De-soldering help! I've burned everything but the house +_+

[Omniyoji]

So I know how to solder (quite easy really) but I've never de soldered something before. Trying to replace a DC jack in for a laptop. The solder points are soooooo tiny (and there's seven of them @_@). I'm using a typical no brand soldering iron (30W). I'm using the solder wick method. I've read tips from some sites. I've kept my tip tinned while de soldering and applied solder before removal.

I'm thinking it's either my iron tip (no longer has extra coating/plating only copper now) and it's size (thinking I might need smaller). Maybe a solder sucker might work? but the points are so small I figured the braid would do. I really need to perfect my technique before I burn off that section of the board I hope an experienced user might provide some help...

Thanks for your time.

[Fr34k]

From my experience, the de-soldering pumps work best. If the connections are small, try and find the smallest tip you have available. Get it fully heated so it melts solder on contact. Get the pump ready and hold it on the connection you're doing. Wipe the tip of the iron and re-tin it right before you place it on the connection. As soon as the solder melts use the pump and remove the iron, don't wanna fry anything.

[Blabj]

You can get pointed tips (no flat edge at all) for soldering irons, these are best for small solder points.

Also, I've had a better experience with pumps than wicks. Just make sure you don't get too much solder stuck to the end of the pump (thus closing the end of the gap) because that can become quite a nuisance!

[ShinseiRyu]

A while back I got a desoldering pump from Radio Shack where you would push a plunger down and it locks in place, then it has a button which releases the plunger and causes it to have a strong but short suction. Looked really similiar to this: http://www.drillspot.com/pimages/101/10199_300.jpg

That has given me the best results in my small home projects.

[Guyverarmor]

Bah, I do not know how you guys use that pump. Have always had it easier with de-solder wicks than that Always never worked for me when I needed it to.

[Tekumel]

Fluxfluxfluxfluxflux. You said you're soldering a DC jack, that means you're dealing with the primary grounding point of the computer much less the board. A smaller tip and a solder sucker are definitely good ideas, but I would suspect the problem is just not getting it hot enough in the concentrated area.

[Korietsu]

Buy a solder sucker.

[zoobernut]

I have always had much much better luck with a wick than the sucker. Lay the wick down over the joint. and place the solder gun on top of the wick heating up the solder through the wick and then as soon as it melts the wick sinks down into the solder and soaks it up.

[Tekki]

Radio Shack Soldering pump. I've tried both and never had consistent nice results with the braids, used the pump and still use it. From experience EE projects to moding consoles, I recommend those pumps over the braids. I'm not an expert at this stuff but I found those pumps more helpful, especially since Im not an expert.