Taking care of a soldering iron? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Greyersting
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 03:05:25 am
content: I was wondering how I would take care of a soldering iron. I have been using the $5 crap soldering irons and haven't really cared about taking care of them but now I am thinking for getting a Hakko FX888D and would prefer not to ruin it. How can I properly take care of it on the first use and every one after that? Thanks.

author: Asim
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 03:15:55 am
content: I think this will helphttp://www.newark.com/pdfs/techarticles/plato/SolderingIronTipsCare.pdf

author: roach969
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 04:27:43 am
content: Quick question, do old irons lose their resistance? I have an old Weller from my tech school days and I don't remember it getting as hot as it gets now. I will be replacing it soon, recommendations? Any input is appreciated, thank you.

author: AG6QR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 04:30:22 am
content: The information Asim linked to above is good.I'll point out that it's a lot easier to take care of a good temperature controlled iron than a cheap uncontrolled pencil style iron. Cheap irons are always swinging between being too hot and too cold, and the overheating while idle will cause damage. Good irons are protected from overheating by the temp control, as long as you don't set it too hot.Turn it off when not using it, and tin it well before turning it off, to keep air away from the surface of the tip. When turning it on after a long period of disuse, re-tin it. Clean it frequently but gently. There are debates about the best cleaning technique, but abrasives like sandpaper are not encouraged. I only use a soft moist sponge.And don't worry so much. If it puts you more at ease, buy a few spare tips right away, so you'll still be in business if you ruin a tip. But with reasonable care and the type of occasional use most hobbyists encounter, an iron should last a very long time.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 05:11:05 am
content: I only use distilled water on my sponge. I can't prove it makes your tips last longer....but for $1 for a gallon at the grocery store that will last months - it's worth it just to have it in a handy container. I keep the gallon hidden away, and re-fill a ketchup container that I keep next to my iron. I also use one to keep IPA in. You can get them for a buck or so at walmart.

author: WhiteWolf
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 08:35:58 am
content: Isn't it enought to just use smal tin wire when you work and clean with metal cotton (is it called like that?)Or you could just tap the solder iron at the end of your bench, I use that technic sometimesI haven't had any problems with my soldering irons and never had to make a special care taking of them. I should say that I never use those damp sponges.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 08:38:46 am
content: I clean tips with brass wool.during normal storage, I just coat the tip with solder to form a sacrificial coating which I remove later.long term storage = plato tip tinner.

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 11:49:27 am
content: Quote from: Greyersting on October 11, 2013, 03:05:25 amCouldn't resist:

author: cloud_constructor
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 12:20:16 pm
content: Well , i only use a slightly wet sponge and never abrasive surfaces , but the one think that i`ve noticed that realy kills the tip is melting plastics or leaving it on for a very long time , with unlclean tip ...heeeeeyy!!! second post ever!

author: netdudeuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 12:23:32 pm
content: Quote from: WhiteWolf on October 11, 2013, 08:35:58 amIf you look at that guide, noThey tell you not to do things that have been reported on here as being ok. For example, not using thin solder as there isn't enough flux and not to use anything harder than a soft wet sponge to clean the bits.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 01:23:46 pm
content: Quote from: Fsck on October 11, 2013, 08:38:46 amToo abrasive IMHO. There is a coating on the tip - that you can easily were off with a brass "sponge" -

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 01:48:00 pm
content: Quote from: roach969 on October 11, 2013, 04:27:43 amNo,but what does happen,at least with WTCP irons,is that the contacts on the magnetically operated switch stick together,so your iron is on all the time,with no temperarure control.If the switch is working,you should be able to hear a periodic click.or if you open the case & hang across the two wires going off to the handset with a DMM on AC volts,you will see the voltage change as the switch operates.You can sometimes clean the contacts & get a bit more life out of it,but it usually means you need a new part.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 01:52:47 pm
content: Biggest mistake many people make is to clean the tip on the way in to the stand, so the tip oxidizes quickly.Having a blob of manky old solder on the tip helps protect it, as the solder oxidises instead.Always wipe on the way out of the stand, not into it.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 02:02:57 pm
content: Quote from: george graves on October 11, 2013, 01:23:46 pmtips are typically iron plated, usually some 4-5 mohs hardness. brass is typically softer than iron, usually some 3-4 mohs hardness. emphasis on typically. the abrasion should be minimal.

author: gregallenwarner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 02:50:04 pm
content: My new soldering iron tip is very solder phobic. (Solder beads up and pulls away from it when I touch it with solder wire.) How can I better keep my iron tip coated in solder?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2013, 03:53:00 am
content: Quote from: george graves on October 11, 2013, 05:11:05 amTap water can have minerals that will reduce tip life, such as sulfur. Distillation removes them = aids tip life, and as you mention, it's very inexpensive.Quote from: netdudeuk on October 11, 2013, 12:23:32 pmIt's a good article overall, but I suspect it's a bit old.Sponges used to be the only thing to use, and all that soldering stations came with. This has changed with lead-free solders though, which is when brass wool made it's appearance (less thermal shock than a damp sponge). Some stations even include brass wool these days (i.e. Hakko FX-888D has both wool and a sponge; suspect "sponge only" with a station is a cost cutting measure).FWIW, you can always add more liquid or paste flux to the tip if the solder wire you have doesn't contain enough.Quote from: gregallenwarner on October 11, 2013, 02:50:04 pmDoes the chrome plating go all the way down to the business/working end of the tip?I ask, as solder doesn't wet to chrome (business end is supposed to be iron only, with only the upper part plated in chrome). Seen cheap tips on firesticks have chrome on all of the surface of the tip.You could try some tinning compound, otherwise you may need a new tip (could sand it, but you run the risk of removing all of the iron plating, which will ruin it).

author: bhilly82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2013, 03:54:39 am
content: Quote from: gregallenwarner on October 11, 2013, 02:50:04 pmUse some flux on the tip then add solder. If that doesn't work get some tip tinnier.

author: gregallenwarner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2013, 02:36:56 am
content: Quote from: nanofrog on October 12, 2013, 03:53:00 amYes, the tip is completely chromed. Thanks for the advice. I'll look for a tip that's just iron plated.

author: Molybdo42
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 11:28:43 am
content: Follow the indications given in this video :When it comes to Kimwipes + isopropanol, I'm not as maniac as he does, but the advice to wipe the soldering iron tip with a dry Kimwipe to remove excess solder is a good one. Otherwise you will quickly need to replace your sponge or brass wool as they will be filled with solder blobs.Does anyone know where I can get that spring wire holder ?

author: geraldjhg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 12:29:37 pm
content: hiif you want tip to last a lotDONT USE WATER to clean tipnot even spongy water

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 12:53:23 pm
content: Quote from: Molybdo42 on October 14, 2013, 11:28:43 amPanavise 358 (http://www.panavise.com/index.html?pageID=1&page=full&--eqskudatarq=38)

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 01:06:10 pm
content: Quote from: geraldjhg on October 14, 2013, 12:29:37 pmUmmmmmmm.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 02:56:29 pm
content: Also remember first time you use a new tip - clean with cloth when cold to remove any deposits, then absolutely cake it in solder as it warms up, making sure it is fully coated on all surfaces.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 03:04:55 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 14, 2013, 02:56:29 pmalso cake the damn thing in solder when you put it down for a while/store it. using the solder as a sacrificial coating to enhance the lifetime of the tip

author: Molybdo42
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 05:33:46 pm
content: I would also recommend reading some advice from the Hakko website :http://www.hakko.com/english/maintenance/topic_oxidized.htmlhttp://www.hakko.com/english/maintenance/topic_tips_life_1.htmlUse the lowest tip temperature. This seems to play a very important role (greater than water or not water ?), because with some solder, the tip erosion doubles with a simple 50°C difference.Damm ecologists and soldering iron sellers, their leaded solder ban shortens the soldering iron tip's life, augments the risk of destroying caps and sensitive circuits, and is less reliable (brittle, whiskers). I think I am going to switch back to leaded solder.Quote from: nanofrog on October 14, 2013, 12:53:23 pmYay ! Thanks ! Expensive but added to my to buy list.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 03:53:48 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on October 14, 2013, 02:47:50 pmWhy?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 04:18:22 am
content: Quote from: Molybdo42 on October 14, 2013, 11:28:43 amThis guy would be fired from the iPhone line Foxconn.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 09:59:12 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on October 15, 2013, 09:41:09 am+1, and fyi the solder tip is a piece of fine metal engineering involved there, check the documents pointed in this thread ->Hakko Patents, though I'm not a metallurgy expert, with those layers of different metals just at the tip, a sudden thermal shock that is applied "UNEVENLY" at the delicate tip will surely have a negative effect in long run.I used Hakko brass wool tip cleaner, much less thermal shock when you dipped in the scorching hot tip in it, and once in while, applied my heavily used tips with Hakko FS-100 (Link) for tip retinning and heavy oxidation removal, really, it does work like magic.Becareful though, its very popular and there are lots of this fakes FS-100 out there, and those dogdy stuff will definitely ruin and eat your tip alive, just buy from reliable source only.

author: Molybdo42
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 10:43:16 am
content: The tip is made of solid copper plated with a thin layer of iron and chrome (several hundreds of microns thick). Water will cause a thermal shock and can crack the iron or chrome layer, this will expose the copper core who will be dissolved by the solder.Read this :http://www.digikey.com/Web%20Export/Supplier%20Content/Cooper_72/PDF/CooperWU_ModuleI_Tips&LeadFree.pdf?redirected=1Those problems became quite noticeable with the switch to lead free solder. So if you want a long tip life use :- leaded solder,- low temperature- and be careful of the type of flux you use (in both the soldering wire and the pen flux).Quote from: Molybdo42 on October 14, 2013, 11:28:43 amAfter reading the PDF, I will also suggest not to use Kimwipes to remove excess solder, this might expose the iron tip to oxidation. Use the silicon lip present on some soldering station or maybe gently bang the iron against the table to remove excess solder and after that quickly use some brass wool to spread the rest of solder on the tip.Damn this subject is more complicated than I thought !

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 10:55:45 am
content: Hmmm. Not sure I buy into that. My gut feeling that the abrasiveness of brass wool is far more of an issue then thermal shock.With water I suspect there is quite a bit of Leidenfrost effect going on. Not to mention that surely there is thermal shock going on when solder at room temperature is heated to 600F-700F - so I don't buy into that either. All I know is that with a sponge and distilled water, my tips last years - and for such a small cost, I prefer the sponge. It faster and easier for me. Plus....you get that cool "pssssss" sound.

author: DL8RI
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 11:22:08 am
content: Hi,you can do lots of "voodoo"-stuff with your Tips. But the question is always: Is it worth it?I think not.My Sponges get a little bit of Tap-Water (not soaking, a little bit!) an that's it. If a Tip should be damaged, then it's time for a new one.As far as I can remember i had one on my old Iron (Weller TCP) replaced and zero (or maybe one) at my new (Weller PU81+WSP80) up to now. And even if... after 4-5 Years of rather frequent use it may die, I would just buy a new one for 4€.Rather more than bying a special maintenence or whatever-Kit, worth 10 Tipsit is important how to whipe your Tip, just don't (like I see most people when soldering for the first time) ram the Iron into the sponge. Be gentle...All this stuff maybe important, when using an iron with a fixed Tip. But i would rather think about not buying such a thingFor 99,9999% of the work a good-quality(!!!) iron with a changeable Tip is sufficcient. I own both, and I don't see the great "practical" advantage, more the disadvantages.

author: Molybdo42
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 12:25:56 pm
content: I kind of agree with both of you but in my opinion, when it comes to tip life the most important must be the solder/flux/temperature selection and not really the way you clean it... at the condition that you maintain a good wettability.When I think about it, most of the time my iron is in contact with the solder. If I believe the experiments made by the manufacturers, lead free solder is the culprit as it seems to reduce your tip life by a 2-4 times factor, this isn't negligible.Now in the document I linked, they said that the cleaning method impacts flux removal... this needs a sanity check and might not be an issue with correct flux selection.Moving on to the next question does anyone know what kind of flux should be used ?I would like something :- not too toxic or not causing too much fumes- easy to clean with water or a noclean variety that doesn't leave a sticky residue- that doesn't make black residues on my soldering iron tipI bought some chipquik flux, works great but I need cleaning otherwise my board gets sticky.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 02:56:28 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on October 15, 2013, 02:31:42 pmWell, if you want to split hairs, I can bet you a dollar that brass is more abrasive then a sponge.As I said, and it's been echo'ed here - doesn't really matter for a cost/time sort of thing. So - it's down to a personal preference thing.

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2013, 03:31:00 pm
content: Speaking as an experienced hobbyist, I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference if you use a slightly wet sponge or the brass wool cleaners. I used to use the wet sponge exclusively for many years but have switched to the wire wool wipe thing just for convenience, don't have to have water around the workshop now.In my view it's much more important how you treat your tips while soldering and when putting the iron in the stand. The important things have been said already.I've had the wire wool sponge thing for about 5 or 6 years now and I'm on the second wire wool insert now, so they do last a long time.My iron's been a Weller WS50 (LR-21 + ET series tips) since 2000, btw.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2013, 04:39:18 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on October 16, 2013, 02:20:45 pmNegative ghost rider.

author: makerimages
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 08:40:14 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 14, 2013, 02:56:29 pmI just ruined a tip a lil while ago.. when using it for the.first time, should I apply flux aswell, before applying solder-thats what I did.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 05:52:49 pm
content: Quote from: makerimages on October 23, 2013, 08:40:14 amHard to say exactly without the specifics regarding the source of tip & solder (not enough flux in the solder and/or poor quality tip issues), but generally speaking, it won't hurt.