On 11/30/2010 12:10 AM, Tony Miklos wrote:
On 11/29/2010 4:13 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Smitty Two wrote:

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.

Nuts. OP, do not sand the tip. Throw it away and buy new. The base
metal of the tip will not tin with solder, only the plating will.
Once the plating is shot, it's shot.

Oh. Didn't know that. I suppose the cheap, disposable tips are merely
plated
(maybe even just painted in bright colors) - the ones I use are solid
copper.


Solder is a mechanical *and* electrical connection. Twisting is a
great idea, but solder is used all damn day long as the only
mechanical bond between items.

Agreed solder IS a mechanical connection; a ****-poor mechanical
connection
at that. Lay two wires side by side and solder them together. Then
pull them
apart. Next tie the two wires together in a knot, solder them, and
pull them
apart. If you can.

There's a HUGE difference between a soldered mechanical connection and
the
mechanical connection of a solder joint.

A properly soldered joint doesn't not need a mechanical connection,

Oops! That should read "doesn't need" not "doesn't not need".



like
twisting the wires together, in order to make a permanent electrical
connection. Matter of fact, NASA prohibits any such joint. They prohibit
it because if repairs are needed it is too difficult to take apart.