Which is better for desoldering?

[thewise1]

I need to desolder ICs and other surface mount devices. So which do you think will work better? Chip quik, or a heatgun?

Chip quik

ebay heat gun

[kibble]

Chip quik is good for delicate components that you plan on re-using, but if what you're trying to remove is already damaged, you can go with heat gun. The only thing about the heat gun is that you may heat up other components at the same time and they may come loose as well.

[nevermind1534]

I've found a heat gun to work very well, as long as it's not too hot. I haven't had any problems with components that I want to leave on the board falling off yet.

[thewise1]

I'm really tied between the two, I want to be able to remove ic's, like n64 ram and things like that, but i don't want to damage them. Not moving other components should be easy enough though. I just won't move the board for a minute to let it cool down. However I don't know how effective a heat gun is with desoldering.

[timmeh87]

The heat gun wont automatically break stuff. Its possible to be careful

Ive taken chips off with a heat gun and Ive put them back on. Its pretty easy. That chip quik stuff looks cool too, but its not going to compare if you want to remove 50 little resistors at once

[thewise1]

I think I'll get a heat gun because it has other uses as well.

So are the ebay ones any good?

Also do I just point and shoot from about a foot away or should I apply solder or flux first?

[smith]

can any one tell me what is main difference between heat gun & Chip quik?