What is it called to use heat, molten solder and airspaces in certain materials to remove solder?

• A. Desoldering
• B. Soldering
• C. Wicking
• D. Reflow

Answer: (C)

Wicking is the process of removing solder by capillary action using a desoldering braid. When you place the hot soldering iron on the joint and lay the braided wick over the molten solder, the solder is drawn into the tiny gaps in the braid and pulled away from the pad or lead. Flux on the braid helps the solder wet the metal and flow into the braid more easily, making the extraction efficient. This technique lets you cleanly remove solder from joints or spaces around components without lifting the pads, which is different from simply adding solder (soldering), heating an area to re-melt many joints at once (reflow), or the broader act of removing solder in general (desoldering).