soldering iron question

[Tubbyengineer]

Is the Iron getting hot? if not - fuse or replace iron, if it is, clean the tip with a file, just file it gently back to bare metal, then get it hot and hold solder to the tip, it should melt within a second or so, if not then you have the wrong solder, turn off the iron get the right solder (flux cored electrical solder) then reheat the iron wipe on the wet sponge and apply solder to the tip, leave until no smoke comes off it then wipe on the wet sponge and the iron is ready to use, clean the tip regularly and maintain its shape and condition with a little wet and dry when it's cold...

 

[Chegs]

What Tubbyengineer said, I've forgotten to turn off my iron before and several hours later wondered what the slight odour was and found the tip was oxidised to hell with a few pitting marks on it. Five minutes with a file and emery paper had it shiny ready to be tinned.

Sent by lazer from just north of the world's largest nuclear dustbin

 

[vaporsizer]

The kit you have looks like it should do the job as long as you know how to solder. Get some proven flux core 60/40 tin lead solder for pcb's or terminal connections. I sometimes buy small amounts from an ebay seller & have built entire circuit boards with it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solder-Wi...Garden_PowerTools_SM&var=&hash=item20d379f796

If you're recent to soldering just get the basics & practice, it'll soon come. Dont forget to clean the tip often on the wet sponge or the wire nest, use the right size tip for the size of joint you're soldering. Always touch both of the two components with the tip & sometimes it takes a bit of melted solder to transmit heat between the iron & the components..... Youtube !

 

[ECiggyman]

DONT GO ATTACKING YOUR TIP WITH A FILE, YOU WILL KNACKER IT!
Clean your tip firstly on a damp sponge or rub it on some cardboard.
Next, unplug and allow to cool.
When cold, dip the tip in flux.
Wrap solder around the tip, nice and tight from the very tip to about 15mm up.
Plug in and let it melt. Wipe off the excess on the damp sponge and you're good to go.....A nice clean tinned tip!

 

[pogle]

Cheers for all the info. Well bought some new heads and tinned them as ECiggyman suggested,and hey presto-solder melts every time.