It won't completely clean it down to bare shiny copper but will get it nice and flat with no lumps of solder. It leaves a dark oxidized layer where the solder was, but you should be able to polish it up some with a buffing wheel. If you leave it too long it will start to peel and bubble the green/brown masking off.
Thanks Rick...might just go with RAM since I can clean that with just a soldering iron. It's the thru hole connections that are making my life difficult.
Making a clock for my brother using vintage parts from an 80's multibus board, a 6" silicon wafer and whatever else I need.
Wishing I just had a solder pot big enough! Or a good ole desoldering blower.