I keep going through soldering iron tips. I just put a new one on, and the tip was completely gone after building just one light. I thought maybe it was the flux, so I bought some water based flux. I’m using ‘silver-bearing’ solder. I’m hoping it’s because it’s just a cheap soldering iron from Radio Shack and am planning to purchase a decent one, however I want to be sure not to tear it up as well. I’ve never had the tips just melt away before like this. I never put the tip in the flux and use very little when needed applied to whatever I’m soldering just for tinning.
Gremlins!
Which iron do you have? Higher heat than is needed might be contributing. But still that’s awfully fast. Maybe a combination of things.
Heat, and the fact that Flux is generally acid, or alkali, I forget which. If you have the iron too hot, it accelerates the process a bunch. Are you wiping your tip on a wet sponge or cloth? This helps keep the solder shiny and the tip from eating too fast (water dilutes the acid/alkali). The tips are counted as a consumable product though, so get some more on ebay or wherever for your iron…
Ok, so it’s the 40 watt iron. Just got done reading on tip care. I will leave my iron on for 1 or 2 hours straight and apparently that’s a big no-no. I’m pretty sure that’s what my problem is.
I used to have the same issue with a 60W iron. Switched to 40W soldering station and used very fine tips, problem was gone.
For about two years I used a wet sponge. It worked okay. Supposedly it is rough on tips with the rapid cooling, but I’m still using my original tips.
Anyway, I switched to one of those brass wire sponge setups. It’s so much better imo. I just plunge it in the wire sponge once or twice and I get an ultra clean and ready to solder tip with any excess solder falling down into the little reservoir under the wire sponge.
Btw OP, if I’m going to leave the iron on for a while without using it I make sure to keep a bit of solder hanging on the tip. I’ve gone 12+ hours days in the workshop soldering/messing around. I always keep the iron on and ready to solder (while I am out there). I alternate a bit between a pencil tip and small wedge, but still original tips.
The quality of the tips can have a lot to do with it. I get excellent life from Weller. There are other good brands. I just know Weller.
I have my Aoyue Int-3210 for around 6 Years now and mostly solder at 400°C - with the first tip which is in perfect condition.
So i doubt that it’s because of too much heat but is mainly because of lacking quality of the tip.
All my ham / cb tech friends have their irons on all day /every day day in and day out … they also dip their tips in flux before soldering all the time …(another no-no ) and they clearly don’t eat thru tips like that …i have no idea what your problem is but it’s neither tip dipping or having your iron on for an extended period .
My best guess is it’s that dang silver solder …it probably has a nasty flux in it … i’d go get some radio shack 60/40 or 63/37 and i’m betting your problem will go away /// also don’t ever file a tip .
Maybe you just have a cheap tip// i’ve heard of people burning them up before but never experienced it first hand … I have a 25W weller …I’d try changing solder and then maybe a better tip and see if this continues .
There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see.
My guess would be the solder, maybe flux as well.
I use a cheap Stahl variable station $20, tip set was around $7. I keep it set a little below 400*C.
I began using Kester 63/37 rosin core solder, ran out of kesters and switched to 63/37 MG Chemicals solder.
Cheap RadioShack flux $6 for a tub iirc. I used to dunk the tip in if it got extra grimey, maybe once every use. Now the wire sponge takes care of that.
Solder tips usual have a coating, if you damage that coating in any way the tip will get eaten fairly fast.
This means no sanding of the tip and the tip is not a chisel.
I’ve always cleaned and tinned the tip first and last when soldering using a lead-type 60/40: a well-tinned tip isn’t exposed to the air so it won’t corrode during storage.
Phil
The advice out there is consistent with the above comments: solder iron tip corrosion - Google Search
I have a hakko 936 with ebay clone iron and tips that has been fine several years.
And thats contant use come in in the morning turn it on and not turn it off till I leave.i idle it when a leave the bench.and lately we have been going through a pound of solder a week at times doing custom board assembly.
I suspect its a cheap radioshack iron at fault here.