geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: trenzafeeds on Mon, 05 October 2015, 20:40:03

Title: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Mon, 05 October 2015, 20:40:03
I own a very nice soldering iron and a passable soldering pump, and I've had fine luck desoldering in the past, but weirdly enough the pok3r is not cooperative at all. No matter how much I heat and pump, not quite all of the solder will ever leave the joint. Has anyone had success/problems desoldering this board? I'm starting to wonder if Vortex has some weird solder in their factory that keeps you from fully desoldering.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Sifo on Mon, 05 October 2015, 20:42:40
You've desoldered factory new stock keyboards before yeah? Just asking, cuz leaded solder that the manufacturers like to use is often tougher to desolder (requires higher temperatures). Other than that, have you tried adding more solder to it? Generally helps out a ton, along with cranking up the temperature.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: njbair on Mon, 05 October 2015, 20:54:33
You've desoldered factory new stock keyboards before yeah? Just asking, cuz leaded solder that the manufacturers like to use is often tougher to desolder (requires higher temperatures). Other than that, have you tried adding more solder to it? Generally helps out a ton, along with cranking up the temperature.
I actually prefer leaded solder and buy it whenever I can.

You're right on about adding a little bit of new melted solder to speed things up. It conducts the heat way faster.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Melvang on Mon, 05 October 2015, 20:55:10
You've desoldered factory new stock keyboards before yeah? Just asking, cuz leaded solder that the manufacturers like to use is often tougher to desolder (requires higher temperatures). Other than that, have you tried adding more solder to it? Generally helps out a ton, along with cranking up the temperature.

You mean lead free solder that is in anything now?

But yeah, adding leaded solder to lead free, helps a ton when working on new boards.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Sifo on Mon, 05 October 2015, 20:55:39
Er yes my mistake I mean lead free sucks. leaded is the way to go
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Melvang on Mon, 05 October 2015, 21:03:19
Er yes my mistake I mean lead free sucks. leaded is the way to go

Just making sure we are all on the same page.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Steezus on Mon, 05 October 2015, 23:11:24
I de-soldered and two Pok3rs and added LEDs to both of them no problem. I used a Weller WESD51 at 315C with the Engineer SS-02 Solder Sucker from amazon. I sometimes needed to crank up the heat but it wasn't that bad, anytime I didn't suck up all the solder I would simply re-fill the solder joint and then suck it back up no problem.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Tue, 06 October 2015, 06:12:01
Ok, yeah, seems like just cranking up my temperature is the way to go. I just always get nervous about wrecking the board. The most I've gotten up to is around 280C.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Fire Brand on Tue, 06 October 2015, 06:20:20
As with what the others say it might be worth just adding a little leaded solder to get everything flowing I find lead free solder to be a pain to work with, otherwise again not sure of others but I usually end up going 280 on most boards as it only needs to be heated for a second or two at most
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Sifo on Tue, 06 October 2015, 23:19:55
Ok, yeah, seems like just cranking up my temperature is the way to go. I just always get nervous about wrecking the board. The most I've gotten up to is around 280C.

I sit anywhere from 300-330 for desoldering lead free
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: Dansor on Wed, 07 October 2015, 15:21:27
Have you tried a desoldering iron instead of just an iron and pump?
I've got the one below and have had GREAT results with it.
http://www.amazon.com/ECG-J-045-DS-Watt-Desoldering-Iron/dp/B00068IJSG

It works much faster, and gets much more of the solder with much less work.
The only caveat I'd have is to get some extra tips, as depending on the solder they can deteriorate relatively quickly.
Title: Re: Strange solder used in Pok3r?
Post by: ithrowthinqs on Thu, 08 October 2015, 22:46:42
Have the same exact ECJ desoldering pump. Works like a champ for how much i paid.  ;)