Wire wick (also known as seller wick, desoldering braid, or solder wickA soldering iron is a tool used to remove excess solder from a printed circuit board (PCB).
Basically, it is made up of:
Copper wire: The ultra-thin copper wires are braided together in a flat strip.
Flux layer (Rosin): Copper wires are often pre-coated with a flux to help the molten solder adhere to the wire more quickly.
How it worksWire wick works based on the phenomenon of capillaryWhen you place the wick over the solder joint and heat it with a soldering iron, the solder melts and is "drawn" back up into the gaps between the copper wires, much like a sponge absorbs water.
Composition and coating (Flux)Solder wicks are typically braided copper wires, but their solder-attracting ability largely depends on the flux used.
Rosin Flux: The traditional type absorbs solder very quickly but leaves stains after use (requires cleaning with alcohol/circuit cleaner).
No-Clean Flux: This type leaves minimal residue after suction, making it suitable for circuits that do not require further cleaning.
Lead-Free Flux: Specifically designed for lead-free soldering (high melting point), it helps the wick transfer heat more efficiently to the hardened solder.
Copper Wire QualityThe thermal conductivity of the wick determines the rate at which the solder adheres to the wire.
Pure copper: The copper wire must be bright, smooth, and tightly braided (weave pattern) to optimize the capillary effect.
High-quality wick (like HAKKO Wick, GOOT WICK): They are usually softer, absorb flux more evenly, and do not peel off the copper layer on the printed circuit board when pulled.
Solder wire (Hakko FR-551) is a special type of braided copper wire, pre-impregnated with flux, specifically used to remove excess solder from electronic circuit boards (PCBs).
No cleaning required. After solder removal, the amount of residual flux left behind is extremely low and non-corrosive, saving time on circuit cleaning.
Superior capillary performance: The copper wires are braided at high density, allowing for rapid heat conduction and extremely strong solder extraction, minimizing the time the heat affects the component (reducing the risk of component failure due to overheating).
Environmentally friendly: The complete elimination of halide (0.00%) reduces the environmental burden, aligning with current green manufacturing trends.
Various sizes available: Offers a wide range of word widths 1.5mm to 5.0mm To accommodate all component pin sizes, from small SMD components to high-power connectors.
In engineering, it is called Desoldering Wick (Solder suction wire) with the following main uses:
1. Disassemble faulty components.
When you need to replace a faulty chip or component:
You place the wick over the component pin, then use the soldering iron to press down on the wire.
The heat melts the solder, and the copper wire "draws" the solder from the component pins into the wick via capillary action.
Once the solder has been completely removed, the component will detach from the circuit easily without damaging the through-holes or copper pads.
2. Cleaning the circuit board (Cleaning Pads)
After removing old components (especially SMD/BGA surface-mount components), the copper pad surface on the circuit board often has remaining raised and indented patches of solder:
FR-551 helps to suck up these excess solder particles, restoring the surface. smooth so you can install the new component correctly.
3. Fix short circuits (Bridge Removal)
During the soldering process, if you accidentally get solder between two closely spaced component pins (causing a "solder bridge"):
Use an FR-551 soldering wick to remove excess solder between the two shorted pins, separating them without having to resolder from scratch.
4. Special applications of the FR551-J series
Because this is Hakko's high-end line, it is used for jobs that require stringent standards:
Electronic Sensitivity Circuit (ESD): The anti-static plastic casing helps protect expensive chips from damage caused by electrical discharges during repair.
Clean circuit (No-clean): It leaves no corrosive chemical residue, making it suitable for telecommunications, medical, or aerospace equipment.
Popular Models (Classified by Width)
Depending on the weld size, you can choose from the following codes (all 1.5m long):
FR551-1515-J: 1.5mm wide (For use with ultra-small SMD components).
Current Hakko FR551-J This is the latest generation of desoldering wick, designed to replace the older FR-150 series with significant improvements in safety and solder absorption performance.
1. Technical Standards
This product line meets the most stringent standards in modern electronics manufacturing:
Halogen-Free: Completely halogen-free (according to IEC 61249-2-21 standard), helping to protect the environment and the health of operators.
Classification of Flux ROL0: Meets standards IPC J-STD-004CThis is the highest safety level, ensuring that the rosin does not corrode the circuit and has extremely low electrical leakage.
Electrostatic Discharge Safety (ESD Safe): The coil housing is made of anti-static material, preventing damage to sensitive components (such as ICs and MOSFETs) upon contact.
Copper corrosion test: Meets standards JIS Z 3197 and IPC-TM-650This ensures that the copper surface on the PCB does not tarnish or corrode after vacuuming.
2. Key Advantages
Extremely high capillary performance: Pure copper wires are braided at high density, allowing for instantaneous heat conduction from the soldering iron and quickly "pulling" solder out of the through-hole or pad.
No-Clean feature: The amount of flux left after use is extremely small and harmless, allowing you to skip the step of cleaning the circuit board with chemicals, saving you time.
Reduce thermal stress on components: Thanks to its fast suction speed, the thermal contact time between the soldering iron and the component is shortened, reducing the risk of damaging the component due to overheating.
Compatible with lead-free solder: The FR-551 series works effectively even with high-melting-point solder, which is often difficult to handle with inexpensive wicks.
You can confidently contact Semiki Company for advice and to purchase wire/solder wick products such as the Hakko FR-551-J.
Contact Semiki:
Website: You can find out more details and send a consultation request via Semiki.com.
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