2UUL Solder Vampire Desoldering Wick (1515 / 2515 / 3015, 10 Rolls)

One width of wick doesn't suit everything. A 3 mm braid on a 0.4 mm-pitch connector soaks up solder from the neighbouring pins too. A 1.5 mm braid on a big ground pad takes ages and overheats the board. Having the right width makes desoldering faster and safer.

This Solder Vampire box contains 10 rolls, each packed separately, in your choice of three widths. According to 2UUL and other retailers, 1515 is 1.5 mm wide, 2515 is 2.5 mm and 3015 is 3.0 mm, all on 1.5 m rolls. The listing says the dense copper braid soaks up solder quickly, leaves little residue and resists oxidation.

Choosing a width

• 1515: fine-pitch connectors and small pads where a short is a risk.

• 2515: general pad clearing after chip removal.

• 3015: large ground pads, shields and heavy solder that's slow to clear.

• Solder bridges that need removing without damaging nearby pads.

Technique

Add flux, press the braid down with a clean iron, and lift both together once it has soaked up the solder. Cut off the used section before the next pass.

Keep unopened rolls sealed in their packs so they don't oxidise before you need them.