Hi there,
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I would second the recommendation to use a hot-air station for this repair.? With some practice beforehand, you can become proficient enough to do it relatively easily.? We have a cheap hot-air station at work and I've been able to do some very intricate work with it once my skills improved.??
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A second method would be to use low-melt solder and a small soldering iron.? Low-melt solder has a much lower melting temperature than normal solder, so it stays liquified longer.? This allows all leads to be liquified at the same time so that you can remove the chip.? Here's what I'd recommend:? soak each lead with low-melt solder.? You're heating up the lead & "mixing" the low-melt solder with the existing solder on the lead, ultimately lowering the overall melting point.? If you want, you could even wick off the existing solder & then add the low melt.? But once all leads are soaked w/low-melt or the "mixture", move your iron around from lead to lead until all leads are liquid at the same time.? They will stay this way for several seconds, allowing you to remove the chip.? Normal solder won't do this.? As soon as you move to the second lead, the first one solidifies, and so on.? Next, clean the pads with solder braid & IPA - get them looking new so that all the low-melt solder is removed.? Then solder the new chip in place using NORMAL solder (not low-melt).? Low-melt is only for desoldering.
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A microscope is extremely helpful, but we don't have one at work.? I've done numerous repairs like this with only magnifying goggles/glasses or a headband magnifier - i.e. something you can wear on your head to keep your hands free.? I wouldn't mess around with one of those alligator clip magnifying glasses on a stand, though.? You probably won't be able to see well enough, you only get one spot that's visible, & they're tough to position just right.? So if you don't have a microscope & don't want to invest in one, go with the goggles/glasses and do the repair in a well lit room.??
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One more thing: use plenty of flux.? Flux is your friend when soldering.? If you don't use it, you'll get hit-or-miss solder joints, bridging, etc.??
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I've learned a ton from watching Alex on Northridge Fix's YouTube channel.? He's no-nonsense and he gives great information.? Watch a few of his repair videos - any of them, don't look for "LiteVNA repair" because he hasn't done any.? He uses a hot air station and/or low-melt solder in nearly every video so even if he's repairing laptops, it'll be relevant to you.? If you watch a few of them, it'll help you decide whether to try this yourself.? I'm not associated with him, nor do I get any benefit from recommending him.? I've just learned a lot from watching him.
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There are other good soldering channels out there on YouTube as well.? Mr. Solderfix comes to mind as another good option.
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I wish you well!
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Steve
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