Huh? Any help appreciated

[lbpesq]

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

[cozmik_cowboy]

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

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

[gtrguy]

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..

[lbpesq]

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

[cozmik_cowboy]

I as well; She OKed it a bit ago.  We'll have compare notes after we've used it a while.

Peter

[cozmik_cowboy]

Just clicked; on mine it said "free delivery tomorrow".

Peter

[lbpesq]

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

[cozmik_cowboy]

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

[cozmik_cowboy]

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

[gtrguy]

Well, it sounds so good that I too also ordered one!

[lbpesq]

The listing describes the blue disc as a “cleaning sponge”.  Maybe it expands if placed in water?

Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

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

[xlrogue6]

Your tip life will be greatly extended if you use the brass sponge cleaner shown on the Amazon page rather than the sponge.

[lbpesq]

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

[paulman]

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.     just from my  experience.