[volt-nuts] 3458A - To Modify or Not To Modify?

[Chuck Harris]

The answer to a Pace desoldering station that has lost its "oomph" is
to let it pump alcohol for a while.  What happens is the rosin flux vapors
get into the pump and solidify.  That tends to cause the spring loaded
graphite vanes in the pump to get sticky and lag in their ability to follow
the cylinder walls as the pump spins...you lose your pumping action.

Pumping the alcohol dissolves the rosin, and frees the graphite vanes, and
restores pumping efficiency.

-Chuck Harris

Bob Smither wrote:
> J. L. Trantham wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Solder suckers and desolder braid have been my tools. I'll have to also
>> look at the possibility of adding a 'vacuum' type desolder iron. I have a
>> real cheapie that uses only a bulb that I have never been particularly fond
>> of but perhaps I could hook it up to an external vacuum then trigger the
>> vacuum at the appropriate time.
>
> I have a Pace vacuum desoldering station that has served for many years. Recently it
> seems to have lost its "oomph" and I bought a Hakko 808 unit:
>
> http://www.frys.com/product/2760813?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
>
> A little pricey, but I have been very happy with the Hakko unit.