Reddit reviews Desoldering Braid

Well, if you can use the lab and it has a scope in it then you just scored big time.

As far as $100. I would get:

(amazon links for convenience, use any supplier you wish)

• DMM (digital multimeter) - must have diode check, DC volts, AC volts, Ohms, and continuity. Extech EX330 ($50) or Equus 3320 ($20)
  
  
• clip leads for the meter such as these - these are important because you will need to take values while the amp is on, and you don't want to be poking around a live amp
  
  
• variable power/temp soldering iron - cheap one good one better one
  
  
• 60/40 leaded solder - I like this kind
  
  
• desolder braid
  
  
• rosin flux
  
  
• contact cleaner
  
  
• (de-oxit d-5)[http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S6-Deoxit-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00006LVEU/]
  
  
• flush cutters
  
  
• solder sucker
  
  
• shrink tube of various diameters
  
  
• 92%+ isopropyl alcohol
  
  
• windex
  
  
• q-tips
  
  
• paper towels
  
  
• needle nose pliers
  
  
• nice set of phillips head screwdrivers
  
  
• standard screwdriver
  
  
• miner's headlamp
  
  
• digital camera for taking many many pictures before and during disassembly
  
  
• printer for printing service manuals
  
  
• heat gunor hair dryer
  
  
• canned air
  
  
  EDIT: Light bulb socket, 100W + 60W real light bulbs (not the hippy engery saving kind), electrical outlet - these are for making a dim bulb tester.
  
  All I can think of right now.

Use a desoldering braid instead of a solder bulb. You're welcome.

Is braid of any use or is it just not practical for what you need?

Pen pump vacuum same thing
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07QS1VTZ4/ref=sspa_mw_detail_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Braid
https://www.amazon.com/Steren-400-168-Desoldering-Braid/dp/B004NEUII8

depending on the size of the connections, I'd take it one at a time

I use the ribbon to soak up some of the old solder and remove the component initially

Once the component has been removed, if the holes are still plugged with solder, I heat up the remaining solder and use a bulb to remove it

If you try to do both at once the solder can follow your iron and short the 2 contacts together.

The ones in the front that we can see should be fine, since both pads are GROUND pads. WE cant see the other pads though from that pic. As long as you arent grounding Ground pads to Positive pads you should be okay.

Do you have any desoldering-braid/desoldering wick? If not I would recommend picking some up: https://www.amazon.com/Steren-400-168-Desoldering-Braid/dp/B004NEUII8 it makes it super easy to desolder connection.

You have too much solder on those pads though, I would try and use less in the future.