I don't remember when the thread took place but there was some discussion of solder suction tools. I had one from Radio Shack which came with one spare tip which is what seems to go first from the heat. Found out that they do not stock tips alone so when the spare is gone so is the tool. Too boot, the upper end is plastic and when soldering the hot iron can (and did in my case) melt out a chunk. That tool cost $8.00, and it works great. I was buying a batch of resistors from Mouser and saw one for $5.16, no spare tip but advertised as all metal. Tips are stocked and they go for $1.72 each. Received the tool and it is an exact duplicate of the Radio Shack one but is all metal except for the release button on the side and the knob on the end of the plunger. Lets see if I have a good aim with the hot iron. Thought I'd pass this along as the price is right and the tool is good plus tips are available. Shipping and handling came to $6.45 but that included the other items ordered. PL

You don't indicate which model name or number you bought at Mouser.
I Have a very powerful plastic one I bought at Electronix.com for about $3.59 .
I have the model SD-1042
...but they also have a couple smaller ones one plastc SD-1046 and one aluminum SD-1044... neither one is more than about $4.95 I think. They have spare tips for all models.
http://www.electronix.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/331_332

:You don't indicate which model name or number you bought at Mouser.
:I Have a very powerful plastic one I bought at Electronix.com for about $3.59 .
:I have the model SD-1042
:...but they also have a couple smaller ones one plastc SD-1046 and one aluminum SD-1044... neither one is more than about $4.95 I think. They have spare tips for all models.
:http://www.electronix.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/331_332

At work, I use a combination of a solder sucker, as well as the solder-wik. I could do without neither. Money well spent!

Jim S.

::You don't indicate which model name or number you bought at Mouser.
::I Have a very powerful plastic one I bought at Electronix.com for about $3.59 .
::I have the model SD-1042
::...but they also have a couple smaller ones one plastc SD-1046 and one aluminum SD-1044... neither one is more than about $4.95 I think. They have spare tips for all models.
::http://www.electronix.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/331_332
:
:At work, I use a combination of a solder sucker, as well as the solder-wik. I could do without neither. Money well spent!
:
:Jim S.
HI Guys
Well, I have experience with both and have both types, honestly between the two, I prefer the Solder Wik, alot easier too use and no melted tips to deal with.
Mark

I don't have much problems with tips melting as they are made of Teflon

:I don't have much problems with tips melting as they are made of Teflon
Hi Pete
Well, if it gets hot enough it will melt, trust me, the other thing I don't like about the suckers is you always have to take apart and clean out the solder, solder wik is alot cleaner and easier to use, at least for me anyway.
Mark

Hi guys, sorry about not listing the number, also need to correct price, it was $5.99. The Mouser # is 384-1000 and it is apparently made by epd (eagle plastic devices) which is strange since it has less plastic than the Radio Shack one. The all metal frame was the thing that attracted me. I found it works well but as with all the pumps, you have to clean them afgter a sestion. I put a little silicon grease on the O rings to preserve them but that acts as a collector for small spatters but I think its worth it as it maintains a better vacuum. PL

What kind of silicon grease do you use?
I found that lubricants can wreak havoc when I mistakenly sprayed some wd40 in there..Had to take it all apart and wash it clean as the wd40 made the o-ring swell and get gummy.
But I've often longed for something more viable.
I was going to try some white grease.

any thoughts on that stuff?

Peter,
I have a large container of white petroleum jelly (Vaseline) Its inert in most cases, and works well for all kinds of light lube jobs, especially the "O" rings in a solder sucker. Yes you have to clean them occassionally, because all that solder doesn't disappear into thin air, and once they get full (clogged) won't work anyway. They're really good at removing gobs of solder from old joints done with a 3 ton iron and radiator solder.

marv

:What kind of silicon grease do you use?
:I found that lubricants can wreak havoc when I mistakenly sprayed some wd40 in there..Had to take it all apart and wash it clean as the wd40 made the o-ring swell and get gummy.
:But I've often longed for something more viable.
:I was going to try some white grease.
:
:any thoughts on that stuff?

:Peter,
:I have a large container of white petroleum jelly (Vaseline) Its inert in most cases, and works well for all kinds of light lube jobs, especially the "O" rings in a solder sucker. Yes you have to clean them occassionally, because all that solder doesn't disappear into thin air, and once they get full (clogged) won't work anyway. They're really good at removing gobs of solder from old joints done with a 3 ton iron and radiator solder.
:
:marv
:
::What kind of silicon grease do you use?
::I found that lubricants can wreak havoc when I mistakenly sprayed some wd40 in there..Had to take it all apart and wash it clean as the wd40 made the o-ring swell and get gummy.
::But I've often longed for something more viable.
::I was going to try some white grease.
::
::any thoughts on that stuff?

Marv,
White grease is petroleum based, not good for rubber. Go to the local NAPA parts store and buy a tube of Balknap Silicon Grease. works real fine, lasts a long time.
Will

Will,
Although I'm not a chemist, believe these "O" rings are neoprene rubber, as used in automotive applications for years without harm to their personna by petroleum products. I do have silicon grease, but its not quite as slippery or conformal as the Vaseline. Been using Vaseline for years on the same solder sucker, and never replaced the "O" rings.

marv

::Peter,
::I have a large container of white petroleum jelly (Vaseline) Its inert in most cases, and works well for all kinds of light lube jobs, especially the "O" rings in a solder sucker. Yes you have to clean them occassionally, because all that solder doesn't disappear into thin air, and once they get full (clogged) won't work anyway. They're really good at removing gobs of solder from old joints done with a 3 ton iron and radiator solder.
::
::marv
::
:::What kind of silicon grease do you use?
:::I found that lubricants can wreak havoc when I mistakenly sprayed some wd40 in there..Had to take it all apart and wash it clean as the wd40 made the o-ring swell and get gummy.
:::But I've often longed for something more viable.
:::I was going to try some white grease.
:::
:::any thoughts on that stuff?
:
:Marv,
:White grease is petroleum based, not good for rubber. Go to the local NAPA parts store and buy a tube of Balknap Silicon Grease. works real fine, lasts a long time.
:Will

::Peter,
::I have a large container of white petroleum jelly (Vaseline) Its inert in most cases, and works well for all kinds of light lube jobs, especially the "O" rings in a solder sucker. Yes you have to clean them occassionally, because all that solder doesn't disappear into thin air, and once they get full (clogged) won't work anyway. They're really good at removing gobs of solder from old joints done with a 3 ton iron and radiator solder.
::
::marv
::
:::What kind of silicon grease do you use?
:::I found that lubricants can wreak havoc when I mistakenly sprayed some wd40 in there..Had to take it all apart and wash it clean as the wd40 made the o-ring swell and get gummy.
:::But I've often longed for something more viable.
:::I was going to try some white grease.
:::
:::any thoughts on that stuff?
:
:Marv,
:White grease is petroleum based, not good for rubber. Go to the local NAPA parts store and buy a tube of Balknap Silicon Grease. works real fine, lasts a long time.
:Will
Hi Will
Yep, I can testify to that, I actually work for a company that makes Silicone Grease and have used it many times myself works great! ans lasts a long time.
Mark

Mark:
... you have a "LARGE container of Vaseline" ??... ummm well that's nice... lol

That reminds me of the funny story about the guy taking a survey for Cheeseboro Ponds Corp., the maker of Vaseline.
He knocked on one lady's door and asked if she used the product. She said YES my husband and I use it during intimacy.
He said WELL...I'm so very surprised you are so honest about that.
We always believed that most people do use it for that purpose but are too embarrased to tell us.

However,... Since YOU are so open and honest about it do you mind telling me exactly how you use it for that purpose?

She said sure!
We put it on the door knob to keep the kids out of the bedroom.

Pete, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, the silicon grease that I use is Aladdin Magic LubeII. My son is in the swimming pool maintainance business and uses it all the time, it's about the only thing that stands up to clorine. Actually its the best for use on rubber as any petroleum product does eat at rubber, maybe be slowly but it does. I always used it until I came upon the silicon. It is better than any petroleum product as a lubricant but has a big drawback, list for 5 oz. tube is $18.00, I believe my son gets it for about $10.00. Silicone is a great lubricant, heat transfer agent and holds its viscosity over a wide temperature range (over 250 degrees)from below zero to well above. It is also dialectric and used as that grease on heat sinks because it transfers heat easily. It could, and should be made in a low viscosity (water consistancy) and put in automobile cooling systems. Good for the life of the car unless leaked. Sorry, I'm running off at the mouth (keyboard?). PL

Thanks .. I'll try to get some sily cone grease around here.
BTW.. I DO have some GREAT interesting lubricant here now that is normally used for plumbing.
It's called "Faucet and Valve grease" made by the DOIT hardware people.
it doesn't say what it's made from except that it is not to be taken internally and you should not induce vomiting.
BUT Says you can use it on hot water or steam up to 350 degrees and allows easy installation of "O" rings.

I have very hard water here and often faucets get tight and jambed from calcium... but ever since using this stuf on the seats and stems....all valve stems turn freely now for years.

Maybe it too has silicone in it?

I had bought those blue aluminum Radio Shack suckers years ago and I found that they work better with one O ring. Give it a try see if you get the same results.

MRO

:Thanks .. I'll try to get some sily cone grease around here.
:BTW.. I DO have some GREAT interesting lubricant here now that is normally used for plumbing.
:It's called "Faucet and Valve grease" made by the DOIT hardware people.
:it doesn't say what it's made from except that it is not to be taken internally and you should not induce vomiting.
:BUT Says you can use it on hot water or steam up to 350 degrees and allows easy installation of "O" rings.
:
:I have very hard water here and often faucets get tight and jambed from calcium... but ever since using this stuf on the seats and stems....all valve stems turn freely now for years.
:
:Maybe it too has silicone in it?