For the electronics hobbyist, desoldering is almost as important a skill as soldering. Everyone is bound to make mistakes, like soldering a polarized part onto a board backwards. If you know how to desolder components from a printed circuit board (PCB), you can correct misplaced parts and redo poor solder joins. You can also desolder failed parts from a board, or harvest parts from scrap circuit boards.
Instructions
1 Hold the end of the desoldering braid over the first pad you want to desolder.
2 Press the soldering iron onto the braid so that it is sandwiched between the iron and the solder pad. The iron heats up the braid, melting the solder underneath it. The braid soaks up the molten solder through capillary action.
3 Remove the braid and iron from the pad together, and then remove the iron from the braid. Solder cools very quickly, so if you remove the iron first, the solder will set, bonding the braid to the board. If that happens, don't panic, and don't pull on the braid. That's an easy way to destroy the board. Just reapply the iron. Melt the solder and remove the braid.
4 Clip off the used portion of the desoldering braid. Repeat for the other pads you want to desolder.
