Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: cozmik_cowboy on July 30, 2020, 07:21:20 PM
-
So, I have never encountered this before: My soldering iron turns on & heats up - wipe it on the wet sponge & it hisses, can't touch it, etc. - but it won't melt solder!!
WTF, over?
Peter
-
Gotta be one of two things:
1. The tip just isn’t getting hot enough
2. Wrong or defective solder
Maybe try replacing the tip?
Bill, tgo
-
Well, it's getting hot; but, yeah, maybe not hot enough. It has melted solder off this roll in the past no problem, so it can't be 2.
I was thinking new new tip, too - but was hoping one of you fine folks would have a cure short of that. Or maybe "Gee, Dear, my Radio Shack soldering iron stopped working; I guess I better buy a new Solomon".........
Peter
-
Probably time for a new tip,
Cleaning the joint with alcohol or flux can help if there is old gunk
present.
-
Yes a dirty tip would do that. You can also try running it over some fine sandpaper (while cool) will clean it up.
It also may be dying. The iron can get hot enough to spit, but not not enough to melt.I
Maybe Mr. Wickersham has a suggestion, he has had a time of two with a soldering iron. ::)
-
Depending on the design of the soldering iron (speaking from experience with Weller only), the tip may be loose so that it will get "hot", but not hot enough to work correctly.If everything seems tight, check to see if the tip is shiny "melted solder" looking. If it has black/brown gunk on it, this should be removed - it is an amazing heat insulator. Sand paper when cold or flux when hot.
-
Thanks, all; I tried cleaning it, but will work at it more today, and check for looseness, as well.
Peter
-
Ditto about worn or loose tips. I sometimes take my round tips off and turn a new end on my micro lathe. However, they keep getting shorter that way!
-
Sounds like new tip time. Using a brass sponge tip cleaner will keep your tip alive longer than using a sponge. Also, Caig sells a tip cleaner/tinner in a little tin that works well.
www.jameco.com/z/XYT-460-Xytronic-Industries-Metal-Wool-Soldering-Tip-Cleaner-With-Holder_156777.html (http://www.jameco.com/z/XYT-460-Xytronic-Industries-Metal-Wool-Soldering-Tip-Cleaner-With-Holder_156777.html)
www.amplifiedparts.com/products/tip-tinner-caig-deoxit-soldering-irons (http://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/tip-tinner-caig-deoxit-soldering-irons)
-
... I sometimes take my round tips off and turn a new end on my micro lathe. However, they keep getting shorter that way!
Some people say that if you change the direction of the lathe, the tips will get longer. I don't have a lathe, so haven't tried it myself; but it could help in fixing table legs that are too short.
-
Moder Dave, I know we all have Covid-19 on our minds, but have you been tested recently for Cabin Fever?
hehehehe
Bill, tgo
-
OK, I cleaned it a bunch more, and tightened it down good (yes, you were right - it was loose); now it melts solder again - but I may still pop for a new tip anyway.
Thanks for assist. folks!
Peter
-
Well, the cleaning didn't really do the trick, and I cannot find a new tip (2 separate Amazon orders of tips specified to fit my model did not, in fact, fit, and none of 3 local possibilities carries it), so, it's new iron time; any recommendations? It will be used almost exclusively for guitar-wiring-type work; I want it to be good, but am not interested in breaking the bank (browsing online, I've seen set-ups from ~$40 to just south of a grand).
Thanks in advance,
Peter
-
I'm such a geek that I'm excited about YOU getting a new iron. HA!
A few years back when I visited Ron W he was singing the praises of his Metcal SP200 iron. That iron somehow keeps its tip temperature steady regardless of the thermal load. Magic, I think. I believe their model numbers have changed and in fact they look pretty expensive...
I've heard good things about Hakko which seem more reasonably priced and have good reviews.
I'm still using an old Weller station with interchangeable / different temperature tips. Serves me fine. Whatever you get will be a joy after what you've been trying to make work.
Let us know!
Jimmy J
-
I use a Weller WE S51, really happy with it (ten years and going strong).
-
You all got me thinking about replacing my simple basic soldering iron. This one on Amazon looks pretty good, especially for the price.
Bill, tgo
https://www.amazon.com/YIHUA-Professional-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B07RVMZNYR/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1Y82Y7GIYGFUI&dchild=1&keywords=yihua+soldering+station&qid=1599282950&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&s=hi&sprefix=Yihua%2Ctools%2C243&sr=1-10 (https://www.amazon.com/YIHUA-Professional-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B07RVMZNYR/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1Y82Y7GIYGFUI&dchild=1&keywords=yihua+soldering+station&qid=1599282950&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&s=hi&sprefix=Yihua%2Ctools%2C243&sr=1-10)
-
You all got me thinking about replacing my simple basic soldering iron. This one on Amazon looks pretty good, especially for the price.
Bill, tgo
https://www.amazon.com/YIHUA-Professional-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B07RVMZNYR/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1Y82Y7GIYGFUI&dchild=1&keywords=yihua+soldering+station&qid=1599282950&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&s=hi&sprefix=Yihua%2Ctools%2C243&sr=1-10 (https://www.amazon.com/YIHUA-Professional-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B07RVMZNYR/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1Y82Y7GIYGFUI&dchild=1&keywords=yihua+soldering+station&qid=1599282950&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&s=hi&sprefix=Yihua%2Ctools%2C243&sr=1-10)
I almost ordered that one last night, but Senior Management was already abed, so I couldn't get the Official Go-Ahead - definitely piqued my interest, as well. Anyone know anything about Yihua?
Peter
Peter
-
That looks nice. My concern might be shipping. I ordered something from China almost a year ago and it's still not here. If this was warehoused in USA it should not be a problem (if you live in USA) or maybe they can ship it out OK..
-
It is listed as “Amazon Prime” with delivery next Friday if you purchase today. The reviews are excellent for the most part (there’s always some guy who doesn’t read the directions, has no idea what they are doing, and blames it on the product - and no, I’m not being sexist, these type of dunderheads are usually guys, women tend to be smarter, lol). I‘m going to take the plunge after I post this.
Bill, tgo
-
I as well; She OKed it a bit ago. We'll have compare notes after we've used it a while.
Peter
-
Just clicked; on mine it said "free delivery tomorrow".
Peter
-
When I purchased it an hour ago it said delivery by Friday, the 11th. I just checked, and now the listing says delivery by Thursday, the 10th. You must be closer to China!
hehehehe
Bill, tgo
-
I'm still getting tomorrow, both in the confirmation e-mail & the listing. I'd say I get the rush treatment because I'm more of a pinko than you, but 1) I know we're about the same shade, and 2) these days the Chineseare paler dan da botevus...............
Peter
-
Well, it did, indeed, arrive today - at (drumroll. please) 4:20 pm.
Looks good - seems much more robust than the old Radio Shack station. All set up & ready to go; all I need now is something to solder! I'll probably tin the ball-end wraps next time change strings on one of them just to use it (usually only take them down to the bench & do that when I'm doing repairs/adjustments/what have you). Next actual project will probably be upgrading the pots, caps, switch, and jack on my import jazzbox.
But I am somewhat baffled; among the stuff it came with (along with forceps, an iron stand with a wire tip cleaner, and 6 tips) is a blue fiber disc. In the Amazon pic it kind of looked like a sponge, but it is, as I said, more a fiber composition - plus, why would they include the wire cleaner and a sponge? Let me know what you think when yours arrives, would you Bill?
Peter
-
Well, it sounds so good that I too also ordered one!
-
The listing describes the blue disc as a “cleaning sponge”. Maybe it expands if placed in water?
Bill, tgo
-
Ah - yes, now that you mention it, I do seem to recall seeing "cleaning sponge" in the listing; hang on a sec, and I'll run down to the basement and wet it to see........
........Ok, I'm back - yep, it done swolled up to about 4-5X the thickness, and the fibrous nature of the beast transformed into something quite spongeish, indeed.
But it revealed another mystery: it's about 2" diameter, and in the center there is a ~1/4"-3/8" circle mostly cut through, like you're meant to punch it out. Anyone know WTF that's for?
Peter
-
Your tip life will be greatly extended if you use the brass sponge cleaner shown on the Amazon page rather than the sponge.
-
How about wiping off the tip in the can of spun brass, then insert the tip in the hole in the sponge for final cleaning?
Bill, tgo
-
The brass will pull the solder off hot and leave a nice tin on the tip. A quench will cool the tip and lose the tip tin.
Don't use the sponge except to maybe wipe off whatever you are working on. :o just from my experience.
-
How about wiping off the tip in the can of spun brass, then insert the tip in the hole in the sponge for final cleaning?
Bill, tgo
The hole's too big & the sponge is too thin for that; it would slide clean up to the hilt, and the tip wouldn't touch the sides. I don't expect to put it to much use at all.
Peter
-
...maybe it's just a Christmas tree ornament they threw in there??? 8)
-
It is a solder sponge. I still don't find them worthy of my projects. ::)
-
Sounds like a solder sponge. They are intended for use while you are using the iron to remove the slag, flux and excess solder that builds up while soldering. I just use an old damp rag folded into a pad.
I'm still using my trusty old Ungar 610 which I guess was purchased in the 50's or 60's. It was my Dad's but it moved out of the house with me since I was doing electronics design and prototyping at the time and the only one soldering stuff.
-
It is a solder sponge. I still don't find them worthy of my projects. ::)
Yep - except for the color, that's it. But I still don't understand: 1) What's the point of the hole? (Both my old iron & my "helping hands" have rectangular, non-perforated sponges) and 2) Why include it when the brass-wire cleaner is also included?
Peter
-
I couldn't find any Intel on the purpose of the hole in the sponge; maybe so the tip can be pulled back across the sponge from the center.
Reddit is split on the sponge/brass use too. Whatever floats the boat works I guess. 8) . What does the Wizard use?????
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/75l9gy/those_who_solders_do_you_prefer_wet_sponge_or/
-
Mine came today (one day early!). I placed the blue disc in water and it immediately expended into a 1/2” thick sponge, but without a hole in the middle!?? Upon closer inspection, there is indeed a hole cut in the middle, but the middle piece of sponge is still there but can easily be punched out. ‘Tis a puzzlement? Otherwise the station looks great and quite the deal for the money. I’ll know more when I fire it up and do some soldering this weekend.
Bill, tgo
-
Yeah - mine awaits a punch-out, as well. It can keep waiting, methinks.
Peter
-
I think the hole is there to allow a place to collect the excess solder and slag rather than have it sit on top of the sponge to be picked back up or have it all over the table top.
-
So, basically, it’s an edge against which you can drag your tip?
Bill, tgo
-
That sounds logical! 8)
-
Mine showed up yesterday. I must say that it was very well packed, with some nice additional items like a tube of solder and some other helpful stuff. I just did my first job with it and I like it!
-
is a blue fiber disc.
[old time engineering tech weighs in]
a solder sponge is nice. if mine is AWOL, a wet paper towel passed over the tip usually works nicely for removing the schmutz from the tip. even toilet paper will work in a pinch. make sure it's wet or you'll start a nice little fire or at the least release some unpleasant smell from the paper. it should be noted that water is a pretty good conductor of heat and so you want to perform this operation quickly or you'll scorch your fingertips, which is never a good thing.
i also keep a small muffin fan from a computer power supply running by the workpiece so i don't have a continuous flume of solder smoke going up in my face while trying to do fine work without getting poisoned. solder used to be made up of lead, dunno what's in it these days, but i still don't like breathing it.
i learned long ago that ya gotta keep that tip clean, kids! or you'll have a crappy joint first time, every time.
-
even toilet paper will work in a pinch. make sure it's wet or you'll start a nice little fire or at the least release some unpleasant smell from the paper.
Maybe one can avoid the “unpleasant smell” by cleaning the tip with new, as opposed to used, toilet paper?
hehehehe
Bill, tgo