grinding iron tip....

[sir_modulus]

Let's put it this way...if the tips cost a lot of money, don't grind em. For my weller station, I've never had a bad tip....in 5 years. I have two tips that I switch between, and they both have been running great. The key is to always have A) the sponge on the station wet so you can clean the crap off the tip OR B) the copper shavings tin. The copper does a better job, as it doesn't damage the tip due to the pressure of the steam (ever thrown hot coated pan into water? The same thing happens to tips, it eats away the binding between the coating and the tip itself).

Cheers,

Nish

[jmusser]

I honestly don't know why the tips degrade like they do. I used to solder for a living, and I don't remember if I ever changed tips on my pencil I used to use then. The tip will eventually erode to a flat stump.

[Rick]

grind 'em if that's the only way to salvage an old tip that has lost
its plating -obviously not an expensive new tip. I hope the point
wasn't lost by some. ...Rick

[RedHouse]

Hmmm, let me do the math...

$10 iron, grind tips, extra pack of 3 tips ($7) = $17
$150 solder station with everlasting tip = $150

I think I'll stick with my old funky Iron and grind (or-replace) tips as needed.

Also; if you want to plate your own, go to caswell plating and get the $35 Plug-n-Plate kit:

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/plugnplate.htm

I've used the kit to plate small guitar bridge saddles by using like a miniature tank plating system, good stuff.

(they also do powder coating supplys too)

[Peter Snowberg]

Let's do the math again...

Digitally controlled station with everlasting tip that makes soldering much easier ("like waving a magic wand" to quote B.Tremblay), a great selection of traditional and SMD tips, a temperature range of 400 to 850 F at the turn of a dial, super fast heating time, a digital readout of the current tip temperature, solid tip temperature to within a couple of degrees whether I'm soldering #30 wire or removing a cap soldered to the back of a full sized pot, and the option of SMD tweezers = $80

I'll never use a plain old iron if I have the option of active temperature control.

Tips that last is only icing on the cake

[petemoore]

Digitally controlled station with everlasting tip that makes soldering much easier ("like waving a magic wand" to quote B.Tremblay), a great selection of traditional and SMD tips, a temperature range of 400 to 850 F at the turn of a dial, super fast heating time, a digital readout of the current tip temperature, solid tip temperature to within a couple of degrees whether I'm soldering #30 wire or removing a cap soldered to the back of a full sized pot, and the option of SMD tweezers
 >>>That should Do 'er.
 Digital seeems the way to go, I haven't read reports of failure so I assume they're like 'Toyota's.
 80 is a great deal, for a newb or pro, a soldering device such as this has got to make it easier to get great results, and quickly, I can always find something while the iron is heating, but sure would prefer faster heating.
 That's still 80 that could [for me anyway] a 'large' parts order...
 I'm still getting good mileage out of my .50 'device'...lol !!!

[Peter Snowberg]

My last one lasted 18+ years through hobby and production usage. Toyota for sure.

Oh yea.. $80 and you get a "free" cheap DMM (incl. 20A & hFE) with that too.

It makes it much easier to learn anything when you don't have to fight or compensate for things lacking in the tools you're using.

I can't help but see "standard" irons in the light of a Crescent wrench that has a floppy jaw, or pliers that don't quite line up, or a screwdriver which is worn down. Sure you can work with these tools and do great things, but how much easier and better would the results be if besides making it possible, the tool made it easier too?

Regular irons are like a bull in a China shop, which is fine if you're a bull and don't like glassware. Of course Radio Shack sells a little quarter-bull and stained glass makers use the full sized bull.