Perfect Solder Sucker

[frets]

Guys, 
I have lamented several times about easier solder remover.  I’ve got good flux, plastic solder suckers from China, bulbs and still whined until I received this as a present from a fellow luthier.  It’s built like a throwback to the 60’s.  A tank. All metal, precision built and from Japan. It’s a solder beast, removes gobs of solder in one suck. It will last 100 years.   It’s called an “Engineer - SS-02 Solder Sucker”.  I googled it and found that it’s $23. Ouch! But if you do what I do, this is highly recommended.

[thetragichero]

i use the little bulb type to get the big globs off and then copper braid with flux (the expensive kind already has flux in it. the cheap kind i buy a ton of does not) for the finer stuff

[sumgai]

frets ,

I thought you were in a major city, one that should be rife with electronics parts houses.... guess not (for either condition). In any event, Bingling gets you this:

Metal body desoldering tools (via DuckDuckGo)


I've been using the same thing (from a different company) since my days at Fluke Industries, back in the early 70's. But you're correct about one thing - the first one I had used an oversized tip, and they weren't being made any more. But that's the only reason I had to buy another one, my second in all that time.






sumgai

[frets]

Hey ‘ya Sumgai,

Nope, this gal is out in the boonies....deliberately. With a Border Collie, a bazillion capacitors, and enough solder to last until cars fly.

[sumgai]

Border Collie = good choice!


And yeah, geo-location isn't worth a hoot when they rely solely on where your ISP's server farm is stationed. I've seen reports that put me anywhere from Arlington, WA to Olympia, WA. HA! I'm 30 miles East of I-5. Far enough to be out in the tulies, but not so far as all the way out in the boonies like you.  

[blademaster2]

I have used many types of solder removal tools during my earlier career years, from bulbs and spring-load suckers to braids to electric, vacuum operated stations. I hated the bulbs and spring-loaded ones because they induced motion or kick that was not conducive to finer circuit assemblies (but they might be fine for guitar circuits). The expensive station worked well, but became clogged far too often and needed a lengthy cleaning process (after it cooled down enough).

If that tool is well built and does well in guitar cavities where the parts are large and the amount of solder is also large, then that is great to hear - and the price is quite reasonable.

My preference is still solder braid, with a drop of liquid flux added to it. I have achieved excellent results that have been as good as any other tool has achieved, and some of those results are orbiting the Earth right now.

[pablogilberto]

Hi frets

Thanks for sharing this. I wanna try this!
Right now I'm using a Goot solder sucker which is also made in Japan.

Anyway, I also want to ask for recommendation.
I'm looking for a good quality soldering station. I'm doing more guitar wiring stuffs right now and I think I need something that will last longer.
I'm having problems with the tips which wears after 2 months of use.
Any recommendation or tips maybe?

Thanks a lot!

[frets]

Hi Pablo!😺

About soldering stations, I’m not the best one to ask. Everyone knows I use cheapo soldering irons and that I’ve burned out 3 soldering stations. Ha!! I know the guys can recommend something far better than I could. In fact, I myself, am looking to buy a more expensive soldering set up (that I hopefully will not burn out). So, I’m going to pass this one on to the Angels😇. They’ll have some station recommendations for you.