element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Community Hub
Community Hub
Member's Forum How can you manage to damage a soldering iron like this?
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Quiz
  • Events
  • Leaderboard
  • Polls
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Community Hub to participate - click to join for free!
Actions
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 30 replies
  • Subscribers 539 subscribers
  • Views 2533 views
  • Users 0 members are here
  • soldering tips
  • soldering iron
  • soldering
Related

How can you manage to damage a soldering iron like this?

cstanton
cstanton over 6 years ago

image

My first thought is, perhaps it's corrosion, from high or excess heat, these are disposable parts after all, but what really contributes to this kind of wear, and is there anything that can be done to prevent it being so sudden or so soon?

 

Often I find the soldering tips in the workstation to be bent, or the end of the tip looking like it's snapped off.

 

What're your thoughts?

How long do tips last for you or how often do you replace them?

What do you use to take care of your soldering iron?

  • Sign in to reply
  • Cancel

Top Replies

  • shabaz
    shabaz over 6 years ago +9
    I was going to say I've used the same tips for maybe 6+ years, but then I was reminded of 'Trigger's broom' : ) www.youtube.com/watch
  • rsc
    rsc over 6 years ago +8
    That tip may have started out that short, they come in many different shapes and sizes. I have three different sizes I use: Short and fat = higher wattage. (usually) or someone has been cleaning the tip…
  • Gough Lui
    Gough Lui over 6 years ago +7
    That looks like a tip from a Tenma hot air rework combination station (rebadged Atten). I would know ... because I have one, along with a spare soldering iron assembly when element14 last had it on special…
Parents
  • rsc
    rsc over 6 years ago

    That tip may have started out that short, they come in many different shapes and sizes.

    I have three different sizes I use:

    image

    Short and fat = higher wattage. (usually)  or someone has been cleaning the tip with sandpaper or a grinder.

    Scott

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +8 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
  • cstanton
    cstanton over 6 years ago in reply to rsc

    > That tip may have started out that short

    It's the same tip.. I know, because I bought them both and fitted them D:

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +5 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
Reply
  • cstanton
    cstanton over 6 years ago in reply to rsc

    > That tip may have started out that short

    It's the same tip.. I know, because I bought them both and fitted them D:

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +5 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
Children
  • 14rhb
    14rhb over 6 years ago in reply to cstanton

    Does this mean you know a bit more history on where they were both used and by who? I'd be interested to hear the end users' stories on this.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +2 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
  • cstanton
    cstanton over 6 years ago in reply to 14rhb

    Only that they were used in my local Hackspace over the period of about a month at least, a few months at most. No idea how they were being used, or who particularly.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 6 years ago in reply to cstanton

    Did someone switch it with their worn home tip? You’d need a grinder to get it worn like that in a few months.

    It would also explain why it’s actually a tip with a different profile (also spotted by others in this chat) even though you mounted two identical ones.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +2 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
  • 14rhb
    14rhb over 6 years ago in reply to cstanton

    That's serious damage for such a short period of time. Like fellow members have elluded to, perhaps being careless over a many years could result in some tip wear, but one month !

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
  • dougw
    dougw over 6 years ago in reply to cstanton

    Wow, I didn't make the connection that they were the same tip and it was only a month.

    That really looks like someone cleans their tip with a file.

    Judging by the condition of the barrel, the comment about acid core solder also looks valid.

    It might be worth posting a little sign with soldering "tips and instructions" on it.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube