Removing surface mount diode

Hamad bin Turki Salami wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@Spam.aol.hotnet.ibm.net:

Have to use rosin flux. Get rid of the soldering pencil and get a temp controlled weller like soldering station, $40.00. Set at 725F. Get the right size solder wick that is 1/8" wide. Don't use wick that is 1/4" wide, that's too big. The solder hand pump should work but most of the time the solder pump tip is too big ans sometimes you suck up the SMD part into the handheld solder pump, nozzle hole is too big. The main key is you have to use rosin flux. Clean off flux with denatured alcohol. The standard tool to use is a hot air desoldering station.

I find using an Exacto knife and a low wattage soldering iron works to lift each end of the device. Regardless of the technique, you must be very careful.

Mr. Salami asked:

TWO soldering irons, heat up each end of the component at the same time and lift off.

Seems like a lot of effort to get at a part that probably would cost a penny or two if you bought it.

Tim.

I use tweezers and a fine tip Iron...Always works here.

"Hamad bin Turki Salami" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@Spam.aol.hotnet.ibm.net...

Hello, Hamad! You wrote on Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:04:47 -0700:

HbT> I have a board that I need to add a diode to. The problem is that HbT> the diode is coming off another board that I've cannibalized for HbT> parts, and I don't know how to get the diode off that board. I HbT> know very little about this stuff. I've removed components before HbT> using an ordinary soldering iron and a solder pump. However, HbT> this diode is tiny and surface mounted, which seems to make things HbT> a bit harder. I tried applying a soldering iron to the leads while HbT> poking at the diode with a metal probe. Eventually, I cracked the HbT> diode this way. Fortunately, the board has a few more identical HbT> diodes, so I have another few shots at this.

HbT> Is there a trick to it?

With best regards, 3T39. E-mail: snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com

Hello, Hamad! You wrote on Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:04:47 -0700:

HbT> Is there a trick to it?

For some reason the text I wrote wasn't visibleon my last post, Very strange OE behaviour, anyway I'll try again here

If your taking the parts from a scrap board, you might like to try using a blowlamp applied to the back for a few seconds and then quickly hit the edge of the board against the side of a container like a buiscuit tin or something (held firmly so it doesn't fly up). you will soon get the hang of it, and a lot of components can be recovered at once this way, even the multi pinned monsters that you will never probably use. The only trouble I find, is you get solder on the recovered devices which you then have to clean off. empty the tin every time so you don't build up a lot of solder on the items. of course you should invest in the right equipment if you want to do it properly, but if like me it's just to experiment and learn, then this brute force method works OK. I use a hot air gun when I do this, but a blowlamp works just fine. A few words of caution, 1/ don't get the board too hot, the fumes stink and may even be dangerous. 2/ do it outside, because the fumes stink and might even be dangerous, 3/ wear gloves and be carful, because the fumes stink and might even be dangerous.

With best regards, 3T39. E-mail: snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com

Yes. You should consider investing in the correct tools for the job. Specifically, a desoldering tool known as 'Hot Tweezers.'

Pace makes such, as does Weller and other companies. You can often find such at relatively low prices on Greed-bay, or at ham radio swap meets.

Happy hunting.

A K tip on a Haako or similar wide wedge or knife tip is wide enough to reach both ends of the device. Just a dab of fresh solder on either end and touch both ends at the same time and they come right off.

Le>> I have a board that I need to add a diode to. The problem is that