dumb iron question

[pinkjimiphoton]

hey guys,
dumb question, but as the old pencil soldering iron gets used, even keeping the dang tip clean and with fresh tinning as often as possible,
i always end up with a blunt instrument instead of a pointy precision tool. 

i know that sounds kinda personal...

so...my question is, is this normal? just me? happen to you?

how do you deal with it, what's the best way to re-point these things?

i've used my dremel to grind a tip back on, but it never works out too well, and i end up with that danged stumpy tool again.

god... this thread sounds so wrong it could be a joke, but i'm serious.

how best to manage your tool?  

[digi2t]

Same here bro. I just keep grinding it back, until it's too short, then screw in a new one.

[pinkjimiphoton]

there's *GOTTA* be a better way bro!!

[PRR]

Use a file. Medium-coarse. That has worked since long before the Dremel was invented.

Or use an iron which takes plated tips, which don't burn in normal use.

[LucifersTrip]

Use a file. Medium-coarse. That has worked since long before the Dremel was invented.

Or use an iron which takes plated tips, which don't burn in normal use.

+1


but once you start filing down the original plating, it never lasts as long

I actually use 2-3 tips simultaneously, each one at a different level of wear. most solder joints don't need a pencil point, so I use the more blunt ones, and then pull out the "sharp" one for the tighter jobs

[a soBer Newt]

I use an ammoniac stone or a salmiak stone really helps get the tip clean. There is some one else that use my iron at work and they don't know how to take care of it so they will leave it on max for no reason, the stone helps get all the remove metal oxides that have accumulated as well as the burnt flux.

[Ronan]

At work, I keep tips in my toolbox, so if someone has been welding plastic...

Jimi, nothing wrong with a file and a copper tip. Otherwise you're looking at many bucks to get a temp-controlled soldering station with an iron that uses plated tips, those tips will last several years if looked after.

What really kills copper tips is overheat while not being used. You can tell how hot a tip is by how much smoke comes off the tip when you apply solder. If it instantly smokes up big time with solder applied, then its getting too hot. IMO.

[deadastronaut]

i bought one of these, nice and cheap, and the best ive used so far..but i'm no expert....

the tips on these are brilliant, ive used the same one for almost a year and its still the same as when i bought it..

the guy done me a deal where i bought the whole thing but i wanted 5 of the fine tips instead of the others...never had to change my tip as yet.....bargain!.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Soldering-Station-Iron-Kit-60-40-Lead-Solder-Wire-De-Solder-Desolder-Pump-Tips-/360453396919?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item53ecb259b7

see if you can find these type of tips if they will fit yours...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3Pc-Spare-Bits-for-Variable-Temperature-Solder-Station-Iron-N79AR-Fits-N78AR-/390412998738?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item5ae66d9852

[AudioEcstasy]

I scrape the crap and oxidation off of mine with a razor. Works great!