I have my parts for the soldering irons. (This is about the third thread on this.) The parts are correct. I have removed the old Ungar element and cleaned it up. Is this screw-on element useable? The tip goes on it okay, but the area around the threads is rough and corroded. I cleaned it up a little with my Dremel wire brush. Is there something else I should do before I put the new tip on it and tin the tip? Thanks.
Is this screwdriver tip okay? Looks like it has a little part sticking out in the center. I expect a screwdriver tip to be smooth across the tip. Can I file it down and then tin it?
I wouldn't file it down. Themetal under the plating won't hold the solder. Why don't you buy an electronics tip which is much finer and will allow you do solder in difficult places. That tip looks much too large to me. It takes too much heat to get it at the correct temperature. Stay cool and run steam......
Flash For sure get a pencil style tip for electronics. PSG is right that sucker will take a lot of time to heat up.
Owen: Thanks, yes Siggie designed it for me. Haven't seen you lately. Is everything ok? Stay cool and run steam.....
I also have a .03" conical tip and a .18" screwdriver tip, both for the Weller. I was wondering if the .03" was too small? It is a really small point! I am going to try it tonight. Also good info on filing the tip that it won't hold solder. Thanks.
Flash: I wouldn't use that tip at all for any scale model. You can find an electronics tip at Mouser Electronics. They should have tips for solder units. I have a Hako digital soldering unit with an electronics soldering tip that I had to add to the unit. Most soldering units come with a tip that's much too large to do any fine work with. I use the electronics tip all the time, especially when I do decoder installations where a very fine tip is a must or else you'll ruin the entire installation. Stay cool and run steam.....
What, exactly is an "electronics" tip? Should I search for that term exactly? I have the fine "conical" tip that is .03" at the tip. I just tried it and it seems to work pretty well soldering fine brass wire. Here is my solder and flux. I am using the rosin paste flux, but many guys at the HO layout are using liquid flux. Which is better? Thanks, again. BTW, Mouser sent that bad tip to me today.
Is that the place to go? Radio Shack did not have paste flux. That is why I asked if it is no longer used.
Flash: You use electronics solder. It's a fine solder with the flux incorporated in the solder. You don't need separate flux. An electronics tip allows you to solder to computer boards and small decoders. Do you feel comfortable trying that with the fine tip you have? An electronics soldering tip has a smaller tip than the one yiou have. Stay cool and run steam.....
Flash, If you send me your e-mail address I have an excellent PDF file that I can send you on soldering. It covers tip, flux and solder selection as well as technique.
I will post a picture right here. L to R 1. Screwdriver tip .14 inches 2. Screwdriver tip .09 inches 3. Conical tip .03 inches 4. Pencil tip I am fairly comfortable using any tip, IMHO. I soldered .010 brass wire last night to make N scale caboose roof top antennas. I would use the screwdriver .030 tip for electronics. Should I use the smaller conical tip? [ December 24, 2005, 08:14 AM: Message edited by: sapacif ]
