Customer Reviews

5ft Desoldering Wick Roll in Handy Dispenser

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I bought this to work on a project that required removing colored LEDs from a circuit board so I can install white LEDs... so I was removing about 150 connections.

It worked OK at first... it would suck up the old solder but took some poking and prodding to get a good contact. Also, you need a hot iron so you can heat both the solder and the wick (perhaps that was the problem the other guy had??? Don't try this with a cheap iron that doesn't get hot... it should be able to very quickly melt the solder)

But then I had a brainstorm... I grabbed some of my flux (the "stuff" you put on before you solder copper pipes together... look in the plumbing section of any hardware) and lightly coated the end of the wick with the flux. This makes it work 30 times better! The flux draws the solder into the wick so fast that its amazing.

Just be careful not to get too much flux on the wick, as it will get all over what you are desoldering as it gets hot.

As you are using it... once the end gets thoroughly coated with old solder just cut off that part and then touch it to the flux and then keep going.

(you might not realize it, but your solder most likely contains a flux core... thats why you don't need it to put down the new solder... but its not there for the old solder so you have to add it to the wick)

This is tiny desoldering copper wick (thin copper wire), so it is not good for remove a lot of solder, definitely not those through hole components desoldering. I use it mainly for Surface mount devices desoldering and I think this product is for that only too. Works well for that purpose, but it works with all desoldering need, just that you have to apply some flux on the wick so it conduct heat better, thus easier for it to suck solder.

Low rating means nothing but a lot of ignorance people buying wrong product, or doesn't know how to use this product.

PS. This wick is about 1 meter in length, not a lot of wick if I have to say.

PS2. It is over-priced here. I got 10X of these for less that $5 plus free shipping.

This is a 2mm solder wick that does not do a proper job of wicking solder. Important info: this is 2mm wide, not the standard 4mm or 6mm that you are probably used to. 2mm is about the same size that a standard stick of gum is thick (not length or width but thickness). Not big enough to help unless you are in small, confined spaces.

Returned.

It takes to much heat for it to absorb solder. It is thin (width), good for confine space, but you will most likely burn/separate the pad before it actually absorbs the solder. Yes, is that bad.

I am a radio amateur and have many years experience delving into electronic equipment. This product is a must for anyone working with a soldering iron on electronic equipment. It is an old product that has never become obsolete.

JMB

I've used many desoldering wicks before, and I'm sure this is just fine. Just beware - the non-amazon seller is charging $9.00 (!!!!) to ship this product. You'll end up spending ten dollars for a spool of wick.

Caveat emptor.

Regards,
Will

Folks,

This stuff does not work. Just turn around and go buy Chem-wik, this stuff is garbage. It does not absorb solder. I had the solder liquid right next to this braid and it would not even absorb it. All it did was spread the solder around on the circuit board. This stuff is total junk.

this was a gift to son for his birthday. It was on his amazon wish list. He is very happy with the product.

I first bought this, and I thought this tool would work, but it did not suck up the solder on the wick from my short wave radio receiver kit. It kept on leaving tiny strands of copper wire behind and gets stuck on the circuit board. It seems that the desoldering solution got dried out while it was in the ware house, so basically these spools need expiration dates because this type has a short life. Well, I have to buy another one somewhere else.

I got this with a kit and I have to say it is the worst stuff ever. I had the solder all bubbling and hot and put the wick on top of it and it absorbs a pixel sized amount like a speckle. I watched videos and read how to use it, and I just can't get it to absorb anything. I got the cheap solder pump and that thing works decent enough, have to pump a few times but eventually most of the solder will come up. This stuff is just bad though, maybe it's just how cheap it is or the solder I was using, but it really didn't work at all for me.