Hardware Wii Desoldering Help!

[stanokaka]

Hey, I'm currently trying to desolder all of the ports from the nintendo wii motherboard (don't ask why) like the gamecube controllers, av port etc... And I'm not having any luck. I'm using a 30w desoldering iron. I'm waiting for about 1 hour for the desoldering iron to fully heat up, then I'm putting it over the joints and yet the solder on the joints are not turning to solder and I'm holding it on the solder for about 10 seconds as I'm scared to damage the wii mobo. Does anyone have any suggestions or a possible fix that will melt the solder?

 

[hybridLearner]

You can try using some wicking material, like braided copper. It may help transfer the solder off of the wii.

 

[raulpica]

You should also use some good soldering flux, along with it. And btw, good luck, removing ports without using a Desoldering Pump is usually a big pain in the back.

 

[Smogen]

You should also use some good soldering flux, along with it. And btw, good luck, removing ports without using a Desoldering Pump is usually a big pain in the back.

i agree. i would pick up a pump because it will suck all of the solder out of the hole. braids might suck up a majority of it but I doubt it will get all of it.

 

[cobleman]

You need at least 350C (660F) to remove lead free solder. Have plenty of flux and use the braid

 

[thieves like us]

I'm assuming that your soldering iron is not temperature selectable. remember that lead-based solder takes a minimum of 370 degrees F to melt and lead-free about 480 degrees. additionally, the larger the connection, the longer that the solder will take to reach a sustainable temperature to melt.

in addition to a pump, for desoldering, you want to use a thicker, chistle style tip so that you are increasing the surface area of the heat transfer from the iron to the board and solder.

flux is mainly used to prevent the surfaces from oxidizing and reducing the surface tension of the solder to provide a better join and will not necessarily help for de-soldering areas.

 

[raulpica]

flux is mainly used to prevent the surfaces from oxidizing and reducing the surface tension of the solder to provide a better join and will not necessarily help for de-soldering areas.

I mainly use flux to distribute the heat a little bit more evenly, considering that (at least the one I use) turns liquid and that liquids transmits heat.

I've verified numerous times that desoldering without flux takes a lot more time (and we all know that the less time you stay on there with your iron, the better).
So dunno, it might just be my flux, but it actually happens, for me.

 

[thieves like us]

that makes sense. alternatively, you can add a small amount of solder as well to get the melting process started since the thin strand will melt extremely quickly and help transfer the heat like you mentioned with the flux.