Desoldering

CHAPTER 10: Mending and Breaking Electronics 241

A magnifying glass is sometimes useful, as is taking a digital photograph and then zooming in to a high magnification. Having found some kind of identifying mark, type it into your favorite search engine.

Bipolar transistors can also be tested (see the section “How to Use a Multimeter to Test a Transistor” in Chapter 11). However, if you have a spare, it is often easier just to replace it.

Desoldering

Figure 10-5 Using desoldering braid There is definitely a knack to desoldering. You often have to add more solder to get the solder to flow. I find it quite effective to draw the solder off onto the tip of the soldering iron, which I keep cleaning using the sponge.

Desoldering braid (Appendix – code T13) is also quite effective. Figure 10-5 shows the steps involved in using desoldering braid to remove the solder from around a component lead so it can be removed.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)