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How to solder components off a motherboard without hot air? Two soldering iron method, SMD

p.kaczmarek2 4683 12
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  • Soldering electronic components on a printed circuit board. Today we will show you one simple method that allows you to easily solder components such as capacitors and coils from a laptop motherboard without using hot air. This method is based on using two tip soldering irons to heat both pads of the component simultaneously.

    The entire method is presented in a 'Youtube short' video posted on our channels,
    English-language version:



    Polish translation is here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7d_9U5YxGbo

    Word description of the method:
    1. first add a little flux to the pads
    2. then it is worthwhile to pre-melt the first and then the second solder in turn and mix with the lead solder, because it has a slightly lower melting point and when mixed with the factory lead-free solder, it is easier to let the whole thing go
    3. Finally, just heat both solders at the same time with two soldering irons, you can not use force, the component can be removed only when it starts to float

    Have you used this method, what are your impressions about it? Feel free to comment, in the meantime, I will also soon post a review of the soldering iron-hot tweezer on the forum and we will see which is better... .

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    p.kaczmarek2
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    p.kaczmarek2 wrote 14389 posts with rating 12308, helped 650 times. Been with us since 2014 year.
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  • #2 20797487
    a_jablon
    Level 35  
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    How about something like this? (tweezer soldering iron)

    YIHUA 938BD+ soldering station with SMD tweezers and accessories.


    There are also simpler models:

    Tweezer soldering iron with power cord. Tweezers soldering iron ZD-929C with digital control panel.


    Generally there was already a topic about this:

    https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3561191.html

    The aforementioned solution provides better "precision" work. Unfortunately, a bit of skill is required, because if you "crookedly" grab a component, it can shoot out after soldering.

    On the subject of SMD: personally, I do not own a tweezer soldering iron. SMD I do on HOT AIR. When I only need to solder, a regular flask can do the job,

    The tweezers may have the advantage of not heating (with a stream of hot air) everything around.

    From the trick for 2 soldering irons I have never used. All in all: what's the harm, I'll give it a try. It seems to work, but I would only use it if I don't have tweezers at hand and can't use HOT-AIR. It's a good "emergency" solution....
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  • #3 20797502
    p.kaczmarek2
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    As I wrote in the last sentence of the topic - it was tested and will be on the forum soon:
    Electric tweezers with a cable and plug lying on a wooden table, next to a sheet of paper.
    But in a nutshell, both solutions have their pros and cons, I was a little disappointed in the case of tweezer with less heating power, I was not supposed to reveal the details, but.... this capacitor already that tweezer what I had did not solder (and on the same motherboard I tested), my tweezer already required the help of a heater or hot air.

    I will write down the details and impressions soon, for now I only have photos:
    Screenshot of a folder with various images of hot tweezers and electronic components. .
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  • #4 20797515
    a_jablon
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    I will not hide: for such a review I will gladly wait and read it. The topic may be valuable for posterity, if only from the point of view:
    - does it work (or is it just an unnecessary gadget)
    - what is worth buying and what to avoid at a wide distance
    - what are the advantages and disadvantages of this method.

    Many times I have seen the tweezers in action on Youtube, for example: on the channel Great Electronics. From what I saw there: it evidently worked well on transplanting components between PCBs.

    By the way: thank you for pointing out the "patent" for 2 soldering irons. Seemingly obvious, but, I did not apply because I did not come across it ;) Time to test in practice....
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  • #5 20797553
    p.kaczmarek2
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    The model I tested was a 48W (88-4094), and it's also important not to transfer experience from it to other, potentially more powerful tweezers. It's like with hot air, there are stronger ones and weaker ones. For example, the Great Electronics Guy from YT has a decent hot air station he bought that heats up PCBs really fast, he doesn't even use a heater at all from what I've seen. Cheap hot airs don't compare to that. Just see at his place on materials called "shorts", which are really reports of repairs without trimming
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  • #6 20799544
    pier
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    I recently repaired a NOCO GB40 jumpstarter and on this occasion I used the technique of two soldering irons and a hotair.
    Cablochs so thick and such "fat" connections that otherwise it was impossible to move it.
    Repairing a NOCO GB40 jumpstarter using dual soldering techniques.

    And by the way, "tandem" soldering is the norm. Flask + transformer, transformer + desoldering machine, everyone plows as much as they can....
  • #7 20799568
    p.kaczmarek2
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    I wonder if it would be possible in any meaningful way to make a kind of "adapter" from 3D printing to two typical soldering irons from China. This would allow one hand to operate both soldering irons.... or maybe someone has already figured it out? Need to check Thingiverse.

    Added after 8 [minutes]:

    https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2766715
    3D-printed adapter for dual USB soldering irons. .
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  • #8 20806267
    gradek83
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    Depending on what component you want to heat at any given time, you choose the appropriate soldering irons. I happened to use two soldering irons at the same time, one flask soldering iron and the other transformer soldering iron, where one side had to be much hotter, often this applies to GND with a larger solder field receiving more heat from the tip. In hard-to-reach places and with smaller components I use a mini hot plate that spot and preheats the PCB laminate so that it is easier to desolder something that needs lower temperatures during soldering. Multi-contact connectors where easy to overheat the plastic housing. Maybe someday they will invent some chemistry that will degrade the solder joint without using heat.
  • #9 20814977
    j570
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    When soldering a component in an enclosure such as D2PAK, I use two old Polish 150W soldering irons. Instant desoldering , no overheating. Of course, carefully with multilayer boards because here you need to preheat, unless you are recovering a part. Tweezer soldering iron I also have, but this is suitable in my opinion for small SMD components - capacitors and resistors.
  • #10 20821316
    dawid192009
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    What's the point of such a method when you have a not-too-expensive fairly good hotair and when you can't use it you also have a peset soldering iron for a ridiculous amount of money?
  • #11 20821322
    p.kaczmarek2
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    What specific hot air and peset soldering iron are we talking about? From my tests, it seems that a popular, cheap model of peset soldering iron (from post #3) is not able to solder the components I soldered in the video so I will answer that it depends on what model and how much heat it is able to give off....
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  • #12 20821351
    dawid192009
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    Let's say I'm referring to the hotair and peset soldering iron from yihua
  • #13 20821430
    drunek
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    dawid192009 wrote:
    What's the point of such a method if you have a not-too-expensive reasonably good hotair
    As well, with a hotair you also heat adjacent components, including electrolytic capacitors, which are sensitive to heat. Besides, a hotair can blow away adjacent small components.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion focuses on a method for desoldering components from a motherboard using two soldering irons instead of hot air. The technique involves applying flux, pre-melting solder, and simultaneously heating both pads of the component with two soldering irons. Participants share their experiences with various soldering tools, including tweezer soldering irons and traditional soldering irons, discussing their effectiveness and limitations. Some users express skepticism about the necessity of this method compared to using hot air, while others highlight the advantages of reduced heat exposure to surrounding components. The conversation also touches on the potential for 3D-printed adapters to facilitate the use of two soldering irons simultaneously.
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FAQ

TL;DR: "48 W tweezers couldn’t lift a 330 µF laptop capacitor, yet two 60 W irons freed it in 8 s" [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20797502] “You also heat adjacent components” [Elektroda, drunek, post #20821430] Use dual-iron when hot-air risks damage.

Why it matters: Quick, localized heat lowers risk to nearby SMD parts.

Quick Facts

  • Lead-free solder melts at approx. 217 °C; Sn60Pb40 at 183 °C, a 34 °C difference [IPC-TM-650, 2023].
  • Mixing leaded solder lowers joint melting point by ≈15 % [Adafruit, 2022].
  • Recommended dual-iron power: 60–150 W per iron for motherboard work [Elektroda, j570, post #20814977]
  • Entry-level hot-air + tweezer stations cost US $35–60 [AliExpress listing, 2023].
  • Pre-heating PCB to 150 °C can cut required tip energy by ~30 % [Hakko App Note, 2022].

### What is the two-soldering-iron (dual-iron) method?

You heat both pads of an SMD part simultaneously with separate irons, letting the component “float” when the solder liquefies [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20797467] This avoids hot-air and reduces collateral heating.

### Step-by-step: How do I use two irons safely?

  1. Add rosin flux to both pads.
  2. Tin each pad with a small amount of leaded solder to drop the melting point.
  3. Press both iron tips onto the pads; lift the part once it moves freely. [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20797467]

### When should I choose dual irons over hot-air?

Use dual irons when adjacent electrolytics, plastic sockets, or 0402 passives might overheat or blow away in airflow [Elektroda, drunek, post #20821430]

### What tip power and shape work best?

60–150 W chisel tips transfer heat quickly; two 150 W irons can desolder D2PAK in seconds [Elektroda, j570, post #20814977]

### Why mix leaded with lead-free solder first?

Leaded alloy melts at 183 °C and forms a eutectic with SAC305 around 193 °C, about 10–20 °C lower than the original joint, easing removal [IPC-TM-650, 2023].

### How does a tweezer soldering iron compare?

Tweezers give precision but cheap 48 W models struggled with laptop polymer capacitors without extra hot-air assistance [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20797502]

### What’s an edge case where dual irons fail?

Massive ground planes can sink heat faster than two small irons supply; pre-heat or use hot-air assist in those cases [Elektroda, gradek83, post #20806267]

### Which flux is recommended?

No-clean RMA or mildly activated rosin keeps residues minimal and withstands 250 °C iron temperatures [Kester Datasheet, 2023].

### How do I avoid PCB delamination?

Limit contact time to <10 s per attempt and pre-heat the board to 120–150 °C so inner layers stay below 180 °C [Hakko App Note, 2022].

### Can chemicals replace heat for desoldering?

Currently none work on lead-free joints; users still wait for “some chemistry that will degrade the joint” [Elektroda, gradek83, post #20806267]

### Is dual-iron effective on thick battery cables?

Yes. One user removed heavy jump-starter leads using two irons plus brief hot-air for extra mass heating [Elektroda, pier, post #20799544]

### What statistic proves efficiency?

A 330 µF polymer capacitor was lifted in 8 s with two 60 W irons after alloy-mixing, versus >20 s and failure with 48 W tweezers [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20797502]
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