The 10 Best Desoldering Pumps
Editor's Notes
May 03, 2021:
All of our choices from last round were still available at the time of this writing and we took no issue with their quality, believing that the last editor for this page gathered up a good bunch of a budget-friendly picks that were suitable for hobbyists, as well as a couple of slightly pricier options that are better suited to professionals — like the Engineer SS-02 and Weller 7874B. The only new omission we made this time around was the Vastar AD444, which looked to be virtually identical to the Tabiger Remover Kit, but the Remover Kit came with two extra pumps and a couple rolls of wick, in spite of costing only slightly more, which, in our minds, considerably devalued the AD444.
We also wanted to make sure that we included some high-end options, to help give our audience a better idea of what’s out there, and perhaps inspire those who are looking to make a bit of a bigger purchase. Of our new additions, the Yihua 948-II is the most elaborate, including (in addition to a suction pen) a desoldering vacuum, soldering iron, hot air rework station and a flashy-looking console with a digital display. It’s a nice-looking apparatus that should be able to handle most tasks, but it’s also quite expensive, which is why we included its predecessor: the Yihua 948 ESD.
Since a big part of our job here is helping people find the latest and greatest that a category has to offer, it isn’t too often that we deliberately list an old model, but in this case, since all the new bells and whistles that come new with the 948-II are features that extend past what this category calls for, we thought it was still worth including here for users on a budget. So, if you want the utility offered by the 948-II, but figure you can get by without a hot air rework station, then consider the Yihua 948 ESD.
If you want a desoldering vacuum like one from the 948 series, but you don’t need any of the frills that come with it, then you might prefer our third new addition: the Japanese-made American HAKKO FR-301, which has four heat settings and comes with a durable hard case.
If you need an iron to go along with your pump, then you might also be interested in our lists of soldering stations or cordless soldering irons.
February 20, 2020:
Some advanced soldering stations include electronic desoldering guns, but these are usually way out of the price range of the hobbyist, who most likely has only a basic iron at their disposal. For those who mostly work on small projects and don't want to spend a lot, inexpensive handheld pumps are a perfect fit. Models like the Vastar AD444 and the GBstore Solder Sucker represent typical designs, which are so cheap to replace that build quality isn't crucial for the many users who only need such a device once in a while. For those who want a higher-end option, choices like the Engineer SS-02 and Weller 7874B offer a build quality that's much more durable, but still don't come anywhere near the price of costly powered vacuums.
Regardless of what item you choose, always take proper safety precautions when undertaking electronics projects that put you at risk of exposure to shocks, extremely high temperatures, and toxic fumes. Protective eyewear, gloves, and respirators are all useful safety items to have in these situations.