[sdiy] solder questions

[harrybissell]

Batz Goodfortune wrote:

> Y-ellow Humans. (and Harry)

(sound of class addressing the headmaster...)

Y-ellow Batz...

> My current tip is now about 6 years old. It's the tip I got when I replaced
> my iron. I finally figured it out...
>
> "Turn the bastard off when you're not using it."

I can turn the whole bench off with one switch... one of those neat little outlet
strips
from the dollar store (ok it was $1.98)

> There's quite a plating process that goes into those tips. If they've been
> made properly of course. But once you punch a hole through it in some
> manner, it's all down hill from there. Acids and water get underneath the
> plating and weaken the surrounding bond. It's like a cancer and it spreads
> rapidly. The plating it self is quite thick and has (as I remember) 3
> layers of different material. I don't quite remember so don't quote me on
> this. I had it explained to me once by the cooper tools guys here. There
> was something about the reactions between the different metals. So you have
> to plate it in one thing first, then put a plate on top of that and finally
> the surface plating will bond.

Soldering Iron tips are actually plated with (drum roll...)
IRON

(go figure :^)

> Which begs the question. I wonder if a tin of that "Cold Galvanizing" paint
> would help rejuvenate an aging tip? I might try that if this tip ever gets old.

No, you need iron... I'd just save the paint for sniffing before your next post :^P

(second comeback)

Don't you get all those e-mails.  I hear that Viagra and Cialis can rejuvinate that

aging...

H^) harry