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[email protected] krw@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz is offline
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Default How Do You "TIN" a soldering iron?

On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:16:23 -0500, wrote:

On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:37:39 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Nov 29, 8:22*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
wrote:
How do you know when your soldering iron is tinned?
I keep mine plugged in *for 5-10 minutes then when I try tin it, the
solder beads up and just drips offs. *It doesn't seem to "wet" the
tip.
Is it suppose to wet the tip of the soldering iron?

I'm using non lead solder, 95%Sn, 5% Sb (Tin/Antimony).
Rosin core.

Also, when 1 solder two wires together, I twist the wires together,
then hold the iron to one side of the wire and hold the solder to the
opposite site. *The wire should get hot and soak up the solder, right?
I've been practicing but it seems to be hit or miss so far.

As others have said, the solder won't stick to crud. Follow these steps for
your abused iron.

1. Using a file or sandpaper, abrade off the crap from the tip of your iron
until the tip is shiny base metal (either copper or steel).

2. Plug in the iron and, when it gets hot, cover the tip with solder.

3. Periodically during your soldering project, drag your iron's tip over a
damp sponge.

4. When the iron's tip turns black and can't be returned to shiny via the
sponge business, repeat steps 1 & 2.

5. You are correct when you twist the wires together. Soldering is an
ELECTRICAL connection, not a mechanical one. Depending on solder to hold two
items together is ultimately futile.


"Depending on solder to hold two items together is ultimately
futile."

Hmm...I wonder what's holding all of those little electronic
components onto the circuit boards.

I also wonder why I can easily pull twisted wires apart but I have
hard time pulling soldered wires apart.

I guess there must be something else holding that stuff together.

The devices in the circuit board are mechanically held in place by
virtue of passing through the board


Wrong.

- and the solder just stiffens the
wire to make it harder to pull apart, then glues the twisted wires so
they cannot easily move in relation to each other. Two wires laid
together and soldered can be separated relatively easily in comparison
- and a wire just laid on a circuit board and soldered WILL fail.


Were that the case, SMT would never work.