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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: turtle on Sat, 13 April 2013, 18:47:06

Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Sat, 13 April 2013, 18:47:06
Hello all,

I was wondering if someone can give me some pointers or advise on desoldering the LED on the poker cherry switch that has LED. I cant seem to have any luck with the solder iron pump or the solder iron. Thanks in advance!
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: jdcarpe on Sat, 13 April 2013, 19:13:44
Try adding a bunch more solder to the joint before you suck the solder with the pump. I've had great success using that method.
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Sat, 13 April 2013, 19:17:24
I know you PM'ed be about this, but I'll just answer it here. It might help others as well.

The desoldering iron with a bulb is not designed for smaller solder joints, but it's doable. First add some lead solder to the LED pins. This lowers the melting temps of the lead-free solder that's already on there, and also adds a tad more volume. Put the desoldering iron tip over it, but to the side so the solder touches the inside of the tip's hole. when it melts, suck it up.

You can try wick braid, sometimes it will work, sometimes it won't. If both wick or desoldering iron doesn't get all the solder out in one shot, you'll have to add more solder to the hole to reheat it. At least with the 2nd time, the lead solder will be easier to melt.
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Sat, 13 April 2013, 20:45:39
thanks guys for helping. i'll give that a shot now :D
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Sat, 13 April 2013, 22:53:46
Do you guys think i messed up the board? What should I do? The pin is kinda flat with the board now
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: jdcarpe on Sat, 13 April 2013, 23:03:23
I don't think it's messed up yet. Add more solder and try again.

Also, one thing I forgot to tell you. Sometimes I have to grasp the LED with some needle nose pliers and pull from that side while simultaneously heating both legs of the LED with my soldering iron, quickly alternating between each leg.
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Sat, 13 April 2013, 23:06:38
okay, ill try again tomorrow when i get nose pliers. thanks again will update y'all later.
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: kaiserreich on Sun, 14 April 2013, 06:15:47
If this is a one off thing, get some chipquik

@wfd,
What do yiu recommend for an effective tool to desolder LEDS? A hakko 808?
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: cyberwave on Sun, 14 April 2013, 07:02:14
(http://www.yaotek.com/store/Assets/ProductImages/DS017.jpg)
this with an iron should do the job
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Sun, 14 April 2013, 08:37:43
What is that called?
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: badcop on Sun, 14 April 2013, 08:39:03
What is that called?

solder sucker
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: jdcarpe on Sun, 14 April 2013, 08:39:52
What is that called?

Specifically the Edsyn Soldapullt.
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Sun, 14 April 2013, 09:49:25
I have the desolder iron with the pump... Not the same? The one from radio shack
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: Larken on Sun, 14 April 2013, 10:21:48
it's all about the suction force, and not all pumps are made equal.

lousy pumps suck because they don't suck hard enough. (sorry, couldn't resist.)
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: eugenizer on Sun, 14 April 2013, 12:02:36
try adding more solder on both joint and let them form a "bridge"

(http://learn.adafruit.com/system/assets/assets/000/002/048/medium640/Solder_Bridge.jpg?1347494202)

heat up and melt the solder while use a long nose plier (i usually just use a small flat screw driver) to remove the LED.
after you remove the LED now you can use solder sucker to remove all solder in the PCB hole.

i have remove and resolder alot of LED and this is the easiest method. at least for me....

good luck

Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Mon, 15 April 2013, 09:44:41
Thanks for the great tip! Gonna give that a shot tonight when I'm off work. Hopefully it does the job
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: kaiserreich on Mon, 15 April 2013, 10:11:01
try adding more solder on both joint and let them form a "bridge"



heat up and melt the solder while use a long nose plier (i usually just use a small flat screw driver) to remove the LED.
after you remove the LED now you can use solder sucker to remove all solder in the PCB hole.

i have remove and resolder alot of LED and this is the easiest method. at least for me....

good luck



Thanks very much on the solder bridge tip.
Made desoldering LEDs so much easier.
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Mon, 15 April 2013, 11:40:09
Did you use the pliers or screw driver to pull it out when the solder is hot? I wish someone made a video of this.
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Mon, 15 April 2013, 11:42:23
Did you use the pliers or screw driver to pull it out when the solder is hot? I wish someone made a video of this.
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: Michael on Mon, 15 April 2013, 11:43:40
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Wed, 17 April 2013, 09:30:37
Thanks for the help everyone. Got it off by adding more solder and bridging it and heat up both and had a friend yank the cherry switch out. Doing it on a ducky doesn't sound so fun when they all have LEDs sigh
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Wed, 17 April 2013, 09:46:53
Thanks for the help guys. I added more solder and bridged it and heat it up again and had a friend pull on the switch.

Doing it on a ducky shine is not gonna be fun =\
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Wed, 17 April 2013, 09:47:37
Damn stupid tapatalk delays I always think my post never went through -____-
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 17 April 2013, 09:50:26
If you're planning to desolder a full-LED backlit keyboard, such as a Ducky Shine, you might want to invest in a Hakko 808 or similar. Or send it to someone who does have one. :)
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: elton5354 on Wed, 17 April 2013, 10:57:02
Thanks, I'm about to desolder the LEDs on the Pure. Tips are great. Now lets see if I can follow the instructions..
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Wed, 17 April 2013, 11:42:31
If you're planning to desolder a full-LED backlit keyboard, such as a Ducky Shine, you might want to invest in a Hakko 808 or similar. Or send it to someone who does have one. :)

Or send it to you :P
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 17 April 2013, 11:44:31
If you're planning to desolder a full-LED backlit keyboard, such as a Ducky Shine, you might want to invest in a Hakko 808 or similar. Or send it to someone who does have one. :)

Or send it to you :P

That's what I said. :P
Title: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: turtle on Wed, 17 April 2013, 11:47:21
If you're planning to desolder a full-LED backlit keyboard, such as a Ducky Shine, you might want to invest in a Hakko 808 or similar. Or send it to someone who does have one. :)

Or send it to you :P.. I just want to lube it and put switch stickers on it but I don't think I can with out desoldering the led right?
Title: Re: need help and advise on desolder LED on a Poker
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 17 April 2013, 11:50:13
I just want to lube it and put switch stickers on it but I don't think I can with out desoldering the led right?

You are correct.