Definition
Solder wick, also called desoldering braid, is a fine copper braid coated with flux that is used to remove solder from a joint or pad. When the braid is pressed against a solder joint and heated with a soldering iron, the flux activates and the molten solder is drawn up into the copper strands by capillary action, the same wicking effect that pulls liquid into a sponge. The result is a clean, solder-free pad ready for a new component.
How it is used
The technique is simple but exacting: lay clean braid over the joint, press a freshly tinned iron tip onto the braid to drive heat through it, wait a moment for the solder to melt and wick up, then lift the iron and braid together so the part does not re-solder. A clean, well-tinned tip is essential because the braid itself must reach solder-melting temperature, and the iron only contacts it through a thin layer. Used portions of the braid become saturated and should be trimmed off so fresh copper is presented each time.
Why it matters in miner repair
On a hashboard, solder wick lets a technician clean a pad or remove a small component in an isolated area without subjecting the whole board to the heat of a hot air station. That localised heat minimises thermal stress on neighbouring ASIC chips and the laminate. It is the natural partner to a desoldering pump for through-hole work and to hot air for surface-mount work, and it is one of the cheapest, most forgiving tools on the bench for keeping rework clean.
It complements the tools and consumables in our entries on the hot air rework station and the printed circuit board.
In Simple Terms
Solder wick, also called desoldering braid, is a fine copper braid coated with flux that is used to remove solder from a joint or pad.…