SCROUNGING FOR PARTS
only use them after following Rule 2; it has to be worth
the trouble.
Rule 4: Invest in a roll of solder wick. Solder wick
is a roll of braided material which “accepts” solder that is
removed from a printed circuit board (PCB). I use the type
made by Hakko® ( www.hakko.com), manufacturers of
solder wick in a range of thicknesses, from 0.6 to three
mm. Solder wick effectively cleans solder away from the
joint, therefore making the component in question much
easier to remove. Because the heat is transferred to
the wick itself, there is less of a chance of damaging a
good part.
While on the topic of desoldering, you should remember that there are also a few rules when choosing a soldering iron, as the cheapest iron will often mean the
destruction of many functioning parts. A cheaper soldering iron (of the $10.00 to $20.00, 25-watt variety, for
example) will often have a tip much too big for delicate
electronics work and, on the other side of the coin, have
too little power to be used to solder large battery lugs and
such. My advice is to spend a little more money on a soldering iron (even a soldering station), as a one-time
$150.00 investment is much better than 20 $20.00 investments, especially over a number of years. I have experi-
enced cheap solder tips degrading from heat only days
after they have been purchased and it really isn’t worth
the trouble.
Rule 5: Remember that “parts” aren’t the only
things that can be scrounged from an appliance.
Electrical appliances can be recycled in many ways. They
have cases, knobs, dials, rubber feet, gauges, plugs, sockets, leads — you name it. These items are often much easier to remove, as they usually only involve the use of a
screwdriver. These accessories can be used to repair other
items of the same type or may even provide housings and
personalization for projects of your own. Remember that
cases do take up a lot of space, so be choosy and keep
only what you think you’ll need. Rubber feet, knobs, and
screws can be stored quite easily, as long as they are
still in good condition (not destroyed by sun damage,
for example), so take them out and keep them for a
later date.
For those who have not delved into the world of
scrounging before, try removing the smaller accessories
first. Better yet, try removing them and putting the appliance back together again, as it is often a completely different experience altogether. If you can take something apart
and successfully put it back together again, you may have
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We’re
Back!
Robotic Arm Kit
(No. 4-523)
Twin Motor Gearbox Kit
(No. 3-709)
For All Your Ro
Yes! The internet’s first and best
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botic Needs!
70
Circle #59 on the Reader Service Card.
APRIL 2005