Desoldering

[ChrisP]

NEWBIE Q:

How do I go about desoldering speaker wire from the tabs on a speaker? The speaker cable is soldered on to the speaker tabs and I want to remove said wire from said speaker.

I looked online for the Radio Shack desoldering tool and it just looks like a heat sink and some scraping tools....

It seems like you would just heat up the soldered connection until it melts and then carefully remove the speaker wire. Try to wipe off the EXTREMELY hot solder and then scrape off the rest????

Please save me from 3rd degree burns!

 

[jzguitar]

You can try some desoldering braid. You hold it on the solder, then touch your iron to it. When the solder begins to melt, the braid soaks it up. You can find it at Radio Shack.
Hope this helps.

jz

 

[ChrisP]

Originally posted by jzguitar
You can try some desoldering braid. You hold it on the solder, then touch your iron to it. When the solder begins to melt, the braid soaks it up. You can find it at Radio Shack.
Hope this helps.

jz

Can I assume that it removes all the solder? if not, do I need to sand/scrape the remaining solder off?

seems like I can just heat up the remaining solder and wipe it off w/a towel or some such.

thanks,
Chris

 

[Reeek]

Look for a solder wick product. It works great as mentioned by jzguitar. It cleans your contacts of solder very well.

 

[mbratch]

I agree with the desoldering braid/wick idea. You can pick up copper braid from Radio Shack and it works very well. You let out a couple of inches of braid, lay a portion of the end of the braid against the are to remove solder. Apply your soldering iron directly to the braid, and it will wick up the solder like magic.

 

[Greggy]

I prefer a desoldering bulb myself. Sucks up melted solder. I also keep a small steel brush for scraping/brushing the desoldered joint before re-soldering. I wouldn't recommend trying to wipe of melted solder with a rag or towel.

 

[RL in Fla]

Ditto the "solder bulb" ," solder sucker" , " Desoldering tool" , last forever , replaceable tips , top $ is about 20 , check at Mouser , Newark , etc.

Little brass wood handled brushes -> paint dept. at Home Despot