Why don't soldering irons get hot everytime

[ram1000]

I have to sand the end of my soldering iron and not only this one but all previously used irons to get hot enough to melt solder Why???????????????

 

[ringolong]

Make sure the tip is tight. I usually tighten mine when its warm.

 

[glowingturnip]

are you getting flux gunk building up on it ?

 

[Jackson]

Good tips are the key as is proper maintenance. Tips are made with multiple layers, once you've sanded you'll always need to sand.

Also don't use lead free solder, very hard on tips.

 

[ram1000]

Make sure the tip is tight. I usually tighten mine when its warm.

Yea this makes sense... thanks

 

[GJH105775]

It is almost always a dirty tip. I have done a lot of soldering, and have found that a bit of brass sponge works perfect, I have also used steel wool just fine. I like using nickel tips, but copper tips work just as good if you want to keep cleaning and replacing them. For lower heat guns I have been known to coat some copper (or nickel coated tips) tips in silver, and can tell you that is probably one of the best methods.


I use 60/40 alloy solder for most things, (I buy it by the 5 ib rolls, and silver bearing solder (I only use that when I want a really tough joint) by the .5 to 1 ib rolls).

Even with rosin core solder you need flux, I like the ruby paste, it works great for most things.