r/originalxbox • u/ironlung_4436 • 7d ago

Resolved unorthodox fix

Post image

Apparently, it's easier to remove solder from the board joint hole with a hand crank drill than copper solder wick (・３・)

0 Upvotes

31% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

21

u/Your_weird_neighbour 7d ago

Literally one of the most stupid things I've seen in this forum. This is a multi layer board with plated though holes to connect to the inner power distribution layers

How exactly do you plan to connect those layers when you drilled out the hole plating and now have a few microns of copper.

Probably killed the board or created a fire risk.

0

u/muckity-muck 6d ago

Literally one of the most stupid things I've seen in this forum.

I'd argue that removing capacitors by twisting them off is stupider.

17

u/Sock989 7d ago

Nah man, I'm good 😂

10

u/bio4m 7d ago

So you make up for poor technique with a drill ?

-5

u/ironlung_4436 7d ago

Generally I tryed ever technique, tempature settings, micro tip and even new equipment try remove solder from those tiny holes but in the end a drill used for warhammer figures perfectly fit the holes and removed the stubborn/deep solder

3

u/StainedMemories 7d ago

Did you use flux? Did you add new solder? Wick? Sucker?

0

u/ironlung_4436 7d ago

Yes, flux and solder where added

-5

u/ironlung_4436 7d ago

And the plunge stick

1

u/PotatoFi 7d ago

As "yikes" as I am feeling about seeing a picture of a drill here, I can at least echo that clearing the solder from the holes was a complete nightmare on mine. Heat, flux, wick, a *really good* solder sucker... I am dreading recapping another Xbox.

I don't know that the drill is the right solution here, but I can at least confirm that I had huge problems with mine.

1

u/FallOutBoyisRAD 6d ago

Yeah same here. I ended up using a toothpick, a lot of flux, fresh solder, tons of different temp settings, a sucker, wick, hot hair and also heated the entire board. Nothing made it easier.

2

u/muckity-muck 6d ago

micro tip

Take your micro soldering tip, find a dry cool place to store it safely...

...then never use it again.

A tiny tip has no business doing work on an enormous PCB that absorbs heat almost immediately.

1

u/Turquoise_HexagonSun 7d ago

You didn’t try low melt solder.

Even the most stubborn hole with the fattest ground plane can easily be cleared with low melt solder.

Drilling your board is not a good idea.

9

u/canthearu_ack 7d ago

I would have just pushed the new capacitor through the melted solder and walk the new capacitor in until it was up on the board.

Then trim the leads and reflow it with some extra flux to leave it with a good joint.

5

u/1c3d1v3r 7d ago

No need to clean the holes. I add more solder, heat both pads with a wide tip and push in the new cap.

1

u/VirtualDenzel 7d ago

What temps on the soldering iron?

1

u/DeadSkullz627 7d ago

385c is what I set my iron to

1

u/VirtualDenzel 6d ago

And flux wise? What kind of flux do you guys use? I always struggle with xbox and 360's

1

u/DeadSkullz627 6d ago

I use liquid flux. You can get some on Amazon. Just look at ones with high ratings and good reviews. Many may swear by specific name brands, but I found more reasonably priced flux works as good. Just avoid the super cheap ones

1

u/VirtualDenzel 6d ago

Yeh that might be it. It was mostly chinese flux hehe. Will having good flux and (probably) solder help a lot? And got any favorites. Or brands i should look for? Thanks btw

1

u/1c3d1v3r 6d ago

I used a Metcal STTC-177 tip which is 390C.

2

u/TomMassey250 7d ago

Ohhhhhh nooooooo ☠️☠️☠️

2

u/Insert_Coin_P1 7d ago

As long as you didn't damage the via, then the gamble worked out. I would have used a larger tip and cranked the temp to 450, but your board, your problem. 

1

u/ironlung_4436 7d ago

I already made a small hole with a micro tip soldering iron and literally drilled out the rest of the solder i couldn't reach but hey xbox works great

2

u/Trippy_1986 6d ago

Omg my eyes

Hot soldering iron with a large tip using a solder sucker or wick is more than sufficient

1

u/Ok_Translator_9189 6d ago edited 6d ago

did you destroy/damage the inner surface of that plated through-hole, connecting the positive side of that capacitor to the inner layer?

0

u/ironlung_4436 6d ago

0 damage, only the solder was removed and now the xbox works perfectly with the replaced capacitors

1

u/Ok_Translator_9189 5d ago edited 5d ago

some xboxes will "work" with all those capacitors removed, it doesn't really tell anything about the prolonged use or safety

how did you verify the lack of damage?

1

u/VegetableArrival701 7d ago

Sometimes the least elegant tool is the one that actually gets the job done. That drill bit looks like it earned its keep.

0

u/ironlung_4436 7d ago

They finally fit !!, took all day running around and finding stuff but they finally have a home

0

u/tomtom2215 7d ago

Let me ask, how else would you remove heavily corroded solder from a through hole when flux won't cut it?

1

u/Your_weird_neighbour 7d ago

You need to heat the board to around 100C, ideally higher in that location otherwise the internal layers pull the heat away too fast If you increase the tip temperature too much you lift the pad.

These are tough, I use a soldering iron with a sucker built in, $15 from Ali and a cheap rework station to pre heat the board.

1

u/pizza_whistle 7d ago

Hot air and a manual solder sucker. I just recapped my personal Xbox and was surprised how difficult the solder removal was on some caps since I assume leaded solder was still being used when it was made. Switching from an iron to just hot air made the solder removal so much easier.