Soldering eating my nerves today. >:(

[JimRayden]

I was happily on the way to build my tube preamp with my new soldering iron, but it was having a bad day. It just didn't start melting the solder... Might it be because I have a fat wire of solder and bigger parts than usual, and I'm using a measly 30W iron?

at a closer look, the tip of the iron is covered with thick black strong crispy stuff... Damn I've been doing electronics for two years and I still can't take care of an iron.

Any solution? Change the tip? Clean it?

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Jimbo

[nelson]

wet sponge.........hot soldering iron....steel wool.....

[JimRayden]

Too late, I tried to scratch the stuff off earlier today, now it emits wierd burning smell when heated up.

Could it be possible the tip element had some kind of a coat on it, and I scraped it off? Or is it just the tiny scraped pieces burning on it? I might be able to save it...


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Jimbo

[Peter Snowberg]

I can't recommend getting a cheap soldering station enough. Circuit Specialists has one for $40 that several people here have and love.

[JimRayden]

Firstly, I'm not in the USA. Secondly, I'll upgrade my building gear when I have the cash. Thirdly, are solder tip elements coated somehow?


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Jimbo

[no one ever]

Firstly, I'm not in the USA. Secondly, I'll upgrade my building gear when I have the cash. Thirdly, are solder tip elements coated somehow?

don't forget to tin!

[sir_modulus]

Yes, soldering tips are coated. You may have A) scratched off the coating or B) scratched off enough of the black goop for the iron to heat and melt/burn the remaining.

I'd suggest you do the following:

1) take your iron and scrub it clean with a wet sponge (while off)
2) take some steel wool and gently polish the tip of the iron to get it as scratch free as possible
3) pick up some tip tin (it's a tinning agent for the tip of your iron.) If you have no electronics store's near you, post on here and someone'll help you out
4) heat up the iron and put it in the tip tin (just the tip) and let it melt it onto the tip.
5) take off the excess using the wet sponge (just brush the iron along the sponge and the excess will come off)
6) coat with solder, and enjoy your new tip!

Alternatively you can just replace the tip....do you have the brand of the iron?

Cheers,

Nish

[petemoore]

I've had at least a few newer 'cheep' RS irons that just kind of die...fail to get hot enough. Tip temperature varies also from one unit to the next.

[Jason Stout]

http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=36234&highlight=iron+tip

[KE4NYV]

Normally, this is where I step in and give my "You need a temp controlled iron" speech, but I'll be easy.

Basically, you need to replace that tip to start with.  Once you get the new tip you need to get it nice and hot and tin it IMMEDIATELY.  Once its tinned, keep a wet rag or sponge around when its heated.  The trick to keeping a nice tinned tip is keeping a healthy ammount of solder on the tip when its not being used.  

When I'm at my bench and the iron is on, but not being used, I make sure the tip is covered in solder, to the point where its about to drip off.  The reason behind this is, you force the outside of that solderblob to oxidize and not right on the tip it'self.  When you go to use it, you can sponge off the solder and voila! underneath is a nice, clean, tinned tip.  

The excess heat when not being used is the major death of a tip.  That is why I like temp controlled irons so much, you can load up with solder like I mentioned above and then cut down the heat.  The heat really  causes the oxidizing to form quickly.

18+ years of soldering, you learn some good tips.

Just my $0.10.

[KE4NYV]

Sparkfun.com is a good source of low cost soldering stations.  They have Haiko Analog and Digital control  Here is a link:

http://www.sparkfun.com/shop/index.php?rec=15&shop=1&cart=381397&cat=12&keywords=&match_criteria=&searchCat=

I'm a Weller guy 100%, but I can also appreicate low funds and then in that case, go with one of these Haikos.  One of my buddies got one and its not bad for the price.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

If your tip is definitely not plated, then you can file it.
If it is plated, then possibly you have touched some plastic that has reacted with the tip and made a surface that the solder won't wet.
In that case I would VERY GENTLY rub at it with damp soapy steel wool then wash & dry it, and hope for the best.
(I find PVC bags are the worst thing for getting on a soldering iron tip.)

[MartyMart]

Normally, this is where I step in and give my "You need a temp controlled iron" speech, but I'll be easy.

Basically, you need to replace that tip to start with.  Once you get the new tip you need to get it nice and hot and tin it IMMEDIATELY.  Once its tinned, keep a wet rag or sponge around when its heated.  The trick to keeping a nice tinned tip is keeping a healthy ammount of solder on the tip when its not being used.  

When I'm at my bench and the iron is on, but not being used, I make sure the tip is covered in solder, to the point where its about to drip off.  The reason behind this is, you force the outside of that solderblob to oxidize and not right on the tip it'self.  When you go to use it, you can sponge off the solder and voila! underneath is a nice, clean, tinned tip.  

That's exactly what I do, having learned by destroying three tips in the last few years !!
Keep it "tinned" and dont leave it for two hours without a good fat "blob"
of solder on it.
When "warming up" the Iron ( a 10 dollar cheapie BTW ) I wrap a few turns of solder around it.
So when its up to "temp" it's tinned and ready to go !

Marty.

[davebungo]

At work, we use a small tin about the size of an old shilling with some flux like substance in it which cleans the dirtiest of tips.  You stick the tin to the top of your soldering iron transformer and simply dip the tip in it now and then (and then wipe it on the obligatory wet sponge).  It's designed for the job and it does it well and it lasts for ages.  Sorry I'm not at work today so can't give you the name of the stuff but I'll find out and post it tomorrow.

[JimRayden]

Yeah, I've already realised, the wet sponge is what I was missing all those years. That's what happens when you do too much DIY and don't read any instructions.

OK, all i want now is to use this tip to complete my current project, then I'm set for a few months of gigs. Would sanding the tip sharp allow me to do this (although I'll rub off the coat on it)?

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Jimbo

[JimRayden]

I grind the tips of my 10 year old weller 25watt pencil iron... (EDIT: the tips aren't 10 yrs old of course)

Chuck the tip on a hand held drill and grind it against a fine flat file... I end up with a sharp tip...

"The tip is ruined".... Just take a can of flux, apply to the iron (HOT iron), and then tin with solder.

A dull tip has already lost it's plating (iron or whatever plating), so you end up with a sharp useable bit that won't last as long as the original, but that will work very nicely for at least 10 pedals. And possibly some 3 or 4 re-sharpenings.

That's my experience. And my advice: DO IT!

Fp

Is that so, huh? Well in that case, that's what I'm talking about. Squeezing every last drop out of the gear before throwing it away. I'll start filing the tip right away.


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Jimbo