Soldering iron, my only one, but I can't solder, and I don't need it. It's a cheapo one, and its free. Also with FREE SHIPPING!

I need one, I'll take it. PM?

"Sold"

Will ship out before next saturday. Done.

Looks like the iron got too hot. I would say don't become discouraged and try again. Read up on technique. Try and score an iron with adjustable temp control and practice (with ventilation). I sucked at first until I understood the basics and ended up using the skill almost daily at my last job. It comes in handy to be able to replace board components, or even to just solder a clean set of deans. I became so comfortable soldering that I tried welding, and eventually became decent with that also. Being able to solder and/or weld is a skill that will never die. Good luck.

That's a nice precision tip actually. Looks like your problem was oxidation though. Most people don't know that 99% of soldering is cleaning the tip and tinning the tip. Whenever you go to solder you should have a thin coat of solder on the tip. It should always look chrome. When you touch flux with the tip you need to clean it. Get a small ashtray and put a steel brillow pad in it and just push the tip into it a few times to clean it. You'll be amazed at how well your iron performs if you keep up these few practices.

To be honest you can probably save that tip with some tlc. Just keep melting solder on the tip and then clean it off with the pad (the water sponge pad cleaning is not as effective in my opinion and the brillow requires no water so it's much easier also).

Originally Posted by drsgfire

That's a nice precision tip actually. Looks like your problem was oxidation though. Most people don't know that 99% of soldering is cleaning the tip and tinning the tip. Whenever you go to solder you should have a thin coat of solder on the tip. It should always look chrome. When you touch flux with the tip you need to clean it. Get a small ashtray and put a steel brillow pad in it and just push the tip into it a few times to clean it. You'll be amazed at how well your iron performs if you keep up these few practices.

To be honest you can probably save that tip with some tlc. Just keep melting solder on the tip and then clean it off with the pad (the water sponge pad cleaning is not as effective in my opinion and the brillow requires no water so it's much easier also).

I use the same technique and I can solder two 2x4's together

Atm HK has a great deal on a soldering iron.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...240&aff=421628

I have never used it, or know how to. I just had it sitting for a while. Someone can use it. Actually, there is some dirt on the tip, and I saw another one that was almost like a needle sharp point somewhere here. If I find it, I will include it. It's shiny and I think it is new, but I am not sure.

Originally Posted by koo29

Atm HK has a great deal on a soldering iron.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...240&aff=421628

wow ..smokin deal ,looks just like the hakko which costs over a hundred .if i didnt already own one or 2 stations i be all over it .

Originally Posted by lovetoflyjets

I use the same technique and I can solder two 2x4's together

Lol'd at this

Originally Posted by helizrnew2me

wow ..smokin deal ,looks just like the hakko which costs over a hundred .if i didnt already own one or 2 stations i be all over it .

Looks a lot more like the $3 one you can get from Harbor Freight for.....$3.

(And the tip looks just about as burnt as that one will after a few uses too)

Free's the just right price.

I spent two months in the Army in AIT taking a precision soldering course, there is way more to it than most people think, can be a bear if you don't know how to properly, but it's a breeze with the right tools, I have a Weller and it works great, larger than this one..I can solder tree limbs on a good day.......lolol

OK, that's it. I SOLDERED MY OWN LEG BACK ON. WITHOUT FLUX.
US Marines - Basic Electronics School - San Diega, Cali-uknowhere

THANK YOU -- DRIVE SAFELY -- GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!

Jar head REALLY didn't think marines could fly, just swim..lolol
just kidding, Basic electronics school US Army Ft Gordon GA 1983, then on to Ft Bragg NC
Home of the AIRBORNE...18th Airborne Corps for me 35th Bgde

i got a gas powered soldering iron and it works perfectly!