andare
Well-known member
Do you leave the iron idle at working temp?
How do you keep your tip clean?
- Thread starter giovanni
- Start date
giovanni
Well-known member
I don’t think so, not for long times. Like just the time it takes to cut wire or grab components. Is that too long?
Alan W
Well-known member
No that sounds fine. And I didn’t mean to be critical; just from the picture, it didn’t look like a new tip anymore
.
Harry Klippton
Well-known member
Same. Nor tinnedit didn’t look like a new tip anymore
giovanni
Well-known member
I totally agree. And I had just put it on and tinned it! I even tried a bit of flux to get the solder to flow. I’m not sure what happened.
Same as many others. Clean with brass muff(don't forget to take it out and shake it every few dozen hours). Tin the tip just after turning off the iron. Seems to help keep the solder from falling off.
I have used retinner a couple of times.
In the rare event that I leave the iron idle for more than 10 minutes, I dip the hot tip in flux and clean. It liquidies old solder.and helps it clean off easier.
On my 2nd tip in 12 years in my 936. Been eyeing a new one though.
There are brutes at work that go through a tip a week. Never tin and leave the iron on from 8-5.
I like to care for my tools. New wrench? It gets wiped down with oil when it gets home before I promptly lose it.
I have used retinner a couple of times.
In the rare event that I leave the iron idle for more than 10 minutes, I dip the hot tip in flux and clean. It liquidies old solder.and helps it clean off easier.
On my 2nd tip in 12 years in my 936. Been eyeing a new one though.
There are brutes at work that go through a tip a week. Never tin and leave the iron on from 8-5.
I like to care for my tools. New wrench? It gets wiped down with oil when it gets home before I promptly lose it.
giovanni
Well-known member
I feel like I’ve been doing exactly that but haven’t had much luck today. That’s why I wonder if the iron itself is too cheap (it’s a Stahl which I paid like $25 for it over 10 years ago).
Laundryroom David
Keyboard Cowboy 🤠
What kind of solder are you using?
giovanni
Well-known member
60/40 rosin core, which I have always used with no problem.
Harry Klippton
Well-known member
You describe doing all the right things but that tip says otherwise. I hope you get to the bottom of this
giovanni
Well-known member
OK I fired it up again and used a bit of tip tinner as others have recommended. I think it gets shiny for a bit but when I wipe it on the brass wire it looks oxidized again and it looks like there is a strip along it that I can’t get cleaned up. Here are some pics I took during the process:
Harry Klippton
Well-known member
Yeah something's definitely not right with that
Laundryroom David
Keyboard Cowboy 🤠
I can imagine it must be driving you nuts! I was wondering the same thing. You’ve mentioned that your iron is perhaps past its prime. Maybe new iron day soon?
giovanni
Well-known member
Yeah I hope that’s it and I’m not cursed! I was considering opening up the iron to see if I can spot anything weird.
Harry Klippton
Well-known member
Does you iron have a temperature control? Are you using good solder or some wack Amazon garbage?
giovanni
Well-known member
Yeah temperature control is set to max, as I’ve always done for the last several years. The solder is legit, I’ve also been using it for years. I think the only logical conclusion is that the iron is about to give out. Or the aforementioned curse of course.
Harry Klippton
Well-known member
What's the max temp?
