Help me select size and type of Chemtronics Solder-Wick desoldering wick

Comments

• Kevin Wood Posts: 1,266

  2007-07-24 00:38 edited 2007-07-24 00:38

  Try to get something that isn't considerably larger than the joints you'll be desoldering. Larger braid will take longer to heat, requiring you to hold heat to the joints longer, possibly risking component damage.
  
  You really need flux to draw the solder into the wick, but you don't need to buy pre-fluxed braid. You can just dip the braid in some flux right before desoldering, or apply flux directly to the joint.
• Migs Posts: 95

  2007-07-24 12:09 edited 2007-07-24 12:09

  Thanks Kevin, its also that I want to buy some on e-Bay but since they have size numbers, I want to buy an adequate size. Thanks-Migs
  
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• LoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537

  2007-07-24 12:26 edited 2007-07-24 12:26

  Size of the wick required is mostly related to the amount of solder to be removed. In other words, narrow wick will work with fine work and wider wick might be used for repair of an old tube stereo.
  
  Having some separate flux around is useful for all sorts of situations and can sometimes be needed even with flux already on the wick.
  
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• Migs Posts: 95

  2007-07-24 14:32 edited 2007-07-24 14:32

  Hi Kramer:
  
  Yes, but which size do I choose in this brand? The numbers don't directly state the width of the wick. They are like A, B, C... so what I need is for someone who uses this wick to say "get size #2 as it will be the most useful all around".
  
  Migs
  
  ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  "Sometimes we forget that the world itself is paradise." Douglas Coupland, 'Microserfs'
  "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite" - William Blake
  "We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." Carlos Castaneda
  "One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer. " G. E. Lessing
  “How much of human life is lost in waiting.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
  "Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remembered for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all.” Harry Truman
  My website: www.intoku.net my e-mail:mreznicek@pretensa.com me:Miguel Reznicek
• PJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065

  2007-07-24 15:16 edited 2007-07-24 15:16

  I like Size 3, which is 0.06 inch width, for general electronics work.
• Migs Posts: 95

  2007-07-24 16:18 edited 2007-07-24 16:18

  There we go! I'll get some size 3! -Migs Thanks!
  
  ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  "Sometimes we forget that the world itself is paradise." Douglas Coupland, 'Microserfs'
  "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite" - William Blake
  "We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." Carlos Castaneda
  "One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer. " G. E. Lessing
  “How much of human life is lost in waiting.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
  "Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remembered for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all.” Harry Truman
  My website: www.intoku.net my e-mail:mreznicek@pretensa.com me:Miguel Reznicek