Definition
Desoldering braid, also called solder wick, is a fine woven copper braid coated in flux that is used to remove molten solder from a joint or pad. It is the simplest and one of the safest tools for clearing excess solder, redressing bridged pins, and cleaning pads before reattaching a part, all common steps when servicing the dense connectors and headers on mining hardware.
How it works
The braid relies on two mechanisms working together. When a heated iron tip presses the braid against a joint and both reach the solder's melting point, the coating flux activates and chemically wets the surfaces. The molten solder is then drawn up into the gaps between the copper strands by capillary action, the same physics that pulls liquid up a narrow tube. The copper's high thermal conductivity helps carry heat into the joint, and the spent, solder-saturated section of braid is simply snipped off and discarded.
Practical notes
Braid removes solder in an isolated spot without thermally stressing the whole board, which makes it gentler than aggressive bulk methods. Width matters: choose a braid sized to the joint so it heats quickly and does not steal heat from nearby pads. Adding a touch of fresh flux improves flow on oxidized or lead-free joints, and keeping the iron on the braid (not the pad) until the solder lifts protects delicate traces from lifting with it.
For the chemistry that makes wicking work, see flux activator; for residue-handling choices, see no-clean flux.
In Simple Terms
Desoldering braid, also called solder wick, is a fine woven copper braid coated in flux that is used to remove molten solder from a joint…