Solder removal without damaging the copper trace is without question difficult, even for the experienced person. I have worked in electronics for years, and I found the best way to remove multi-pin components is with a heat gun. If you try to break free the part using a sucker or solder wick then there is a good chance you will damage the copper, esp if the board is using plated through holes. There is an excecption though --> If the part you are removing is defective, and it is not surface mount, then just cut off every lead as close to the part package as possible. Then you are left with a bunch of single leads to remove, easy.
But if it is surface mounted, or if you want to remove it intact, then I suggest using a heat gun, similar to this one.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?
productId=3322030
or this one
product number 54-6502-2 at
www.canadiantire.ca
For surface mounted parts, you must heat from the top side, but do it gradually so that the part, and neighboring parts, doesn't suffer heat shock. For leaded through hole parts, heat from the bottom side of the pcb. You should probably experiment on a scrap pcb first so you get the feel for it. When I first tried it I burned the pcb. But its easy when you get the feel for it.
To clean the solder out of the holes I prefer to use a displacement method rather than a sucker or wick. Just re-heat the pad then stick a large size sewing needle in there, let it cool, then pull out the needle. But don't force the needle in the hole or you will stress the plating inside the hole (if it has plating in there).
Hope that was helpful
Tony R
more posts...