Introducing the incredible Hakko 808 desoldering gun.

This thing is amazing.

The 808 combines a heated desoldering nozzle with a vacuum pump, which makes removing ordinary through-hole components considerably easier than repeatedly heating the joint and attacking it with braid.

The capacitor in this video makes a good demonstration because both leads can be heated and cleared individually before the component is lifted from the board.

That does not mean braid has suddenly become useless.

I still use braid for cleanup work and situations where a vacuum desoldering tool is unsuitable, particularly around surface-mount components.

But for through-hole work?

I’ll never desolder with braid again!

Well…

Unless I have to.

The Hakko nozzle also gets extremely hot, so this is one of those tools where fingers, nearby wiring and the bench deserve a little attention.

The results speak for themselves!

Sources