Uploaded July 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Sponsored by pcbway.com


Having long hated desoldering through-hole components even more than soldering them (often with comic or flame-filled results), a proper vacuum desoldering station has long been on the cards. The problem is I don't have much opportunity to use them and so splashing £80 or £90 on a 'nice to have' is hard to justify.

However I spotted a bit of a bargain on 'Amazon Warehouse' (a kind of returns resale outlet) and picked up the latest in the ZD-915 line: the ZD-8915.

How did I get on?



twitter.com/thetechnoshed
The product I bought: amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079ZC3WBC
(Please note, this is not an endorsement and I have no relationship with the manufacturer or seller)


I'm very happy to be sponsored by PCBWay. They offer PCB manufacture, CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing and injection moulding: https://www.pcbway.com. Check them out.


0:00 Introduction
1:17 Unboxing
4:50 Inspection & assembly
10:55 Filth
11:12 Experimenting
17:00 PCBWay.com
17:30 A big job: timelapse
19:05 Results
19:53 A simpler challenge
21:49 Conclusion
21:17 Bonus damage!