Re: gEDA-user: Soldering iron tip turns black

[Geoff Swan <shinobi.jack@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Remember to always store your iron tips with a ball of solder on them,
>  this helps prevent the tip from corroding in storage.
>
> Don't wipe the tip before putting it back in the holder, your wipes on
> the moist sponge should be when you take the tip out of the holder.
>
> Again the molten solder on the tip helps keep the tip from oxidizing while hot.
>
> Steve

I can't stress how important this is!! Seriously, I have seen
soldering iron tips last through heavy usage spending most of the day
on - so long as the tip *always* had solder on it. The worst possible
thing you can do is to clean the tip on the sponge and then put it
back on the stand to sit heating away. I often put fresh solder on the
tip before putting it back on the stand to ensure that the tip is
completely covered while it is on - and I go to even more trouble to
make sure there is plenty of solder covering it before turning the
iron off.
Before I learned this I had exactly the same trouble you describe. A
tip would only last being used a few times before being exactly as you
describe.


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