I can't even build a tube reamer!

[Fret Wire]

Glad it worked for you.  If you noticed the gain doesn't go down, that's normal. The way the ckt is set up, it's full gain all the time. Turning the gain pot from low to high just cuts off the bass response. Without the buffers, it sounds much clearer and livlier than a TS-9.

[Lonestarjohnny]

Sounds like maybe bad tip's or your iron is getting to hot, make sure when you get replacement tip's that they are the correct one's for your iron,
Johnny

[Sic]

are you tinning your iron? and doing the damp sponge thing? my first iron i used i messed up real bad, i used ACID  core solder (thanks wal-mart) and used a piece of sandpaper to clean it...

lets just say... that didn't work out for me

[petemoore]

I still use those cheep shack tips, if you keep applying the very tip to stuff it wears away faster and doesn't hook as bad;; I like using the side too though and hate the hooktip so I Clip that Sukka right off there with carefully lol the wire cutters...whew...them hooks can really hang up my soldering skills...gotta be eliminated.

[bwanasonic]

I don't know if it's my technique or what, but the tips of my iron go "bad" after about 2 effects.  The tip becomes irregularly shaped, as if part of the metal has been worn away.

This is a combination of cheap tips, and letting your iron get too hot. Anderton's EPFM has a schematic for a simple heat control switch box for a regular iron, but long term you will be MUCH happier with a decent quality soldering station. www.circuitspecialists.com has some incredible deals. The RS irons are virtually disposable.

Kerry M