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7
Mastering the Art of Soldering
3.5. The Soldering Wick
Soldering Wick
The soldering wick is usually made from braided copper wire and it absorbs the solder. It is
mainly used for wicking the solder from the circuit board. It is useful when too much solder
has been applied or when you want to desolder.
A less known use of the soldering wick is for soldering the surface mounted parts. This
soldering technique consists of applying a generous amount of solder over the surface
mounted chip’s pins and then soldering them, irrespective of the possible formation of solder
bridges. Then, the soldering wick is used to absorb the extra solder, leaving the surface
mounted chip’s pins cleanly soldered to the pads.
3.6. The Soldering Iron Stand
The soldering iron stand is where you put your soldering iron when not in use. It helps in
preventing burns. The wet sponge is for cleaning the soldering iron tip and is used to
eliminate excess solder.
Insert the spring holder into the base and screw it in
Soak the sponge in water before use
