Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

stevehertz · 5th Apr 2018, 8:42 am

I recently posted on here seeking advice on the purchase of a compressor for general workshop use. I'm sure someone said that it could be used as a power source for a powerful de-soldering station. Does anyone have any links to or experience of actual desoldering equipment that fulfils such a need? I'm looking for something I can simply buy and hook it up to my compressor, not a DIY thing.

Radio Wrangler · 5th Apr 2018, 8:55 am

Aga made vacuum generators which were powered by compressed air. We used to use them on the production lines. EDSYN made clear plastic controllers/reservoirs and the desoldering heads. Just like a 'solderpult' but a lot more and continuous suck.

David

barrymagrec · 5th Apr 2018, 9:02 am

Weller made a desoldering station powered by compressed air in the seventies, I have one in my loft. (not in use).
The desoldering iron, based round a TCP1, was the same as the later version with the built in pump, which was obviously much more convenient for most users.

Alistair D · 5th Apr 2018, 9:24 am

Pace also made one called the Ped-A-Vac. Like the Weller it used standard tools. The conversion from blow to suck was carried out in the oversized foot pedal assembly. There are a lot of Pace manuals online you might just be lucky and find one.

Al

GMB · 5th Apr 2018, 9:45 am

I actually built one when I had a requirement for doing a huge lot of desoldering.

It is not hard to make a venturi to make vacuum from a flow of air. In my example it blew right through the copper bit so the vacuum was made right where is was needed, and the molten solder was then picked up by the air flow and blasted out into a receiver. It worked really well apart from never finding a metal that was not soluable in solder so ended up endlessly making tiny replacement inserts for the bit.

Diabolical Artificer · 7th Apr 2018, 6:28 am

I looked at DIYing something similar using one of those cheap desolderers that are basically a heated tip and solder sucker. I even tried to mate a vacuum cleaner and said device but the result was too big and clunky.

It's easier to use a small motor powered vacuum pump than compressed air as used in commercial de-soldering station's. A compressor is noisy, and mine makes me jump six foot into the air everytime the motor kicks in, not something you want sitting in your workshop whilst your inside a DUT full of lethal voltages.

Andy.

Refugee · 7th Apr 2018, 2:39 pm

I have got one of those water driven vacuum pumps in a box of bits and have been on the look out for a de-soldering iron to go with it for years. I already have an old fire extinguisher for the vacuum tank.
It is not so good if you are on a water meter though.

stevehertz · 7th Apr 2018, 3:15 pm

Nothing available then in terms of just going out and buying one or ordering one off tinternet. Oh hum, sounds a great idea, but not realised in practise. I'll stick to my spring loaded sucker and then solder wick to clean up with.

Downwind27 · 10th Apr 2018, 1:11 pm

I use a Metcal system which has a desoldering tool. It uses a small compressor - the sort used to power a small artists spray tool. It's an extremely good piece of kit but very expensive (mine came from a factory sell-off). The small compressor can be a limitation if lots of joints are to be unsoldered, soon runs out of puff.

dseymo1 · 10th Apr 2018, 4:02 pm

I have a fridge compressor under my bench, awaiting experimentation with solder sucking.

5th Apr 2018, 8:42 am	#1
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? I recently posted on here seeking advice on the purchase of a compressor for general workshop use. I'm sure someone said that it could be used as a power source for a powerful de-soldering station. Does anyone have any links to or experience of actual desoldering equipment that fulfils such a need? I'm looking for something I can simply buy and hook it up to my compressor, not a DIY thing. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

5th Apr 2018, 8:55 am	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,871	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? Aga made vacuum generators which were powered by compressed air. We used to use them on the production lines. EDSYN made clear plastic controllers/reservoirs and the desoldering heads. Just like a 'solderpult' but a lot more and continuous suck. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

5th Apr 2018, 9:02 am	#3
barrymagrec Octode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Morden, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,557	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? Weller made a desoldering station powered by compressed air in the seventies, I have one in my loft. (not in use). The desoldering iron, based round a TCP1, was the same as the later version with the built in pump, which was obviously much more convenient for most users.

5th Apr 2018, 9:24 am	#4
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? Pace also made one called the Ped-A-Vac. Like the Weller it used standard tools. The conversion from blow to suck was carried out in the oversized foot pedal assembly. There are a lot of Pace manuals online you might just be lucky and find one. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

5th Apr 2018, 9:45 am	#5
GMB Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: near Reading (and sometimes Torquay) Posts: 3,094	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? I actually built one when I had a requirement for doing a huge lot of desoldering. It is not hard to make a venturi to make vacuum from a flow of air. In my example it blew right through the copper bit so the vacuum was made right where is was needed, and the molten solder was then picked up by the air flow and blasted out into a receiver. It worked really well apart from never finding a metal that was not soluable in solder so ended up endlessly making tiny replacement inserts for the bit.

7th Apr 2018, 6:28 am	#6
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,661	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? I looked at DIYing something similar using one of those cheap desolderers that are basically a heated tip and solder sucker. I even tried to mate a vacuum cleaner and said device but the result was too big and clunky. It's easier to use a small motor powered vacuum pump than compressed air as used in commercial de-soldering station's. A compressor is noisy, and mine makes me jump six foot into the air everytime the motor kicks in, not something you want sitting in your workshop whilst your inside a DUT full of lethal voltages. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

7th Apr 2018, 2:39 pm	#7
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,553	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? I have got one of those water driven vacuum pumps in a box of bits and have been on the look out for a de-soldering iron to go with it for years. I already have an old fire extinguisher for the vacuum tank. It is not so good if you are on a water meter though.

7th Apr 2018, 3:15 pm	#8
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? Nothing available then in terms of just going out and buying one or ordering one off tinternet. Oh hum, sounds a great idea, but not realised in practise. I'll stick to my spring loaded sucker and then solder wick to clean up with. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

10th Apr 2018, 1:11 pm	#9
Downwind27 Tetrode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. Posts: 95	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? I use a Metcal system which has a desoldering tool. It uses a small compressor - the sort used to power a small artists spray tool. It's an extremely good piece of kit but very expensive (mine came from a factory sell-off). The small compressor can be a limitation if lots of joints are to be unsoldered, soon runs out of puff.

10th Apr 2018, 4:02 pm	#10
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Desoldering using a compressor as a power source? I have a fridge compressor under my bench, awaiting experimentation with solder sucking.