Homebrew PCBs

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 17:05:30 EST, <JanRwl@...> wrote:

>  I find I can keep a tip  bright and fresh simply by applying some
> fresh rosin-flux solder and "tap the  iron body" against the rim of a
> porcelain or glass saucer, tray, old caster,  etc, to "shake off" the  
> excess solder.


Jan, take care there, if the solder iron manufcturers read that they will  
immedately cancel any warranty you might have or ever get on any iron.  
This "knocking the iron around" can damage the heater and is strongly  
discouraged by anyone exept the not cerebrally challenged old guys.

So, follow the instructions and wipe your iron on the sponge that is meant  
for it. Sometimes i "shake" off solder too if the sponge is somewhere  
else, but i never knock the iron against something. I think we can accept  
without discussion that the g-forces on the heater will be magnitudes  
smaller if you just "flick" the solder off the iron instead of knocking it  
against a hard surface.

Might be that it took stupid people to force them invent durably plated  
tips, might also be that's just technological progress and they are much,  
much better. Of course you can use a nail and a candle with some wit, but  
hey... (not to say that i never did that in an emergency... butane  
lighters spring to mind..)

ST