@ino, yes you could use a tweezer, but once in a while they will get launched when fiddling with them. Seem like a better solution to me!

I wonder if a electromagnet could be used alternatively?

Dang, I was gonna do something identical, it just takes a long time for friggin shipping.

From the website :

“That’s it! The pen cost $0.75, the silicone tubing was $1 per foot (four feet seems about right), the Luer adapter cost about $0.30 each, Three suction cup tips about $4.00, and the aquarium pump cost $10. The total cost was less than $18.00!”

@it0 – I wonder if a electromagnet could be used alternatively?

Was that a attempt at trolling.. or did you really mean that?

Or you could use a commercial version which only costs half as much..

I have one of these for my fine scale models. But the constant vac in this hack appeals to me. The tool does tend to leak and loose pressure just when you least want it too.

We use a similar commercial model in my chemistry lab to handle small silicon wafers (with not flammable, but highly corrosive liquids) and to solve the issue we just use syringe filters between the tip and the ‘pen’. They’re disposable and are available in a variety of diameters depending on how clumsy you’re feeling that day. Buys you the time to save your pump.

“There is an issue here. While it is safe to use it to suck air, if any fluid gets drawn in you will have a fire. The pump is AC and the outlet dumps the fluid inside the case causing a short. A safer method is to use ad aquarium dosing pump, which has a vac and a pressure side for pumping fluid. You can get them on Amazon.”

@Jess said, “Or you could use a commercial version which only costs half as much.”

That one doesn’t have constant vacuum. Hack that one and connect it to the hacked vacuum pump. Perfect.

I wish someone would come up with a cheap desoldering pump along these lines. Not a manual one, a powered one like you get on some solder stations with an electric pump.

The commercial ones are heated too but you don’t need that if you also have a soldering iron.

I hate to say it, but you can buy a standalone Aoyue one for less. Half as much if you just want to replace the smoke extractor on one of their hot-air and iron workstations with a pick and place pen.