Reddit reviews EDSYN The Original Deluxe SOLDAPULLT

Easy-peasey repair even for a beginner.

First you'll need a decent soldering iron like this, some 63/37 solder and a solder sucker like this.

You'll need to remove the old solder on the three pads to the left of where the connector was mounted. Heat up the soldering iron, touch it to each pad and add a tiny dab of solder so the whole thing melts. If it doesn't melt within 5 seconds you'll need to turn up the iron temperature. Then grab your soldapullt, cock it by pushing down on the plunger until it clicks, put it on top of the liquid solder and push its button. The solder should get sucked into the soldapullt and the joint should be shiny and flat with the board. Repeat this for all three pads.

Now place the old headphone socket so the solder tabs on its left side line up with the circuit board pads and its case hole. Grab the soldering iron and touch it to one of the solder pads then add enough solder to cover the pad and the tab. Pull the iron away and let the joint cool for 10 seconds. Make sure the jack is still aligned and if it is then solder the other pads.

Although not the cheapest, ebay is probably the easiest way to find faulty systems.

Some equipment recommendations:

• A TS100 soldering iron. I use a more expensive Hakko FX888-D, but I've heard great things about this one for the price. Try to get a chisel tip for general purpose use, it has a balanced combination of size and heat transfer.
  
• iFixit 64-bit toolkit, for handling all the various screws you'll encounter.
  
• Soldapullt desoldering pump. Don't bother with the Chinese knock-offs, they seem to break easily.
  
• Fine 63/37 solder. One roll will last you a long time. Don't bother with cheap Chinese solder, it will not have the advertised metal composition and give poor results.
  
• I like this flux, but it's kind of pricey.
  
• Desoldering braid is essential.
  
• Neoteck multimeter. Very good for the price.
  
• If you need to remove SMD components, a 858D hot air station available under various Chinese brands you've never heard of. Kind of sketchy, but works and has not burned down my home yet.

Yeah, the Edysn Soldapullt works really well.

I use a Weller WES-51 and you'll need this or a clone:

http://www.amazon.com/Edsyn-Deluxe-Soldapullt-Heavy-Vacuum/dp/B006GOKVKI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1426885680&sr=1-1&keywords=soldapullt

Also see the Modifications Wiki for soldering equipment suggestions.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/modifications#wiki_soldering_tutorials

The original is the Soldapult. The clones probably work about as well but I wouldn't expect them to last as long.

Been using one of these whenever the wick doesn't work.
Edsyn Deluxe Soldapullt

Good for when there is a lot of solder in a plated through hole.

Are you asking about the large soldapullt or one of the smaller ones?


I have one of each of those, and I find I always use the smaller one as I can use it single handed. I can 'single hand it' with the large one if I invert it and push the plunger down on the table, but then you don't evacuate what you can of the sucked up solder and the chamber becomes more full and is then more prone to bind on the sides. Also when the tip clearing rod pushes solder out that has stuck to the inside of the tip it falls out on the desk and your hand, so it is more messy. I also have used my forearm/wrist of the hand holding the soldering iron to push it down, but as you can expect after burning my hand, or dealing with the iron cord for a few times it gets old fast.


Also the larger one I have is one of the mkawa modified ones with the viton quad or x-ring oring and krytox lubricated. And I found that having a better seal just means it jams more often. These are tools that are meant to be messy inside so you need your engineered tolerances for gunk and crud.

So the one that I've used at my job is the Edsyn Deluxe Soldapullt but I've seen some third party clones on amazon for about the a third of the price, and they look pretty much identical and have the same design. I've personally never used any of the third party clones, but I can imagine it works just just as well as the Sodapullt. Here's the one I'm looking at on amazon, and it looks to have pretty good reviews. What's nice about this kind of desoldering pump is that you can 'reload" the pump while holding the iron in one hand and the pump in the other. Just push the end with the spring against the table and it will lock in place until you press the trigger to release it.

If you're going the solder sucker route, get the Soldapult. Trust me. Save yourself the aggravation and decrease the chances of ruining your expensive keyboards.

I went through 2 cheapies. You will appreciate it in the end. Or as posted a day or two ago, get a desoldering iron with the bulb attached. I kinda wish and still may buy one... though I'm more about building than modding at this point. It's just such a pain in the ass.