@Nantucket Lit
...and some band braids. Braid is what I use to de-solder.

@Nantucket Lit
No it isn't. You're quite right about there being a trick to it.
There isn't a single technique, either; depends on the size of the wick and the size of the solder glob you're trying to suck up. In any case it's advisable to heat the wick then quickly heat the solder by an iron of a size appropriate for the size of the glob. A 45 watt iron will lift traces on fine trace and it's inadequate for solder on a metal plane. It's why I keep around different soldering irons.