Can we talk about how solder wick quality actually matters way more than I thought?

I used to buy the cheapest braid off Amazon for years, but after trying some Chemtronics wick on a tight board last week, I finally get why the old timers swear by the good stuff - it didn't lift a single pad where the cheap stuff always left a mess.

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy_ross2mo ago

Totally feel you on this. I had the same rude awakening when I tried a name brand wick for the first time last month. The cheap stuff always left this sticky residue and lifted pads on old boards, but the good wick just melts and flows clean. It's crazy how much easier the job is when your braid actually works right.

the_laura2mo ago

Wait, so we've all been wasting time scrubbing $5 desk lamps when the real secret was just paying for the good stuff, @nancy_ross?

briancarter1mo ago

The part about the cheap stuff lifting pads really hits home with me @nancy_ross. I remember I was fixing an old console once and thought I was being smart saving a few bucks on generic braid. Wound up ripping three pads clean off the board before I realized it was the wick, not my technique. Switched to name brand after that and it was night and day. Now I just keep a roll of the good stuff in my kit even for simple jobs. Your mileage may vary but I'd rather spend the extra couple dollars than deal with lifted pads again.