Useby date for solder?

[Bruce Varley]

Hi, I've been using the same soldering iron for many years, make/model no
marking long ago worn off, with a supply of tips that until recently I
thought would serve for the term of my natural life. However, over the last
few months I've found that tips stop working well a lot more rapidly, they
look nice and shiny but have weak heat transfer and won't tin. The most
recent instance came up with problems after less than a weeks service, in
time gone by a tip would last for a year or more.

I wondered whether my resin cored solder might be the cause of the problem,
the roll I have is also years old.Can't see anything else that would cause a
problem. Any thoughts?

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Bruce Varley wrote:

Hi, I've been using the same soldering iron for many years, make/model no
marking long ago worn off, with a supply of tips that until recently I
thought would serve for the term of my natural life. However, over the last
few months I've found that tips stop working well a lot more rapidly, they
look nice and shiny but have weak heat transfer and won't tin. The most
recent instance came up with problems after less than a weeks service, in
time gone by a tip would last for a year or more.

I wondered whether my resin cored solder might be the cause of the problem,
the roll I have is also years old.Can't see anything else that would cause a
problem. Any thoughts?

I have solder that is 30 years old. Other than a thin layer of lead
oxide, it still works fine. The rosin still cleans the joint properly,
but it was the best solder on the US market at the time. Find some
liquid RMA rosin flux to help clean the joint. I used to use a lot of it
to repair cold or pocket joints.


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[Phil Allison]

"Bruce Varley"

Hi, I've been using the same soldering iron for many years, make/model no
marking long ago worn off, with a supply of tips that until recently I
thought would serve for the term of my natural life. However, over the
last few months I've found that tips stop working well a lot more rapidly,
they look nice and shiny but have weak heat transfer and won't tin. The
most recent instance came up with problems after less than a weeks
service, in time gone by a tip would last for a year or more.

I wondered whether my resin cored solder might be the cause of the
problem, the roll I have is also years old.Can't see anything else that
would cause a problem. Any thoughts?

** Errr - maybe try some fresh solder ??

Best avoid the " low flux residue " and lead free kinds.



...... Phil

 

[Bodgey]

I had a Weller soldering iron where I once worked, the thermostat/switch
inside the barrel got stuck on causing it to get way too hot, not realising
this soon after the tip was stuffed, the solder would not run onto it
anymore. As I hadn't realised it was too hot ( I was only an apprentice at
the time) I changed the tip, it worked fine for a couple days and then the
same thing happened, after a couple of stuffed tips we realised what the
problem was and changed the thermostat. Maybe your iron is getting too hot
as well?



"Phil Allison" <philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:6efp5sF6rvqmU1@mid.individual.net...

"Bruce Varley"

Hi, I've been using the same soldering iron for many years, make/model
no
marking long ago worn off, with a supply of tips that until recently I
thought would serve for the term of my natural life. However, over the
last few months I've found that tips stop working well a lot more
rapidly,
they look nice and shiny but have weak heat transfer and won't tin. The
most recent instance came up with problems after less than a weeks
service, in time gone by a tip would last for a year or more.

I wondered whether my resin cored solder might be the cause of the
problem, the roll I have is also years old.Can't see anything else that
would cause a problem. Any thoughts?


** Errr - maybe try some fresh solder ??

Best avoid the " low flux residue " and lead free kinds.



..... Phil

 

[Davo]

Bodgey wrote:

I had a Weller soldering iron where I once worked, the thermostat/switch
inside the barrel got stuck on causing it to get way too hot, not realising
this soon after the tip was stuffed, the solder would not run onto it
anymore. As I hadn't realised it was too hot ( I was only an apprentice at
the time) I changed the tip, it worked fine for a couple days and then the
same thing happened, after a couple of stuffed tips we realised what the
problem was and changed the thermostat. Maybe your iron is getting too hot
as well?

I think Wellers have different temperature tips. They have a number on
them that tells you the temperature they operate at. The tips are
magnetic but lose the magnetism when hot and regain it when cooler,
which operates a magnetic switch in the barrel of the iron. (I think).I
haven't used one of their irons for a while.

Old solder sometimes gets a bit of an oxide layer on it that can cause
"muck" to build up on the tip. Cleanliness is important for soldering.

"Phil Allison" <philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:6efp5sF6rvqmU1@mid.individual.net...
"Bruce Varley"
Hi, I've been using the same soldering iron for many years, make/model
no
marking long ago worn off, with a supply of tips that until recently I
thought would serve for the term of my natural life. However, over the
last few months I've found that tips stop working well a lot more
rapidly,
they look nice and shiny but have weak heat transfer and won't tin. The
most recent instance came up with problems after less than a weeks
service, in time gone by a tip would last for a year or more.

I wondered whether my resin cored solder might be the cause of the
problem, the roll I have is also years old.Can't see anything else that
would cause a problem. Any thoughts?

** Errr - maybe try some fresh solder ??

Best avoid the " low flux residue " and lead free kinds.



..... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Davo"

Bodgey wrote:

I had a Weller soldering iron where I once worked, the thermostat/switch
inside the barrel got stuck on causing it to get way too hot, not
realising
this soon after the tip was stuffed, the solder would not run onto it
anymore. As I hadn't realised it was too hot ( I was only an apprentice
at
the time) I changed the tip, it worked fine for a couple days and then
the
same thing happened, after a couple of stuffed tips we realised what the
problem was and changed the thermostat. Maybe your iron is getting too
hot
as well?


I think Wellers have different temperature tips. They have a number on
them that tells you the temperature they operate at.

** Yep:

6 = 600 F
7 = 700 F
8 = 800 F

The tips are magnetic...

** The tips are solid copper, plated with steel - in fact.

BUT - hanging off the back are small lumps of iron with various " Curie
points ".

First discovered by Pierre Curie, who was reasonably clever - for a frog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Curie

but lose the magnetism when hot and regain it when cooler, which operates
a magnetic switch in the barrel of the iron. (I think).

** Spot on.

haven't used one of their irons for a while.

** Nor have I and very glad to be able to say that.

Old solder sometimes gets a bit of an oxide layer on it that can cause
"muck" to build up on the tip. Cleanliness is important for soldering.

** Abso-blooming-lootely .....



....... Phil

 

[-=Spudley=-]

This particular thread should have a set useby date.


"Davo" <Dave@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:48830d66$1_5@news.peopletelecom.com.au...

Bodgey wrote:
I had a Weller soldering iron where I once worked, the thermostat/switch
inside the barrel got stuck on causing it to get way too hot, not
realising
this soon after the tip was stuffed, the solder would not run onto it
anymore. As I hadn't realised it was too hot ( I was only an apprentice
at
the time) I changed the tip, it worked fine for a couple days and then
the
same thing happened, after a couple of stuffed tips we realised what the
problem was and changed the thermostat. Maybe your iron is getting too
hot
as well?


I think Wellers have different temperature tips. They have a number on
them that tells you the temperature they operate at. The tips are magnetic
but lose the magnetism when hot and regain it when cooler, which operates
a magnetic switch in the barrel of the iron. (I think).I haven't used one
of their irons for a while.

Old solder sometimes gets a bit of an oxide layer on it that can cause
"muck" to build up on the tip. Cleanliness is important for soldering.



"Phil Allison" <philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:6efp5sF6rvqmU1@mid.individual.net...
"Bruce Varley"
Hi, I've been using the same soldering iron for many years, make/model
no
marking long ago worn off, with a supply of tips that until recently I
thought would serve for the term of my natural life. However, over the
last few months I've found that tips stop working well a lot more
rapidly,
they look nice and shiny but have weak heat transfer and won't tin. The
most recent instance came up with problems after less than a weeks
service, in time gone by a tip would last for a year or more.

I wondered whether my resin cored solder might be the cause of the
problem, the roll I have is also years old.Can't see anything else that
would cause a problem. Any thoughts?

** Errr - maybe try some fresh solder ??

Best avoid the " low flux residue " and lead free kinds.



..... Phil

 

[Den]

"-=Spudley=-" <-=Spudley=-@work.com> wrote in message
news:27Fgk.21165$IK1.3924@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

This particular thread should have a set useby date.

I think that it depends on your isp / newsfeed provider. Some keep the posts
longer than others.

 

[-=Spudley=-]

"Den" <Invalid@someemail.com> wrote in message
news:48831f36$0$20546$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...

"-=Spudley=-" <-=Spudley=-@work.com> wrote in message
news:27Fgk.21165$IK1.3924@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
This particular thread should have a set useby date.



I think that it depends on your isp / newsfeed provider. Some keep the
posts longer than others.

lol.
Thanks.

>