Tips to Outlast Your Soldering Tip
Feb 23, 2017 · 3 min read
The solder tip plays a crucial role in the soldering process. It is the tip that will heat up to melt the solder and form a permanent connection between the metal surfaces. This tip gets rusted and punctured over time due to the heat and other elements. And this directly affects the heating ability of the tip, its ability to transfer heat and above all, the quality of metal connections.
Every mechanic wants to extend the life of his soldering iron tips to the maximum. Here are some tricks that can help:
- Right tip — There are many different kinds of soldering iron tips and you want to use the right one for the job. In general, go for large sized tips with shorter lengths as far as it suits the job.
- Type of solder — It’s a fact that using a good quality solder will help keep the tip working properly for longer periods. After all, you don’t want any impurities in the solder to transfer to the tip and degrade it prematurely!
- Not too hot — While the tip’s primary job is to transfer heat, the heat itself emerges as its biggest enemy! Higher temperatures reduce tip life as they are more prone to oxidation and deformation. Make it a point to use the lowest possible temperature to get the job done and reduce the heat when the soldering iron is idle. If possible, opt for tips with inbuilt technology that reduces the temperature when not in use.
- Pre-heat — A simple trick is to heat the board to be soldered with a hot plate prior to the soldering. This will reduce the risk of overheating.
- Proper use — The tip is only as good as the hand that operates it. Use it gently as bearing down on the tip in an attempt to get better joints will only lead to premature tip failure!
- Cleaning — It’s a good practice to clean the tip even while you work. A clean and damp sponge is handy for wiping the tip between jobs, but bear in mind that constantly wiping is not advisable either. Never abrade the tip in an attempt to get rid of stubborn deposits.
- Tinning — No respectable engineer or mechanic will leave his soldering iron tip bare after use. Tinning the tip with a coat of fresh solder after every use is a habitual custom that prolongs the life by protecting the metal from oxidation and corrosion. Cleaning and re-tinning the tip after every few joins is also helpful.
- Storage — Don’t forget to loosen the screw of the tip prior to storing the soldering iron. This will keep the tip from getting stuck.
Most of these tips also apply to soldering robot — it will extend tip life and also ensure rapid heat transfer at all times!
