My technique is to remove the iron from the holder, wipe it on the damp sponge (2 swipes, one on each side of the tip), bring it under my circle light / magnifier and tin the tip. Delay from wiping to tinning is about 5 seconds.
Maybe the oxidation isn't coming off when I clean it on the sponge? When changing tips I've checked to see that the spring-loaded inner part of the iron is able to move (it is). Both tips are #7 which should be 700 degree tips IIRC. - Keith - -----Original Message----- From: Tom Hammond [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 8:55 AM To: Darwin, Keith Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Weller WTCPT tip life?? Keith: The tips'll last until the iron plating comes off... probably another decade (or three) in the future! And I'll bet it's not your sponge. If your tip gets golden immediately, it means one of two things... 1) the tip's too hot, or 2) you're not applying the light coat of solder immediately(!) after you clean it. Generally, the problem is #2, unless you're using a REALLY HOT temp tip. A #6 or #7 tip should work decently well, BUT you do have to apply the re-tinning solder immediately after you clean the tip or it'll start to re-oxidize (that golden coloration) as soon as it's been cleaned. For what it's worth, it do NOT clean the tip until I'm ready to START another soldered connection... e.g. once I finish soldering a joint and set the iron back in the holder, it do NOT clean it until I take it out for the next round of soldered joints. 73, Tom N0SS _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
