Homebrew PCBs

This is true. you need to put a 'small' amount of solder on your tip. it creates a heat bridge. A 'dry' tip is a poor conductor of heat and may damage the board spending too much time there.

Brian

> There you go.
> 
> I find with a cheap iron, and a dirty tip, the parts never got hot 
> enought to get the solder to flow.  a little solder on the tip and 
> that 'wets' the part allowing heat transfer and then putting solder 
> on the far side of the part does the rest.
> 
> Soldering 12 ga wire is where the odd method comes in with my iron.  
> for boards, the method is just like you mentioned.
> 
> if solder does not flow, clean the tip.
> 
> Dave
>