[vcf-midatlantic] Chip Salvage

[Bruce]

I may actually have done this many years ago by the tedious method of
soldering iron and SoldaPult, which works but is not to be recommended.

What I miss from this discussion is references to soldering coppers -- the
original soldering/desoldering tool used by tinsmiths and possibly by
plumbers, but which never seems to have penetrated the electronics field.
You've all seen them at flea markets -- a sturdy rod of iron with a pointed
chunk of copper on one end and a wooden handle on the other.  I have a few
kicking around.  Now if you modified the shape of the working end, you
could customize it to  heat all the pins of an IC without heating the chip
itself.  The soldering copper itself is heated over a small burner -- a
propane torch would do.  Neat and efficient.

As to fumes -- a cardboard box at an open window with a fan pointing
outwards makes a decent fume hood.

Bruce
NJ


On Fri, Apr 16, 2021 at 11:23 PM Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:

> On 4/16/21 8:28 PM, Duane Craps via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
> > I remember reading a article many years ago, I think it was in BYTE,
> > about salvaging IC's from discarded Printed Circuit Boards by using a
> > chip puller and a torch on the back. Has anyone actually done this? I
> > guess now you could try with a hot air gun?
>
>    I've done this, with both a blowtorch and a hot air gun.  Both many
> years ago when I was a kid.  I strongly recommend against the torch;
> lots of nasty fumes, and it's much easier to control the applied heat
> with an air gun.
>
>                -Dave
>
> --
> Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
> New Kensington, PA
>