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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
It unbraids as soon as you apply some pressure and does not absorb any solder at all, no matter how much heat is applied or not applied for that matter. I should've read the reviews before wasting my company's money.
from San Diego on 7/31/2008
Both de-soldering braids have worked well on all my projects.
I have been buying this stuff from Radio Schaak for years, but not any more. Since they changed vendors, the new stuff is wirthless. I wouldn't take it out of the store if they gave it to me for free. Too bad, the other stuff worked so good.
from aloha, or on 5/18/2008
Is RS deaf and blind? I know they care more about cell phone activations than quality components. The new 64-2090E is as useful as a licorice fire hose. RS must have gotten a better deal from a new supplier and never checked to see if the stuff actually worked. As anyone that has had the misfourtune of trying it knows that it doesn't. This loosly braided, non absorbent, recycled cooper rope falls aparts on contact. I know its a $4 item, but the quality of this product and that fact that RS has not fixed it pretty much sums up the direction RS is going these days. Well, off the Norvac to get solder wick and few other things that RS no longer carries.
I picked up some desoldering braid from Radio Shack. It was the 64-2090E that everyone is complaining about. They're right. It frays easily and does not wick the solder well. I will never buy Radio Shack desoldering braid again.
from West Coast on 3/22/2008
I agree with Jamesk, the 64-2090B desoldering braid was lots better. This new braid really does suck, it frays a lot, and it takes such a long time for the solder to be absorbed that it can overheat the component. Albeit, I use lead-free, and I've heard that it doesn't work as well as leaded, that shouldn't be an excuse for a product that worked just fine with it, and RS had to finagle it to to the point where it is more an inconvenience than a handy way to salvage components.
The reason it is not a one star it because it has some kind of cool Teflon case that prevents it from melting as easily when you're holding the case with the braid extended from it while desoldering. This was a big problem with the 64-2090B, maybe that is the reason for the redesign, they fixed the case, but changed the actual braid to make it seem like a more meaningful change.
Ah well, I'm just gonna use some other company's then...
from Ronceverte, WV on 2/17/2008
I have run out of the old Radio Shack Desoldering Braid 64-2090B. The old braid worked well and easily sucked up solder. I started using the new braid 64-2090E and have had nothing but problems. The end frays, the rest of it seems to contract making it thinner. The braid itself does not suck up solder. There is a night and day difference between the performance of 64-2090B and 64-2090E.
I have to put my project on hold until I can get something else.
I bought the 64-2090E desoldering braid and it will not wick up solder without adding rosin flux. The 64-2090B version works GREAT. Radio Shack must have switched vendors when they went to the 'E' version. The 64-2090E must be 'No-Clean' braid. Do NOT buy the 'E' version, only buy the 'B' version, if you can find it.
from Alliance, NE on 1/18/2008
Works great, removes all solder from a joint, efficiently. The only bad thing I can think of is that you do use it up and have to buy more, but it works so nicely I can get past that.
from Texas on 9/29/2007
This desoldering braid works great and is probably the best way to desolder components from a PCB. Ignore the low rating that someone gave as braids are only designed to work when the solder comes in contact with the braid. However, that is the majority of desoldering applications. Need to desolder components from the PCB? Don't waste money on all of the gadgets. Most work and some well, but the braid is the most universal and easiest to use. Get one of the other devices if you have to desolder large amounts of solder. Not a large number of elements, but actually a large amount of solder on a single joint. It just takes a while and uses allot of the braid. Use the pump, etc. and then finish with the braid. Buy one... Heck buy two...
It works well and is easy. I found that it removes most of the solder on a PCB.
The braid does remove solder, but if you have a solder bridge on a PCB, it doesnt get rid of all the solder, only solder on the top, still leaving the solder bridge at the bottom. Not a good buy in my opinion.
Super easy!Better than a desoldering bulb and easier to use, great buy!