I use the ST3 iron-plated copper tip. It came with the "consumer-grade"
WLC100 Weller solder station I bought oh, a year-and-a-half ago? I set the
temperature knob (which is arbitrarily marked) near maximum. I leave the
iron on the whole time I'm working, several hours at a time. Once I left it
on too long without re-tinning the tip, but some time with a damp sponge
restored it to its glorious tinned finish. It works great, and I've never
replaced the tip.
Before I turn it on, I wrap some organic solder around the tip, tightly. I
dampen the sponge and keep it damp the whole time. Not slightly damp, but
rather wet actually. I pack a few components, wipe the tip, solder the
components (I never spend more than a second on any connection, then I
recheck the joints and touch up after I've secured all the components if
necessary). Then I wipe the tip again, and if it's going to be more than a
couple minutes for me to figure out which resistors are which, I'll tin it
again. I really rely more on the sponge to keep the tip nice; I wipe the tip
often. I used to be paranoid that I had the iron too high, but I don't think
that's the case because all the modules work, the soldering looks nice, and
the tip is still good.
Maybe you should try being aggressive with the wet sponge before trying
anything else. And see if you have that type of tip.
Good luck,
David.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elhardt@... [mailto:Elhardt@...]
> Sent: Monday, November 29, 1999 11:49 PM
> To: motm@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [motm] Solder Tips, will Weller WP35 Tips last?
>
>
> From: Elhardt@...
>
>
> oldcrow@... writes:
>
> >>It almost sounds like the iron is too hot. What temperature is it set
> for?<<
>
> It almost does sound like the iron is too hot. I have three
> soldering irons.
> None of them have adjustible temperatures. I am using the tips that are
> made for them, but they just don't last.
>
> <Ken.Tkacs@...> writes:
>
> >>I have an old Weller station (the model number escapes me...
> bought it in
> 1983...baby blue, sponge holder...). I bought about ten tips with that
> station in '83. In all that time, I've probably used three of them<<
>
> I also used to use a baby blue solder station (don't remember what make)
> where I worked about 15 years ago, and I don't ever remember
> changing the tip
> in the year I worked there. It had a nice shape to it, and never
> eroded away
> on me. That is what I want in a soldering iron.
>
> >>Maybe it's technique? The way I was taught to work with a
> soldering iron is
> that I never let it sit for more than a few seconds hot without
> tinning the
> iron. I also tin it immediately<<
>
> I tin the tip the first time I put a new one in the iron. I don't stuff
> boards with the iron on. I stuff a bunch of boards, solder them
> then unplug
> the iron, so I can wash them and stuff some more. Maybe I need
> to do more,
> as you say. But I just want a iron that works the way that
> solder station I
> used to use worked.
>
> Thanks for the input. I was hoping somebody on this list
> actually had the
> Weller WP35. Antex is about the only other soldering iron that I
> can find
> mail order that has iron tips available. If anyone is getting
> long tip life
> from these without tinning every few seconds, please let me know. Thanks.
>
> -Elhardt
>
>