sam_thomas•13d ago

I always used a heat gun for old solder wick... until a guy in the shop showed me his $12 desoldering pump from Harbor Freight.

3 comments

3 Comments

mason.brian13d ago

Ever try to clean out a clogged pump? I'd rather just replace the wick.

rubys8013d ago

Replacing the wick is just giving up... a good soak in vinegar or a proper cleaning kit can bring a pump back to life for years. You're throwing away a perfectly good part that just needs some care. It's like tossing a whole car because of a flat tire. The satisfaction of fixing it yourself beats just buying new stuff every time.

david56212d ago

Cleaning a pump is a total pain, I get why you'd just grab new wick. But honestly, that vinegar trick works way better than you'd expect... just let the parts sit overnight and the gunk wipes right off. It feels like you beat the system when a five cent fix saves you another trip to the store. Sure, it's not instant, but saving a few bucks and keeping junk out of the landfill adds up over time.