Electronic Circuits and Projects Forum

If all you want to do is salvage parts from old boards a hot air gun will do the job. But it too easy to overheat the PCB which can be a bit on the smelly side so I do it outdoors.

The plastic welder is only $20 less the then hot air rework from MPJA.

Originally Posted by ArtemisGoldfish

Well, hot air rework stations are a little expensive (by expensive, I mean that I can't afford it.) Anyways, I was wondering if anyone has ever tried using a hot air plastic welding kit? I'm not looking to keep the host circuit boards in amazing shape or anything, I just want an easier way to remove DIP's and the like (irons just don't do it!)

Linkohs.

I don't have a hot air gun (I used to use a "power paint stripper", but it was powerful enough to set wood on fire from a distance, not to mention toast boards.) The MPJA one for 99USD looks good, all I really need is a rework station that has a smaller directed airflow, using a heat gun on a circuit board is like swatting flies with an elephant gun.

Non hot air... use a plain soldering iron with an attachment tip that has 2 channel rows to fit the pins footprint pattern.

http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStre...m/desolder.jpg

Miguel

From time to time you see DIY efforts to build hot air rework units. Often times an aquarium pump is used for the air and a soldering iron for the heat. I am sure it can be made to work if you get the right stuff and do a decent job of it. At one time I would DIY most anything and everything but I am slowly getting over that. The $100 unit looks good to me.

Originally Posted by ArtemisGoldfish

I don't have a hot air gun (I used to use a "power paint stripper", but it was powerful enough to set wood on fire from a distance, not to mention toast boards.) The MPJA one for 99USD looks good, all I really need is a rework station that has a smaller directed airflow, using a heat gun on a circuit board is like swatting flies with an elephant gun.