I can't solder

MKplayer1start

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This is crazy. I've done a couple cap kits with a cheap plug in iron and lead free solder and I managed to pull it off

Now i decided to upgrade and get a soldering station and found out 60/40 solder is supposed to be way better and easier to work with. So finally tried out my new setup tonight and I can't do shit with it. I can't even tin the tip. Solder just balls up and runs off the iron.

Seriously wtf? I'm ready to smash this thing
 
This is crazy. I've done a couple cap kits with a cheap plug in iron and lead free solder and I managed to pull it off

Now i decided to upgrade and get a soldering station and found out 60/40 solder is supposed to be way better and easier to work with. So finally tried out my new setup tonight and I can't do shit with it. I can't even tin the tip. Solder just balls up and runs off the iron.

Seriously wtf? I'm ready to smash this thing

I have felt your pain before.
 
What temp do you have set?

Where did the solder come from? Old solder is notoriously hard to melt.

Is the tip of your iron clean? Is your iron fully assembled?
 
What temp do you have set?

Where did the solder come from? Old solder is notoriously hard to melt.

Is the tip of your iron clean? Is your iron fully assembled?

I bought the solder off ebay and it's supposed to have flux in it. I know temp should be around 650 so I'm guessing kinda where that should be since the soldering station doesn't have an exact gauge. I might be higher than 650 since i was finding it hard to even melt the solder.

The tip was clean till I started trying to melt the solder. It's like flux melted off and turned the tip black. I had to sand off the black shit and try again but same result
 
If you are charring the tip then you are doing something wrong. Try your local Radio Shack for a roll of solder. They sell the stuff quickly enough that it is fairly new. You can also try the lead free stuff just to see if it will melt with your new iron.
 
Most soldering tips are plated with different metals over copper, You may not want to sand the black junk off of it. This get rid of the plates material and shorten the life of the soldering iron.

You may want to get a new tip and use a tip tinner like one for rat shack..

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062721

Since I use the old stuff, Pine oil based. I just use a a paper towel with a little bit of flux in it to keep the soldering tip clean.

I am thinking, It's not you is the solder. Something is wrong with the flux. Some types of flux have a limited shelf life and drys and crystallizes making it hard to work with.

You might be able to still use your old solder by dipping the solder into some soldering paste.
 
Did you read the instructions that came with the iron, they usually have a "how to prep a new tip" section. Usually involves running it at certain temperatures for a set number of minutes.
 
Just buy new solder. Or buy some flux and use the old one. Make sure you are setting your temp to the solder mfr recomendations. Soldering temp should be beased off solder recommended temps.
 
I don't care what solder I use... I always use separate flux as well.
And use one of these to keep the tip clean:
http://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Iron-Cleaning-Sponge-Brass/dp/B003UY3XU2
51dF667A-1L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
I would try a new tip and solder. I have read a similar problem and new solder fixed the problem. I used old stuff also but I also had several tips to go through. You are just better off buying new solder and be done.

I have seen others have a problem soldering a pcb and the problem was he was using his dad's plumbing solder for a pcb. It was not pretty and I spent about an hour just cleaning the extra solder and the chip.

A small roll of solder is not really expensive and will save lots of head aches, epically when you actually want to solder something.

Most soldering tips are plated with different metals over copper, You may not want to sand the black junk off of it. This get rid of the plates material and shorten the life of the soldering iron.

You may want to get a new tip and use a tip tinner like one for rat shack..

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062721

Since I use the old stuff, Pine oil based. I just use a a paper towel with a little bit of flux in it to keep the soldering tip clean.

I am thinking, It's not you is the solder. Something is wrong with the flux. Some types of flux have a limited shelf life and drys and crystallizes making it hard to work with.

You might be able to still use your old solder by dipping the solder into some soldering paste.
 
Not sure what you have and I have problems once in a while with some guns. But I have found that if I dip my tip in flux before use it works out for me every time. Even with my ceramic tip (that I love) I have had the beading issue, but flux has become my best friend,
 
Not sure what you have and I have problems once in a while with some guns. But I have found that if I dip my tip in flux before use it works out for me every time. Even with my ceramic tip (that I love) I have had the beading issue, but flux has become my best friend,

I don't want to high jack this thread but I am curious how the ceramic tip compares to a regular soldering iron. Ceramics were created after my time. I wonder if they work better with todays new solder and fluxes.
 
I love my ceramic tip soldering station. It heats up instantly, and does an awesome job. I use RS solder for most of my repair jobs. I have a roll of silver bearing which I love and also regular thin flux core solder.. I sponge the tip clean and solder away..
 
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