Do soldering irons burn out?

Do soldering irons burn out?

Most tips consist of a copper base material, plated with iron to prevent erosion. Iron, however, tends to oxidize rapidly. When oxidation occurs, the tip becomes covered with a black or brown scale, which will not wet with solder – greatly reducing heat transfer. This is commonly known as “burn-out”.

How do you test a soldering iron coil?

The first operation should be to verify that the heating element is indeed burned out. The resistance of the heating element should measure between 19 and 23 ohms. A reading of several thousand ohms or more would be indicative of a burned out heating element.

Why do solder tips go bad?

When using many soldering irons, the temperature of the tip will naturally decrease when in use. To compensate for this, many solderers turn up the heat more than is needed. Using excessive temperatures, however, reduces the life of your tips and can lead to sub-optimal results.

What can I use instead of flux for soldering?

Rosin is the same organic material as flux so it is already built into the solder. If you have this type, you do not need to use more flux. The solder will clean the surface as it melts. Acid core solder will also clear metal surfaces of oxides as well as corrosive by-products.

Why does my solder ball up?

Solder balls are caused by gassing and spitting of the flux on the surface of the wave or by solder literally bouncing back from the solder wave. This is caused by excessive back flow in air or too high a drop in nitrogen environments. Figure 6: More solder balls caused by spitting.

How do you remove oxidation from a soldering iron?

Removing Mild Oxidation Adjust the temperature of the soldering iron to a typical work range (about 300°C). Apply flux-cored solder to the oxidized tip. The heat will activate the flux and start the chemical reaction that will remove the oxidation. Use brass wool or specially designed cleaners on the tip.