Chip Quik for removing SMDs

[Art Tanaka]

Not sure if this has come up before, but I got a tip on this stuff recently
and gave it a try.

http://www.chipquik.com/

The SMD1 kit is available at Fry's in Renton for $12.95, despite the fact
that their friendly, knowledgeable and competent staff told me over that
phone that they didn't carry it. Those guys are restocking geniuses.

You put some of the special paste flux over the SMD leads, then melt on
their solder-like stuff to spread the heat around. The newly alloyed
combination stays molten at much lower temperatures than regular solder, and
the part slides right off the pads. It cleans up nice, and leaves the pads
and PCB undamaged.

- Art