Better Way To Remove an IC Chip

I use a hammer and chisel also. lay the board flat and working from the other side put the chisel up against the pins and tap. Go from one end to the other
tapping with the chisel and you'll see the pins come up out of the solder. Turn the board around and repeat the process of tapping the pins loose on the other side. The chisel is never near my fingers that way and there is no dust involved. I just tap towards me and the board is slid up against my chest to keep it from falling off the bench.



Usually the pins pull loose from the solder but on the real tight ones then you might shear off the pins while tapping.