[Whitebread]

Are all soldering iron tip shafts the same diameter? I have a Radio Shack 30 watt iron at home that still works, but the tip is dirty, thus it desn't get at hot. I just want to replace it for like 2 dollars instead of getting a new one. Would any ol tip fom parts express work?

 

[john_jcb]

This probably belongs in the DIY section.

I don't know what iron you have but mine all have tips that unscrew rather easily from the body. Just make sure the threads are the same.

If it is just dirty why don't you clean it? A wet rag or sponge works well.

 

[JMT]

Tips are made specifically to fit the heating element. Just hop on over to the Shack, they will carry replacement tips fr your iron.

This does belong in DIY.

 

[Whitebread]

There is Flux burnd onto the iron. THe tip is BLACK. I need a new one. Thanks for the advise.

 

[Haoleb]

i have a soldersing iron that had a bad tip. i just took some sandpaper and sanded it down to themetal again and it works just fine.

 

[Whitebread]

Good idea. But what about the tip's shape. A tip that comes to a point, like a pencil is what I want, correct?

 

[Haoleb]

A pencil shape works for me. You dont want a real fine tip because in my experience it will cool off to easy. I use this old weller 23 watt 336B, that ive sanded the tip a couple of times on. it works better than alot of other irons i have used before. Here is a before and after pic of it wheni sanded it.

 

[Haoleb]

and here is after i sanded it down.

 

[Whitebread]

Aright, thanks. I'll just hit mine with my dremmel.

 

[10SNE1]

Be aware that filing/grinding a clad tip will expose the copper which will be eroded through oxidation and erosion from the flux and solder.

The copper in a bare solder tip is gradually chemically eroded by the lead and tin in solder and will exhibit pits and rough spots after a time.

So there is a definite operating life to bare copper tips.

A clad tip, which is properly cleaned simply by wiping it periodically with a damp sponge during use, will last a very long time. If you do have to mechanically scrub off flux residue, use a small brass wire brush while it is warm.

 

[Whitebread]

Ok, I'll try that first.

 

[fiddler]

RadioShack irons use cheap tips that really don't last very long. I highly suggest you try a quality iron like a Weller SP25 or SP35. It's really miles ahead in terms of quality.

 

[Whitebread]

I'd prefer not to get a new iron unless it's 20 dollars or less.

 

[phaedrus]

When I picked up my first iron to start playing, it was from Radio Shack and was $7.95, if I recall correctly.

 

[Whitebread]

Mine was something like that.