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Old customer in Austin told me my desoldering was sloppy, changed everything
Guy brought in a vintage amp from the 70s and said my wick work looked like a bird's nest. He showed me how to use a proper desoldering gun with a clean tip and consistent angle. Now I get through boards in half the time, any of you swear by a specific model over a cheap one?
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william_craig74d agoMost Upvoted
Three years on a $30 Amazon iron and it still holds up? I bet the tip's got more crud built up on it than an old furnace filter. How often do you actually replace the tips on that thing, or are you just running it until it stops sucking solder altogether?
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michael_williams4d ago
That Hakko 808 you see everyone pushing? I've been using a $30 desoldering iron from Amazon for three years and it works fine for vintage gear. The trick is keeping the tip clean and going slow, not dropping three bills on a brand name. Old guy showing you his method is just his preference, not a universal rule. I'd rather spend the extra cash on good solder and flux than a fancy gun that does the same job.
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aaronroberts4d ago
Isn't it funny how old dudes with messy garages always have the best shortcuts for everything?
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