MOTM

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