Solder wick is a copper braid used by electronics repair technicians to remove unwanted solder. It comes in standard and fluxed types and must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Experienced technicians use it with a desoldering tool to offset the expense and cleanly remove residue. Common problems include old copper braid, too little heat, and an inappropriate solder tip.
Often the layman thinks that the solder wick looks more like copper jewelry than an industrial tool because it is a brightly colored woven copper. Manufacturers call it a wick because it resembles the twisted wick of an oil lamp. Electronics repair technicians and engineers use it to remove unwanted solder from circuit boards and other electronic devices. To use solder wick, a person places copper braid over unwanted solder and heats it up with a soldering iron. After the heat has drawn the solder into the braid, the technician or engineer removes both the braid and the heat source at the same time.
Solder wick usually comes on reels, which makes it convenient for people to use. Experienced technicians or engineers leave copper braid on the coil while using it because the copper gets hot enough to burn a person’s fingers. A person must be careful not to use too much heat on one circuit because the heat can damage surrounding components. Precise use of the wick often requires experience and patience.
Once the copper braid is filled with the scrap solder, a person cuts out the used copper braid and properly disposes of it. Most solder contains lead and must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Manufacturers are typically switching to lead-free solder, but the solder wick works just as well on lead-free solder.
Typically, solder wick is expensive. Experienced technicians and engineers use a desoldering tool called a solder squeegee to remove large amounts of solder. Then they finish the cleaning with the solder wick. This offsets the expense of the wick and cleanly removes any excess solder residue. In general, solder cups and similar tools do not remove solder completely like copper braid.
Solder wick is generally of two types: standard and fluxed. Fluxed copper braid has a soldering aid – flux – added to the copper braid. This helps the solder flow into the copper braid. Many companies don’t use fluxed solder wick because it could cause problems. There are many different flow formulas on the market, and sometimes mixing the different types of flow causes problems.
There are several reasons why the solder wick is not working properly. Common reasons include old copper braid, too little heat, and an inappropriate solder tip. Aged copper braid becomes brownish or discolored and often doesn’t work well, so it’s best to use brightly colored copper braid. Another problem is incorrect application of heat because the soldering iron tip is too small. Selecting the correct solder tip will make the job easier and protect the other components surrounding the unwanted solder.
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