Polymorph wrote:
Has anyone ever used a tool like the following: http://www.computronics.com.au/sc7000/
That's a fairly standard vacuum desoldering handpiece. My OK Industries unit looks very much like it. That page is bit non-specific about whether the price includes the vacuum pump, though. Probably would be worth asking the question ahead of time!
Apparently the vacuum is self contained within the unit itself, however, the prices listed on the 1st site I gave are for the tips only! I thought it sounded too good to be true. I may have to content myself with a "one-shot" type device, as my missus isn't going to approve a several hundred dollar purchase. :-(
I don't know what the US/AU exchange rate is currently, but that Circuit Specialties unit I posted about seems to be a better deal. It's undoubtedly made in China, so perhaps you can find an Oz-based distributer.
Steve