Possible to hack an induction burner to melt components off of PCBs?

I wouldnt use an induction furnace to melt solder. That would be akin to killing an ant with a bulldozer.

Induction coils not only melt quickly, but in the case of solder, alloyed with certain metals like led or mercury will vaporize and create gas that would be far more dangerous without proper ventilation. You would be absolutely crazy to use an induction furnace inside an apartment.

So far as resistivity is concerned, the correct crucible for the correct application should be used, which some create their own resistivity. I wouldn't use an induction furnace with an iron vessel. It would melt unless on the right frequency and power output.

You would need to invest in a PLU/PLC controller of the correct type. Induction coils are cheap, I have 4 different coil sizes for different crucible sizes and applications. The cost is not in the coil, but instead in the head, the PLU controller and the chiller. They are expensive even when building it yourself not to mention the high electrical costs.

If I de-solder, I use the sand bath method as it works best for me. Or I simple dissolve the solder using the correct equipment and acids. But even still, the sand bath method works best for me.

Frankly speaking. You shouldn't be doing anything like this in your apartment. Gases, vaporized metals, will collect on whatever surface they come into contact with. You would be creating a poisonsious environment for you or whoever else lives with you. You may not realize this, but doing this type of work inside your apartment is the very worst proposition you could have suggested, and never should be considered, ever. EVER. Not if your life is important to you.

You should rent a space, find a friend or partner with a place you can do this, or even a makers space. But to be sure, and yes I am going to beat the dead horse on this one because I feel very strongly about this. You should not be de-soldering inside your apartment and never, not ever should you use an induction furnace without understanding the dangers, or how it operates. And never, not ever, inside your apartment or home.

My induction furnace uses duel phase 440, I doubt your apartment is wired correctly to supply the electricity required unless it is very small. Jewelers use small EDO furnaces, but even then they are vented properly.



Scott

As a refiner and metal artists, I will say this. The induction furnace I am using, has totally changed how I work. Where my propane/force oxy furnaces might take up to 45 minutes to get to the correct temp, induction does in less than 5 minutes. The technology is worth the investment in my case.

I think my next big purchase in the realm of melting will be a pressurized plasma/arc furnace and RF pressurized furnace (microwave digestion). An arc furnace can instantly vaporize metals at about 10k Celsius. Which would be bad if not contained in a pressurized vessel. I am a long way yet from being able to purchase this type of equipment, but it is at the top of my list.

Scott