This desoldering tool sucks!

[Axtman]

I saw Psionic Audio guy (Bret?) use this desoldering tool on Youtube. I have been unhappy with my other desoldering tools: old RS red bulb type, Hakho FR-301, big long light blue plastic tube type, etc. He recommended this tool. It was cheap so I bought one. It has been a game changer. It works great. Lots of good vaccum. The best part is it cleans itself well unlike other tools I have had that I have spent more time cleaning that using.

I recommend this tool!

https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-SS-0.../dp/B002MJMXD4

(I am in no way affliated with the product or seller.)

[xtian]

Huh. Yeah, I've tried this one. But Big Blue Tube remains my favorite for general tube amp solder sucking.

[stokes]

I've got the same thing but a different manufacturer. I got it about 20 yrs ago on ebay from Israel.Empties out those eyelets on the Fender boards quick and fully with one shot. I was using the rubber bulb type before this one, would take 2 or more sucks to clear them out.

[Evh5150]

I saw Psionic Audio guy (Bret?) use this desoldering tool on Youtube. I have been unhappy with my other desoldering tools: old RS red bulb type, Hakho FR-301, big long light blue plastic tube type, etc. He recommended this tool. It was cheap so I bought one. It has been a game changer. It works great. Lots of good vaccum. The best part is it cleans itself well unlike other tools I have had that I have spent more time cleaning that using.

I recommend this tool!

https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-SS-0.../dp/B002MJMXD4

(I am in no way affliated with the product or seller.)

I bought this one and it is of much better quality than the 8 dollar one of the same type.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/10050...d=DZ8nt4yeBgUm

[tedmich]

I saw Psionic Audio guy (Bret?) use this desoldering tool on Youtube. I have been unhappy with my other desoldering tools: old RS red bulb type, Hakho FR-301, big long light blue plastic tube type, etc. He recommended this tool. It was cheap so I bought one. It has been a game changer. It works great. Lots of good vaccum. The best part is it cleans itself well unlike other tools I have had that I have spent more time cleaning that using.

I recommend this tool!

https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-SS-0.../dp/B002MJMXD4

(I am in no way affliated with the product or seller.)

Yes Lyle on Psionic Audio loves the Japan made Engineers sucker, and Digikey is the cheapest source

The silicone tip is great. The old blue Sodapullit can be fitted with a silicone tip using this tubing from McMC for about $5 for 24 tips

[g1]

The silicone tip is great. The old blue Sodapullit can be fitted with a silicone tip using this tubing from McMC for about $5 for 24 tips

I bought one of those 'Engineer' suckers and like the silicone tips enough to try on the Soldapullt. I find the Engineer too small and slippery to get used to.

What I wonder about is the 'high temp' ratings which seem to be quite a range. The Mcmaster there says 450F, the ADA replacement tubing from digikey (for Engineer) claims 'heat resistant to 350C'. Some tubing called 'hi-temp' are only 180C.
Solder iron tip is generally ballpark 750F (400C) so it is going to melt any of those tubings, it's just a matter of how fast.

[Tom Phillips]

... I wonder about is the 'high temp' ratings which seem to be quite a range. The McMaster there says 450F, the ADA replacement tubing from digikey (for Engineer) claims 'heat resistant to 350C'. Some tubing called 'hi-temp' are only 180C.
Solder iron tip is generally ballpark 750F (400C) so it is going to melt any of those tubings, it's just a matter of how fast.

I was already working on a McMaster order when this discussion came to life. I was also wondering about the "High" temp rating of the various tubing. I found that McMaster offers several different lines of Silicon tubing. At least two are rated "High Temp." The 3038K series is rated at 390°F max and the 3184K series, as referenced by tedmich, is rated at 450°F max. I ordered some 450° types to try out on my solder sucker and to make some NevitsLab style enhanced spring power tube retainers. It will be interesting to find out how lone the tubing lasts when using a 700°F soldering tip. For reference the melting point of the Soldapulit Teflon tip is 620°F / 327°C and my Soldapulit tips degrade mostly because of contact with the soldering iron tip. I do have one ceramic Soldapulit tip left in my stash. It won't melt during use but, of course, it doesn't solve the issue of the gaps formed around the joint during solder removal work.

[Chuck H]

I just think it's funny how you introduced this topic. It reminded me of a joke about about Microsoft products. As in: "The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they start making vacuum cleaners."

Yours was the reverse intent but it made me think of this and I had a laugh.

[tedmich]

platinum cured silicone does not melt, it ablates at high temperatures: the surface breaks down and vaporizes.

So the tips char a bit and get stiffer. When they degrade enough you replace them.
Its possible the Engineer replacement tube is higher temp rated https://www.digikey.com/en/products/...c/2476/7241504

But the McMC tube I selected is among the thinnest walled, transparent and highest temp rated silicone, it should be fine.
If not I'll report back!

There is no higher temp rated clear elastomer than platinum cured silicone that is commercially available, to my knowledge.

[Tom Phillips]

Thanks tedmich.
I found lots of good information by Googling platinum cured silicone.
I also found it interesting that the data sheet for the solder sucker replacement tip material at https://www.digikey.com/en/products/...c/2476/7241504 lists a "Heat Resistance" rating of 350°C = 662°F so there is quite a bit of variation due to specmanship. Probably by calling it heat resistance vs. temperature rating.