The Heating Tip

• The heating tip of the iron should always be kept tinned. Tinning a soldering iron tip is merely applying a fresh coat of solder to the tip before using the iron. The tinned tip will conduct heat more efficiently and there is less chance of contamination to the soldered joint. Do not file or sand the tip to change its contour or shape as this can alter the heating characteristics of the iron. Weller supplies a large variety of heat tips for many applications.
  
  

The Solder

• Most solder is a combination of tin and lead. Pure silver solder is also available. Silver solder should be used for all water piping and can be used for some jewelry applications. Tin and lead solder heating requirement varies with the amount of lead in the solder. The most common tin/lead combinations---60/40 and 63/37---are generally used for most electronic soldering applications. Flux may be needed in order to stop oxidation during heating of the part to be soldered. Heavy oxidation or excessive temperatures may cause a bad solder joint. Bad solder joints can lead to electrical or mechanical failure of that part.
  
  

All Together

• Chose the correct solder for the components or parts that you're joining. The solder temperature should also be applied when setting the heat for the soldering iron. Using an iron that's too hot for the solder can prematurely oxidize the joint. This oxidation can cause discoloration of the metal. Keep the tip well-tinned and clean. Wipe the tip with a damp synthetic sponge, never a dry rag or cloth. When not in use, keep the solder tip elevated so it does not come in contact with the surface of a table or plastic. Some Weller soldering irons can achieve in excess of 900 degrees F. Match the size of the tip for the work. For large metalworking or stained-glass applications a large, flat heating tip should be used. Fine jewelry and small electronics may require a very small, fine-point tip.