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Hot take: I think using a heat gun on a vintage radio's board in my garage was a huge mistake, but my buddy swears it's the only way to get the old caps out.
I was working on a 1960s Zenith in my garage last Tuesday, and after I lifted two pads trying to be gentle with my iron, I cranked the heat gun to 700 degrees for three seconds and the whole replacement went smooth, but now I'm worried about hidden damage to nearby components.
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the_phoenix24d ago
Honestly, I wouldn't lose sleep over it. A quick blast at a safe distance is a common last resort for stubborn boards. If it worked and nothing looks burnt now, the hidden damage risk is probably low. Those old components were built to take some heat.
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hart.ryan24d ago
Yeah, that heat gun trick can save a dead board sometimes. Just make sure to let it cool down fully before you plug it back in, thermal shock is the real killer. If it boots up now, you're probably in the clear for the long haul. Those older circuit traces can handle a lot more abuse than the new stuff.
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