Date   : Fri, 05 Feb 2016 01:26:11 +0000
From   : jn.ml.cl9.58@... (Jeremy Nicoll - ml cl9)
Subject: Chip extractors - any recommendations?

On 2016-02-04 22:36, J.G.Harston wrote:
> Blip wrote:
>> As part of the OU project I've already talked about, I wonder if
>> anyone has any recommendations around what to use for chip extraction?
>> I was looking at this one:
>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/quality-Integrated-Circuit-Extractor-engineer/dp/B000TGLSVK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454621800&sr=8-1&keywords=chip+extractor+-dust
> 
> No no no no! :( You need something where you control the extraction.
> With something like that the grip of the socket on the IC pins drops
> suddenly, faster than you can react and stop pulling, resulting in
> crushed pins....

> 
> (rant)
> It puzzles me how these things sold as "IC extractors" continue to 
> exist
> when they patently do more damage than their purported function and how
> people fail to notice that they don't function. I lost count of the
> number of destroyed EPROMs my colleagues produced using the "yank and
> pray" method.

I've used a simpler version than the one the OP posted the link for, 
with no knurled
grip adjustment, and had no problem with it.  But I certainly didn't 
"yank and pray".
It'd be more accurate to say that I cautiously got one of the 'feet' 
under one end of
a chip and then wiggled it slightly, very much in the same way that I 
might have used
a screwdriver /if/ I'd been able to get a screwdriver tip into the right 
place.  In
other words the biggest advantage of the tool was the 90-degree bend in 
the end of one
leg.

(Also, sorry if you [JGH] just got a copy of your post directly from me; 
I misclicked
in the webmail system I'm using.)

-- 
Jeremy Nicoll - my opinions are my own