I'm very new to soldering, and I have a decent soldering iron (Hakko FX888D), but no hot tweezers. I'm trying to remove a surface mount component, but not having any luck trying to pull it off with tweezers while applying the soldering iron tip to either solder joint. I also tried wicking up most of the solder on the joint thinking that would make this easier, but that component isn't budging.

Any suggestions (short of "go buy hot tweezers")?

This video shows the microswitch I'm trying to remove (skip to 5:15):

 

I'm very new to soldering, and I have a decent soldering iron (Hakko FX888D), but no hot tweezers. I'm trying to remove a surface mount component, but not having any luck trying to pull it off with tweezers while applying the soldering iron tip to either solder joint. I also tried wicking up most of the solder on the joint thinking that would make this easier, but that component isn't budging.

Any suggestions (short of "go buy hot tweezers")?

This video shows the microswitch I'm trying to remove (skip to 5:15):

In this case, tweezers is just about the only way to go. There are too many other things that look like they'll be damaged if you try hot air.

 

I have used Chip Quik http://www.chipquik.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=220001 successfully on this same repair.
Not inexpensive but works really well when needed. It is also a lot cheaper than hot tweezers for a one of repair.
Graham
p.s. Of course a new mouse might be less than the Chip Quik but there is no sense of accomplishment in that.

 

I have used Chip Quik http://www.chipquik.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=220001 successfully on this same repair.
Not inexpensive but works really well when needed. It is also a lot cheaper than hot tweezers for a one of repair.
Graham
p.s. Of course a new mouse might be less than the Chip Quik but there is no sense of accomplishment in that.

LOL.

But you're right, a new mouse would be cheaper in terms of expense and time, so I can't justify getting this. Definitely good to know about for a project where a repair would save quite a bit of money relative to replacement.

I'll see if I can wedge a blade under the microcontroller while I'm alternately heating up the solder joints.

 

Ok. I hope I can explain this.

WARNING:
This may stuff the pads.

What you can do is try to add extra solder to each pad. Then heat each pad up quickly switching from one pad to the other, optionally adding a tiny bit of solder, eventually you get to a point where both "blobs" of solder will stay molten enough to remove the part in question. As you think to solder is getting to the point where they are both starting to stay molten you can give a little push with your iron, all things going well it may just slide off both pads.

Or borrow another iron and use two irons as a pair of tweezers.

Good suggestions.

I ended up getting it off by wedging a blade under the microswitch while I heated up one pad. Then freed the microswitch when I heated the other pad.

Unfortunately I mangled the microswitch cover a little bit trying to get it open and I can't shape the copper spring inside to generate sufficient clicking force. But now that the microswitches are off, I'll order some new ones, and solder them on. That should be a lot easier than finagling with the innards of the microswitch.

 

A good way to remove smd part without tweezer, is just to cut off the lead of the part with a sharp scalpel.
Then remove the lead from the pad. But be carefull to not damage under the part since trace might pass under it.
Work well with ic and even passive component.

 

I use two soldering irons and flow both sides simultaneously. Once the solder flows, I use the soldering irons as chop sticks and either slide it off its pads, or off the board.

 

Any suggestions (short of "go buy hot tweezers")?

To do SMD properly, you are going to need the proper tools.

 

I use two soldering irons and flow both sides simultaneously. Once the solder flows, I use the soldering irons as chop sticks and either slide it off its pads, or off the board.

I actually need to remove a diode from a board, I was thinking the same thing, how am I going to do it.

Now I know.

kv

 

I use two soldering irons and flow both sides simultaneously. Once the solder flows, I use the soldering irons as chop sticks and either slide it off its pads, or off the board.

I spent many years doing surface mount work - Microscope, three soldering irons (one larger one for ground plane areas) and a heat gun. Never found a set of tweezers that worked as well as the two soldering iron method.

 

I spent many years doing surface mount work - Microscope, three soldering irons (one larger one for ground plane areas) and a heat gun. Never found a set of tweezers that worked as well as the two soldering iron method.

You haven't looked very hard. I couldn't work without them.