Updated May 31, 2022
Every electronics assembler, engineer, repair technician and home hobbyist has a pair of pliers in his or her tool box. There are as many different pliers types and styles available as there are applications for them.
Desoldering Made Easier and Safer
Desoldering braid (finely braided copper coated with flux) is an excellent product for removing solder. Simply heat the solder with your soldering iron until the solder reflows, touch the braid to the molten solder and in a few seconds the solder has “wicked” up the braid. Sounds good – until you realize that the copper braid is conducting the heat upward and your fingers are burning. To solve this you use much more braid than necessary simply to keep your fingers far enough away from the heat — wasted braid equals wasted money.