Re: Centipede Working -- Thanks !

The best way I've found is to snip the pins off the old
part as close to the IC as possible. Then the pins can
be remove one at a time from the board. THEN wick
off the solder, install a socket (machined contact type,
plating to match plating of the replacement chip (gold
for gold, tin for tin, don't mix!)), and get ready to play.

Solder should be 63/37 (Radio Shack sells it as "high-
tech" solder) to prevent cracked joints in the future,
UNLESS either surface you're soldering to has a gold
plating. In that case you need a 2% silver content in the
solder or the gold will eventually leech the lead out of the
solder and cause the joint to get intermittent.

"Christopher X. Candreva" wrote:

> Chips came from BG Micro today, Centipede is working, and my wife is happily
> playing in the basement. Thanks to all who gave input.
>
> I would like to ask now though if anyone has tips of desoldering chips from
> these old boards, for the next project.
>
> My tools consist of a 15/30W pencil and desoldering braid. I suckeverything
> off the bottom, turn the board over, suck everything from the top. Repeat
> both sides, and usually the chip pops right out. That is-- usually it does.
> I can't seem to do these 80's Atari boards without destroying at least one
> trace.
>
> This one I only damamged one pin -- and damned if I could see it. After
> soldering in the socket (and finding the board didn't work), pin by pin
> check with a tester showed one as no connection. Reheating and dribbling
> solder down the hole did no good, so I grudgingly resorted to a jumper wire.
>
> I almost feel silly asking for soldering hints, as I've been doing this
> since I was about 8, but I'm figuring part of the problem is the age of the
> boards. Is there a trick to doing this (other than being more carefull ) ?
>
> -Chris
>
> ==========================================================
> Chris Candreva -- chris@westnet.com -- (914) 967-7816
> WestNet Internet Services of Westchester
> http://www.westnet.com/
Received on Fri Apr 2 14:19:24 1999