oxidized where the tip wire connects to the two attachment points.

I have an old Montgomery Wards soldering gun.

I just squeeze the trigger and then loosen and tighten each nut and it heats up well.

[davent]

Have you tried painting some flux on the blobs before applying the iron?

dave

[Zippy]

The issue is one of heat transfer - not wetting. Flux won't make the difference. The key, as others have posted, is cleaning the tip and optimizing the contact with the old solder.

One other trick to get the heat flowing (literally) is to wet the tip with fresh solder - this maximizes the thermal conductivity from the tip to the surface.

[JWK]

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to give the gun a good cleaning around the contact points and see if I can use this tip. Does anyone know if I can get a replacement somewhere for this gun? I haven't come up with anything online.

[Phil_S]

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to give the gun a good cleaning around the contact points and see if I can use this tip. Does anyone know if I can get a replacement somewhere for this gun? I haven't come up with anything online.

Weller is owned by Cooper Tools. Contact them directly. They can tell you what the proper part is and whether it is available. They might sell it direct. I lost the set screw for my soldering iron tip and they sent me one for free. I think they will help you.

[Structo]

Also I think they used to make tips with a wide area on the end to heat a bigger area.
That would help transfer more heat as well.