PCE GT Button 1 not working

[soop]

Twisting like constantly left right left right until legs break? Or full turn grabbing it vertically?
I've been trying to desolder smd caps from an old broken ide dvd drive and man, what a mess, broken traces and pads everywhere. Soldering radial caps is not that big of a deal, but after the massacre I felt like Frank Constanza in the cooking episode.

There won't be legs per se in the same way radial caps have legs, so it should just snap the solder from the pad once enough shearing force has been applied.

the other way I've seen used (which I posted not too long ago) is snipping the caps off at the base using short nosed pliers.

Honestly the whole thing terrifies me, even though I should reasonably be skilled enough by now.

[Keith Courage]

I literally grab each surface mount capacitor and then twist it to the right as far as I can. If it doesn't break off keep twisting the same direction. Don't go right left right left over and over again. So just pick a direction and keep going that way till they twist off. Do not pull up in anyway. just spin it One Direction Until It Breaks Loose. 

Sometimes pads can still get pulled up using this method. However I find that it is the least likely to have it happen.

[soop]

I literally grab each surface mount capacitor and then twist it to the right as far as I can. If it doesn't break off keep twisting the same direction. Don't go right left right left over and over again. So just pick a direction and keep going that way till they twist off. Do not pull up in anyway. just spin it One Direction Until It Breaks Loose. 

Sometimes pads can still get pulled up using this method. However I find that it is the least likely to have it happen.

Out of interest, have you tried applying heat with a hot air wand thing and lifting them then?  I don't want to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but that way sounds pretty foolproof in my mind

[senkun]

Since I only occasionally dabble, I could never justify a hot air station/gun though it would be really nice to have. I've seen pros grab and twist smt caps/resistors off but never found the courage (pardon the pun to do that.

What works for me is a nice broad tip iron, plenty of flux, heat both ends at the same time for 2 secs and nudge, the smt part literally slides off. Won't work in tight spaces or groups, but if there's room to maneuver it's quick and neat.