Best solder sucker
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ย. 2024
- Tool:
Engineer SS-02 Solder Sucker
amzn.to/2RKmGEK
Related tools mentioned:
Basic Desoldering Vacuum Pump Solder Removal Tool
amzn.to/2Eh0P57
Desoldering Bulb
amzn.to/2A7bmvz
Transcript:
I’m Donald Bell for Cool Tools and in his video I’m going to show you three different solder suckers that can help you undo soldered connections on your electronic projects. There’s only one here I really recommend, and I’m going to show you why. But you can find Amazon links to all of these options down in the show notes.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, working on electronic projects means making mistakes along the way. Soldering mistakes are particularly tricky to undo because you have to re-heat the solder to liquify it, then quickly pull it up before it turns solid.
One of the oldest tools for this is the delsoldering bulb. It’s like a mini turkey baster with a plastic tip and a rubber bulb. You squeeze it, introduce it to the hot solder, release it, and then usually swear a little bit.
The main problem with this is that the suction just isn’t powerful enough to do much good. The other problem is that the big plastic tip can only get you so close to the problem. That said, it’s a decent option if you’re a beginner and you just need something to tidy up big blobs of solder.
The more common option these days are these plunger style suckers. You can get these for as little as $5-10 and they’re often included in any beginner electronics kit.
These solve the suction problem by using a spring loaded plunger and a release button to deliver a quick, powerful shot. It’s definitely better than the bulb, but the plastic tip is essentially the same. When you have this and a soldering iron tip in the same space, it’s very tricky juggle them around.
So here’s the superior option, and it’s one that friends have recommended to me for years and I’ve been slow to come around to. It’s called the Engineer SS-02, it’s made in Japan, and the reason I’ve been so reluctant to get one is that it costs around $30.
When I was starting out, my soldering iron wasn’t even $30, so it didn’t make sense to invest in a tool like this. But after slowly updating my setup, and having suffered through enough delsoldering nightmares, I finally made the jump.
Here’s why this thing is so good. You get the spring-loaded plunger of the last option, but the tip uses a section of silicone tubing that can mold around your soldering iron tip and works like the undo button you always wanted. A long section of spare tubing comes included if you ever need to freshen it up.
In addition to that, this design is more compact, which makes the release button easier to reach and the plunger easier to push with one hand. The fit and finish is a lot more high-touch. And the tolerances of how everything fits together are much tighter.
Also, and I know this is a silly thing, but the sound it makes is so satisfying.
So that’s a look at the mostly frustrating world of solder suckers. If you’ve been suffering with some version of the plastic tip options, put a price on that pain and see if $30 is over your budget. If not, pick this thing up, and put your name on it so it doesn’t walk away.
You can pick one up for yourself using the Amazon link in the description. And remember, you can find thousands of reader recommended tools like this at cool-tools.org.
Find more Cool Tool reviews here:
kk.org/cooltools
Check out Maker Project Lab here:
/ @makerprojectlab
My husband loves his (spring plunger type) solder sucker. He uses it to clean his RIC type hearing aids! It removes the ear wax. No fuss, no muss!
Been using a Swedish Paladin solder sucker with teflon micro tips for 40 yrs along with my Weller iron. I love it. Tips cost more probably but the action is professionally clean. If you don't run too much heat, they'll last a good while.
I use to use the Soldapullt back in the 70s & 80s; It's still available on Amazon.
And much superior to the SS-02. I tried. It's a hype.
While way out of the videos price level. Hakko FR300 / FR301 was one of the best investments I ever made. Tried a ZD 985 and it was crap. Tried the handhelds in the forst part of this video, and they were crap. Wish I had tried the Engineer SS-02 prior to the Hakko. Looks promising. Still think I'd prefer the Hakko though.
Adding to my Christmas wish list! I could have used this a couple days ago... thanks for sharing. 🤓👍
I've always preferred the copper braid for this purpose. Aka desoldering braid. Aka desoldering wick.
The copper wick is not economic ....
the best solder sucker is the one who makes the perfect "THOOOMPP" sound
I have the Engineer tool and it's great, but the silicone tube replacements are VERY EXPENSIVE!
I'm pretty sure a silicon tube like this costs pennies. I use them all the time for fishing and they are dirt cheap. I suggest look for silicon tubes in general not for "Engineer SS-2 silicon tube replacement"
Go to the closest RC-store and ask for silicone tube for methanol engines. It is the same silicone and size. Doesn't melt.
i prefer mine. it is priceless as i have never been able to find another one like it.
Been wishing mine had that flexible tip! I filed the plastic tip of mine to a bit of an angle which made it slightly easier to use but still not ideal. Wonder if I could just get some silicone tubing and push it onto the tip of my current sucker. Though the design of this Engineer is pretty attractive also...
Yep, I've seen it used in a repair center lol. Cheap silicone tubing just stretched onto the tip. Works wonders and doesn't cost much
I love that they're called suckers lmao
Or you could do what I do and use the second one you showed and just put high temp silicone on it you could get a meter of it pretty cheap
what diameter did you use? I only find ones that are maximum 280°C resistant and I solder with 350°C
That would be a must have tool in the work box ...
Buying one immediately! Thank you
So put lil tube on cheap sucker and were good lol. Remember for extra few quid you could get a replica hakko station with the nice lil desolder gun.
Nowadays you can get a power Desoldering Pump for around $20 ($10 if you order directly from China). While not the best, its an iron and sucker in one, so you can heat the solder while simultaneously sucking the solder away. Perfect and cheap for small jobs, though longevity of it is questionable
2:03 So I'll just buy that tubing on eBay or AliExpress, and then add it to my cheap aluminium sucker. Problem solved for a mere fraction of the cost of the SS-02. :-)
thats what i was thinking also
Make sure you get one that can withstand higher temperatures. The first one I tried melted on the iron tip.
@@ian1352 which diameter did you buy? can you link what you bought?
dude how many times will you make the same comment
My higher quality one is mostly metal and also makes that satisfying sound.
Absolutely amazing. Gonna try it out!
How do you like it?
I had to resort to a wick/braid for very tiny pcb's because the end of my pump is too big to properly fit over pins that are very close together. I've been having a hard time finding a pump with a narrow tip. Maybe the Engineer pump is the solution or maybe I should save my money and just stick with the braid.
Sometimes braid is the only way. It is also usually the best option to get the last remnants of solder off.
@@ian1352 Thanks for this. The braid has become my new best friend. I only wish there was a way to get the solder off so it can be reused. That's the only downside to it IMHO.
Bought one right away! Cost about €22 i Eu ex VAT.
Thank you!
dude, why dont you tighten your PCB holder while soldering? it freaks me out
Sweet...just made my purchase. The sound lol :D
ty for the tip I just put some silicone tubbing on my plastic tip.
where did you get a silicone tube? I wanna do the same
@@heeku_ I had a bad handle for my ksger solder iron, so ordered a new and cable followed with it, so I cut a part of the broken handles cable of.
The video shows the worst technique trying to continue to heat the solder while sucking the solder, remove the soldering iron immediately before sucking solder with a good seal on the board and they work much better!.
1:10
How do I disassemble it, because I want to clean it? 😢
Unscrew it. The metal part and the plastic end unscrew.
Tap the metal part upside down on the table. Bits of solder should come out. Sometimes it will clog up and you will have to push a small screwdriver or something through the tip to losen it up.
@@Rose-ec6he
I know how 👍
th-cam.com/video/bzG0NEdA9oU/w-d-xo.html
your latest tool brang me a new idea to suck the soldering lead
'why not getting the cheap $5 one with the plastic tip and just get those silicone tubes from somewhere, you'd need them anyway for that SS-02 when yours wear out ... wish I knew where to get those sillicone tubes tho...
Thanks for the information. Subscribed.
Looks amazing, though as you mention, it's not cheap either.
this guy is the fourth.
Thanks😮😊
What's the benefit to this instead of just wicking?
It's easier to get solder out of holes with a sucker or a desoldering gun and you don't need to keep buying new wick. It of course depends on what you are doing if you need one or not. Desoldering a typical 28-pin IC from an ancient computer with a thick pcb and decades old dried up solder and getting the holes cleared for inserting a socket for a new one will require quite a long strip of wick and patience. Using a good solder sucker makes it quite easy, using a desoldering gun makes it a breeze. Using a bad solder sucker is very frustrating and you'll likely break something.
I think you should read the 1 star reviews on Amazon for the Engineer SS-02 Solder Sucker from people who don't sound like they're electronics novices... which is understandable for anyone who would pay $27.50 for a vacuum pump solder sucker.
I bought one and sent it back, it's an awful design.
@@O_Prim3why is it awful
@@maryannetoldme6341 the ergonomics are bad, there's no back to the plunger so it's almost impossible to use one handed. It also gets jammed up all the time so you continually have to empty it out. It's just not good to use.
I have the Japanese one. I can never get it to work
My sucker sucks 🙄. I may try to get one of those silicone tubes to save a few bucks.
They are all crap, search for desoldering gun, they work like a soldering iron by heating the solder (like a normal iron) and then sucking it.
thanks! it works fast
made in japan (made in perfect)
Or buy a de soldering iron that works great for 7$ on ebay
According to the instrunctions on the Engineer Solder sucker: NEVER REMOVE THE TOP SCREW. also the item is cheaper at Adafruit
exactly!, if you do this you will mess up the complex seal (it's NOT a simple o-ring seal) and it will lose suction. then it will start to have solder sticking in the metal part of the nozzle area because it wont enter with enough velocity to clear the narrow nozzle body without cooling first.
It's made in Japan!
That's why it's awesome. They always seem to over engineer everything
Fcol.. not made in China?!! (sound of running flip-floppers rappedly decreasing)
Kotto vs Vampire?
Actually if you knew how to use all the examples shown here you would have found they all work equally well
Definitely interesting 🧐...
My experience with the engineer has been horrible. After only a few months of light desoldering the spring somehow has so much resistance that I have to hold the base of the sucker with both arms and push the plunger down against the table. Waste of money imo and I’m just going to stick with the cheap ones since at least when they break they are cheap to replace.
You should watch Retro Gaming Art channel, this video "Cleaning The Engineer SS-02 Solder Sucker - RETRO GAMING ARTS
" he fixes and cleans the pump.
$30 worth every penny if you work with close-in components......
$30? I would use the money towards an electric desoldering gun. It will permanently end your frustration with desoldering components.
electric? is there any other kind ?
@@EpicBunty I'm sure their a butane one made.
Wish I would have done that. Bought the engineer trying to be a cheapskate. Ended up buying the proskit SS-331H anyway. Wish I had just saved my 30 bucks and put it towards the SS-331H.
Desoldering guns are amazing. No sense spending $30 on something slightly better, when you can spend $130 on something night and day better. Way better value. Granted there might be cheaper alternatives. But didn't wanna waste anymore money trying to be a cheapskate.
@@nerdstrangler4804what’s the advantage over the plunger
@@phr3ui559 Other than speed and ease of use, the fact that you can seal the nozzle against the board without removing the heat source.
As with a basic solder sucker you either have to leave air gaps as you try to fit the nozzle around both the component and the soldering iron. Or try to quickly try to remove the iron and clean the joint before it cools off.
Being able to heat and seal the joint at the same time is much more effective at removing solder. Which is helpful for a lot of modern electronics with really tight tolerances.
Granted, you don't need a big piece of equipment like I have. But if I needed something better than a basic solder sucker, I would probably look for something with a heating element built in.
Solder wick is great for smd jobs, if you are looking for a solder sucker, I would recommend the ss-02 from Engineer: th-cam.com/video/6rsZ0gnVW-E/w-d-xo.html
India me delever hi nhi kar rha
caring
Why do 'Muricans say "Saldering" when its spelt Soldering (Soul der ing)?
i say sod er ing. silent L
Just got one from wish for £2 ...😉
Why can you people from that side of the world not seem to be able to read the word solder??? SOLLLLLDER!!! What the hell is "sodda"?
ok
made in japan better