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<p>I use 1.5mm wide copper braid routinely to remove excess solder
while hand-soldering QFP, TSSOP and related packages and the
results can look better than what I can get with a reflow oven.
Flux remover or just 91% isopropyl and an ESD-safe brush takes
care of the left over gunk from the flux: whether it be the subtle
stuff described below or the obvious stuff I squirted or that came
with new solder. Despite the "no clean" labels in my experience
even "NC" liquid flux leaves residue that has to be cleaned off if
you want the board looking perfect. MG Chemicals flux remover
works very well if you need to get every last bit off, but I use
isopropyl almost exclusively 'cause I hardly ever have to make a
prototype look like it came from a factory. Walgreens sells 91% in
very convenient spray bottles that can be refilled from bulk.
Adafruit sells the ESD safe brush as their item #1209 for $2.95.<br>
</p>
<p>-Pete<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2/4/19 4:45 PM, Scott Hall via
TriEmbed wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:CALOtY4MCZKZk=-EeLkvRVgVe0BU86M_DuZRoNL4L9Fk_Y-rKFA@mail.gmail.com">
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<div>In my Learn to Solder gatherings and mentoring, I have had
prints of this article available for several years now. I
need to agree with some of the discussion points though, and
disagree with one:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Braided Solder Wick almost always comes with some
impregnated rosin flux (not "resin" BTW), otherwise the
surface corrosion on the copper would not allow the molten
solder flow onto it. Remember what I always say in my
Learn-to-Solder workshops -- solder wants to go where it
is hot and clean via capillary action. Without flux, the
braid would not be clean enough. Also remember what else
I say in my workshops -- solder wants to flow and go where
there is more surface area. Thats how braided copper
works -- it has more surface area than where the part is
soldered to.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li>I agree using a finer tip works better for surface mount
work, but you will also have to up the temperature a
little bit to make up for the lesser heating surface to
transfer the same amount of heat.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li>Liquid flux is your friend for surface mount work! Just
don't over-do it because you don't want charred flux
taking all your heat and preventing solder flow.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li>I have on thumb-drive and over at SplatSpace a couple of
other videos that I think are better for surface-mount
work. One is from the institute that offers certification
exams for getting a job soldering. They also have
practice kits available (same ones I bring to my
workshops). I'll dig up links to them and followup here.<br>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
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<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at 5:52
PM Robert Gasiorowski via TriEmbed <<a
href="mailto:triembed@triembed.org" moz-do-not-send="true">triembed@triembed.org</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px
0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">Some wicks are coated with resin flux, so they
are messy. You would have to get bare copper wick and use
liquid flux.
<div>Still, I wouldn't suggest using wick to anyone without
experience. Drop of liquid flux will do the trick.</div>
<div>8 or 6 mil traces can be easily damaged when
desoldering with iron, especially when PCB is poor quality
(plenty of them lately.)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at
3:33 PM Brian via TriEmbed <<a
href="mailto:triembed@triembed.org" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">triembed@triembed.org</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px
0.8ex;border-left:1px solid
rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">On 1/22/19 3:13 PM,
Robert Gasiorowski via TriEmbed wrote:<br>
> I would have to disagree with few things in that
article.<br>
> [...]<br>
> I would never use wick to remove solder from SMD
components, leaves <br>
> resin and you can easily overheat traces. Flux works
wonders for <br>
> soldering and removal of excess of solder.<br>
<br>
Resin? I'm not sure what resin you're referring to. Wick
is just a <br>
braid of copper; nothing else (well, some are
pre-impregnated with flux, <br>
but in my experience that is never enough flux). As far
as overheating, <br>
I've never had a problem with that as long as there's
plenty of flux and <br>
a well-tinned tip to ensure proper heat transfer.<br>
<br>
At any rate, flux and wick together is almost magic in its
ability to <br>
act like a solder vacuum. Hooray for capillary action!<br>
<br>
Afterwards, a quick wipe with an isopropyl-moistened q-tip
is all you <br>
need to clean up the excess flux.<br>
<br>
-Brian<br>
<br>
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<br>
-- <br>
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature">Scott G. Hall<br>
Raleigh, NC, USA<br>
<a href="mailto:scottghall1@gmail.com" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">scottghall1@gmail.com</a></div>
<br>
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