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Jeff Thies

On 12/1/2010 5:56 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:15:47 -0500, Jeff
wrote:

On 11/29/2010 12:26 AM, 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.

This is plumbing solder, get some designed for electrical. Something
fairly small. 60/40 tin/lead (or is it the other way). Use the right
solder for the application.

Not necessarily true - the lead free solder madness has hit
electronics like a frieght train.

Lovely. Looks like I got out of the repair business in time.

ROSIN CORE solder is NOT plumbing
solder.

You are right, I missed that.

If you have trouble tinning it is either because you can't get the
solder hot enough or the tip is not clean enough. Sounds to me that you
are using the wrong solder, too large and wrong type.

Lead free electronic solder is a royal pain - period.

I imagine!

I always just used a damp folded up paper towel to wipe the tip. You
can sand or file the tip if you need to get one more use out of it,
don't otherwise.

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.

I heat the junction and feed in the solder at the junction, not on the
tip. But close to where everything meets.

I was in the electronic repair business just about forever. I wound
up soldering stuff I could barely see (SMD LSI) even with reading glasses!

Jeff

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.

Bonnie
The wire should get hot and the solder should wick up the wire.
Putting the solder at the junction of the iron and the wire - or on a
printed circuit, more correctly at the junction of the pad and the
iron, enhances the heat flow. When the solder wets the pad, you slide
the iron against the component lead, and the solder should very
quickly wet the lead as well, forming a smooth fillet from the pad to
the component lead (or wire).

I know Smitty will likely argue with me, but tough.

FWIW, I'm with you on this.

Jeff