How to Desolder Using a Soldering Station

Soldering provides you with a long lasting connection for all sorts of projects from audio parts to computers and model crafting as well. However, sometimes you need to take the solder off, and it does not seem as easy. By following this guide, you will be able to use your soldering station to remove unwanted solder to free up connections.

Things You'll Need

• Soldering iron/station
• Soldering wire for reconnecting if necessary
• Old paint brush (optional)

Instructions

Removing the Solder

1. Plug in your soldering station and set the temperature to a high setting. To ensure it is heated enough, try test melting some spare solder wire. If it melts instantly, the iron is hot enough.

2. Carefully touch the soldering iron to the solder that needs to be removed. The solder should quickly melt away, freeing up whatever was beneath. Ensure the iron does not touch the surroundings as it may melt something that you would rather keep.

3. If you need to keep the area clean, try using an old paint brush to flick away the melted solder. Just be careful when using nylon or other polymers as they may melt if the solder is still too hot. If you don't clean it all before it solidifies, simply touch it again with the soldering iron briefly. It will easily melt again for you so you can clean it up.

4. 

   You can also purchase "desoldering wire" or solder wick, which is a mesh that picks up the hot solder. To use this, heat the mesh with the iron and heat the solder as before and manipulate the mesh to pick up the solder. The mesh get clogged easily so if you are removing a lot of solder, cut the tip periodically and reheat the new end.

5. 

   If you need to solder something new in place, hold some soldering wire on top and lightly touch it with the hot soldering iron to melt some fresh solder. It does not take much to hold something in place so use sparingly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are soldering back any electronics, like speaker wire or circuit board parts, be sure to use lead-free electronics grade solder.

• Soldering irons get to be extremely hot. Avoid touching the tip of the iron or freshly melted solder as it will burn you.