Is this time to replace my soldering iron? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: eeguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2023, 05:25:10 pm
content: Hi, recently, if leaving the soldering iron plugged to the outlet for about 10 minutes, I sense very strange smell. It is like burning something and sometimes this caused discomfort in my throat. I also heard some loud pop sounds. Does that mean the wires inside the soldering iron got burnt? Is that smell toxic?If replacing a new one, what can I do to prevent this from happening again? I know that if using it for soldering, I should sometimes brush it on a wetted sponge. In my case, I use it to install threaded inserts in plastic. In this case, should I also brush the tip on wetted sponge sometimes?

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2023, 05:47:02 pm
content: Quotemight have something to do withQuote

author: eeguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2023, 06:23:24 pm
content: The soldering iron never touches the plastic and solder is not used. I just use the soldering iron to heat threaded inserts and push them in plastic. The tip is completely clean (no plastic).Smell usually come out when I have left it on the soldering iron stand for over 10 minutes. It seems to come from the hot metal rod. Maybe the wires inside got burnt?

author: eeguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2023, 06:42:02 pm
content: I found the model number. It is Weller SP40NKCN. It is in red color. I have been using it for pushing threaded inserts for over a year. No smell at the beginning until the past few months.

author: eeguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2023, 07:02:24 pm
content: I need one that has LEDs to shin the object and tip replaceable. Is Weller the only company that makes soldering irons with LEDs at the front?

author: eeguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2023, 07:26:45 pm
content: For those temperature controlled, any product that will tell us, perhaps beep or blink a LED, when certain present temperature has reached?In case I stick with Weller that has LED Halo Ring, for the task of heating threaded inserts to push into plastic, is it better to get 30W or 60W? The 40W one we got seem to have been discontinued.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2023, 08:56:02 pm
content: Is the tip tight? Sometimes when the tip is loosen it would make the heating element of the iron very hot and thus the smell.

author: bidrohini
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2023, 11:42:48 am
content: I think you should no longer use it.

author: eeguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2023, 02:55:03 pm
content: Is the tip is tight. The middle of the long rod became white-ish surrounded by blue and purple colors.I don't remember when I bought it. Probably about 2-3 years ago. Have been using it only for this specific purpose for about a year.If buying, should I get 30W or 60W?

author: mwb1100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2023, 04:30:09 pm
content: Depending on how you work with the inserts, you might want to consider an inexpensive solder pot. Drop the inserts in it instead of solder, and you've got a bunch of hot inserts ready to pickup with tweezers and push into the plastic.I don't have a solder pot, so I can't point you to a good one, but I can point you to Amazon where they have some very inexpensive ones ($40 and under).

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2023, 05:28:34 pm
content: Check your iron stand. Usually it has a bakelite ring where the handle rests. May be it is touching the hot parts of the iron. Or the tip itself is touching something when it on the stand.