Soldering iron tip not lasting

[giantsfan2575]

I used this tip for one battery pack and now it's junk. It's froma 60 watt Hobbico iron. As you can see, it has the center of the tip erode to a divot.
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/3715/10009266hq.th.jpg (http://img431.imageshack.us/my.php?image=10009266hq.jpg)
Anyone have an idea whats causing this?

[mavrick0]

It's probably just a standard tip and the solder, flux, heat combo eat's away at the tip very quickly. When you replace it make sure you get an iron clad tip. They last very long as long as you don't file or cut in to it then you'll have the same issue. I've had a weller iron for 10 years now with the same iron clad tip.

[kschauwe]

I hope you wasn't using Acid-flux solder?

[elcid4300]

hmm, it should last longer than assembly of one battery pack. What kind of solder are you using? I wonder if you might've gotten a bad tip. Always keep the tip clean (use a moist sponge) and tinned, and try not to let the iron sit for a long time.

[mavrick0]

You should be using 60/40 rosin core solder for doing electrical work. Check what kschauwe asked as well cause acid-flux will also do that damage quickly.

I would say it just comes down to being a very cheap tip.

[giantsfan2575]

I'm using deans pro-solder. I guess I just need a better tip.

[cheerwhiner]

are you cleaning it at all on a sponge?

[TRF TT-01]

This happened to me too. I did not used acid flux. I clean the tip with a sponge all the time and the same thing happened. At one point, I was using acid paste flux on the tip but it did not make the tip go worst.

BTW, is it true not to use acid flux on electronics?

[elcid4300]

This happened to me too. I did not used acid flux. I clean the tip with a sponge all the time and the same thing happened. At one point, I was using acid paste flux on the tip but it did not make the tip go worst.

BTW, is it true not to use acid flux on electronics?


No, it's corrosive

[TRF TT-01]

So will Rosin still do a good job because when I was using acid paste, the solder sticks on the surface instantly when I heat up the joint with the iron.

[loopy]

My 60W cheap and nasty iron does the same thing everytime it is used lol :eek:

[Piggy89373]

hmm, it should last longer than assembly of one battery pack. What kind of solder are you using? I wonder if you might've gotten a bad tip. Always keep the tip clean (use a moist sponge) and tinned, and try not to let the iron sit for a long time.
I've used Hobbico irons before as well as several other cheap irons. Bottom line, the tips on them suck. Find an iron clad tip for it and you'll notice a world of difference. I've gone through 10 or 15 cheap irons at work because of the same problem.

Once you get a good tip, follow elcid's advice to keep things working. Acid flux is good occasionally to re-tin and clean the tip, but definitely not good for electronics. It causes corrosion which leads to a plethora (yes jefe, I would call it a pleth-e-da) of problems.