Date   : Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:57:18 +0000
From   : pete@... (Pete Turnbull)
Subject: ROM removal tool

On 16/03/2010 20:08, Tim Fardell wrote:
> Jules Richardson wrote:
>> me@... wrote:
>>> Does such a thing exist?
>>>
>>> I'm forever tearing the legs off ROMs when trying to remove them cleanly. I
>>> don't know whether my beeb's sockets are super-grippy, or whether I'm just
>>> a clumsy arse, but I can't help thinking there must be a better way.

>> I've seen IC removal tools in the form of pincers, but IME they're a bit crap 
>> - with the force sometimes needed to pull a chip up, they can sometimes 
>> suddenly 'let go' unevenly, resulting in bent pins still.
> 
> I had one of these. It was made of yellow plastic, and I can confirm 
> that it was indeed a bit crap.

I have two metal ones, and whilst they do work very well, they're better 
for smaller chips.  Like Jules and others, I tend to use a small 
screwdriver, or a bent-over piece of thin tool steel for ROMs.  The 
trick is, whatever you use, to lever up each end in turn by just a small 
amount until the chip is fairly free.

-- 
Pete                                           Peter Turnbull
                                               Network Manager
                                               University of York