has anyone purchased a desoldering tool from HARBOR FRIEGHT TOOLS that's called "VYPER"? If so, how do you use it? It doesn't come with any instructions!! And secondly, does it work for desoldering track? How good? If it doesn't work, what does everyone reccomend?
I don't have that model but they all work the same. They have a spring loaded plunger that locks in place. A button releases it and creates suction. You would heat the joint with a soldering iron just as you would when soldering. When the solder melts you place the nozel as close to the joint as you can and push the button. The liquid solder is pulled away from the joint. You may need to repeat the process depending on the amount of solder and how long you let it heat up. On a rail joiner you may need to attack it from both sides.
This is one of the reasons that I'm not an advocate of soldering track together. Use a high temperature to get the solder to flow and the joint should release with some pressure applied. Stay cool and run steam.....
You might have more success desoldering track if you use wicking. Wicking is flat copper braid about 1/8" wide that comes in a roll. You lay the end of the wicking flat against the solder to be removed and apply the tip of a low wattage (18-25W) to the wicking opposite the solder - DON'T Touch the Track with the Iron! The heat from the iron will quickly melt the solder which will tranfer into the wicking, one or two seconds at the most. Then remove the iron and wicking from the joint immediately before the iron's heat transfers to the track and ties. Use a pair of dikes to snip off the end of the wicking that contains the removed solder. This must be done each time because the solder in the joint won't transfer to the wicking if the previously removed solder is still there. Solder wicking was (and may still be) used extensively in the electronics industry to remove components from circuit boards. You should be able to find it at any electronics supply house, perhaps even Radio Shack. It shouldn't cost more than a buck or two.
thanx; but I've tried wicking; and have had no succes with it! It works for the solder that's on the side of the rail; but it doesn't get the little bit that settles down in the joiner between it and the rail. If this method I asked about doesn't work, I'm just going to break the track apart!!!
This is actually very easy. First cut the track at the joiner. Use a razor saw or rail nippers and cut the track all the way through the rail joiner. remove the section you want out and then you can just heat the remaining little piece of joiner and slide it off the track.
thanx. Now, one more question: how do you clean the "sucker", what do you use to clean it, and how often should you do it?
