Getting solder off?

[Darth Lars]

I was stupid enough to experiment with solder on my steel Obi-Wan ANH emitter replica.. and now i have got ugly globs of a different-colored metal on it.

Does anybody have a good suggestion for removing it? I would like to avoid getting tool marks on it, as much as possible.

Thanks.

 

[Macklin]

You should just be able to heat it up again.

Use a propane torch to heat it, then let the solder drip onto concrete, pavement, whatever. Problem solved.

 

[Darth Lars]

Are you sure that would get all off? Does it not have some surface tension?
I am afraid that it would just flow around.

 

[SurferGeek]

Depending on the type of metal and how clean it was and if there was any flux involved at all... you could have a coating of the solder left. You can buy solder wick, which is a braided copper that essentially soaks up the solder. You should be able to get 99% of it off but you're likely stuck with some on it (no pun intended).

 

[Megatron]

solder like three things
heat,
flux,
gravity..

it will flow towards heat and the flux and gravity will pull it down of course. It does not like carbon..so you can use charcoal as anti flux to keep it from sticking in other places.

 

[acerocket]

They make special soldering irons called a de-soldering iron. Basically a soldering iron with a small tube on the front which is attached to some sort of vacuum. Probably a little too expensive to run out and get unless you do a lot of soldering, but you could try to do the same thing with a regular soldering iron and say a disposable bulb type eyedropper or something similar. Here is a typical 'low budget' de-soldering iron: de-soldering iron


Good luck

 

[SurferGeek]

<div class='quotetop'>(acerocket @ Jul 24 2006, 07:36 PM) [snapback]1287073[/snapback]</div>

They make special soldering irons called a de-soldering iron. Basically a soldering iron with a small tube on the front which is attached to some sort of vacuum. Probably a little too expensive to run out and get unless you do a lot of soldering, but you could try to do the same thing with a regular soldering iron and say a disposable bulb type eyedropper or something similar. Here is a typical 'low budget' de-soldering iron: de-soldering iron


Good luck
[/b]

I worked with electronics for some years in the Navy and was qualified as a micro-miniature repair tech and we had nice stations that had the de-soldering irons you mention. Even using the solder suckers (as we called 'em) we still would use solder wick to clean up the runs and pads to remove what the sucker wouldn't. Unfortunately once the metal is plated the only thing that will remove 100% of it is heat and you will end up with discolored metal.

 

[Darth Lars]

Thanks guys. I will try this.