Soldering Iron Knackered?

DannyP

I have just sat down to get started on yet another Fuzzdog Kit (I am completely addicted).

Sadly my Antex 25w soldering iron isn't behaving. It gets hot no problem, but something wierd's going on with the tip.

It appears dull blue grey, and won't shine up with a wipe on the damp sponge. Also, solder won't cling, it just beads and rolls off.

It's happened all of a sudden - fine last week, knackered now.

Is there a trick for sorting it? The tip looks separate, but I can't seem to remove it. 

New iron time? 

Any recommendations - sub£50?

ecc83

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-lcd-display-solder-station-b96ng

Had one for 4 years now no problems. I was a dyed in the wool Weller Magnastat man and yes, they are better but bloody expensive for the hobbyist.

You can buy a tip cleaner, a pot of aggressive ***t that usually works but Antex irons are outdated crap now IMHO!

Dave.

TheMarlin

Throw another £9 in the budget, and get this:

You won't regret it.

Marlin

DannyP

ecc83 said:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-lcd-display-solder-station-b96ng

Had one for 4 years now no problems. I was a dyed in the wool Weller Magnastat man and yes, they are better but bloody expensive for the hobbyist.

You can buy a tip cleaner, a pot of aggressive ***t that usually works but Antex irons are outdated crap now IMHO!

Dave.

Thanks, do I really need a read out display? Do you find it useful?

TheMarlin said:

Throw another £9 in the budget, and get this:

You won't regret it.

Marlin

Ooh, that looks sexy, but I could get a Harley Benton Telecaster for that kind of cash!

martinw

You don't need a new iron, just a get a new bit:

http://www.antex.co.uk/soldering/replacement-bits/

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-3mm-replacement-tip-for-Antex-XS25-soldering-iron-50-bit-B005060-/321634678742?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item4ae2ebb7d6

imalone

DannyP said:

ecc83 said:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-lcd-display-solder-station-b96ng

Had one for 4 years now no problems. I was a dyed in the wool Weller Magnastat man and yes, they are better but bloody expensive for the hobbyist.

You can buy a tip cleaner, a pot of aggressive ***t that usually works but Antex irons are outdated crap now IMHO!

Dave.

Thanks, do I really need a read out display? Do you find it useful?

TheMarlin said:

Throw another £9 in the budget, and get this:

You won't regret it.

Marlin

Ooh, that looks sexy, but I could get a Harley Benton Telecaster for that kind of cash!

Careful, once you start thinking like that you will find all your possessions are slowly replaced by Harley Benton guitars.
You can change the tip on an Antex iron, http://www.antex.co.uk/technical/faqs/#13 though a good soldering station makes things much more fun. Sanding or grinding it is a bad idea as it removes the plating, but cleaner as mentioned might work.
No-one ever told me this, you want to keep the tip tinned to prevent oxidisation http://www.digikey.com/Web Export/Supplier Content/Cooper_72/PDF/Cooper_TipCareAndUse.pdf?redirected=1 I've always fastidiously cleaned the thing.

Maynehead

Sounds like the tip wasn't tinned properly after use and has oxidised.

This happened to my hotter 40w before but I just used sandpaper to get the tip shiny again and tinned it all over before using. It's been fine after that.

FelineGuitars

You can usually get it going again - you just have to remove the oxidisation.

I've often cleaned the tip up with 600 grit wet and dry and carefully retinned it

But a new tip if all else fails 

I love my Antex XS25 - had many many others, but this one just works a treat.

Mine has a huge tip on it which soaks up heat energy and is geat for soldering earth wires to backs of pots

DannyP

Ok, thanks gents. I'll have a scrub with sand paper, but to be honest it looks like the coating has disappeared rather than a build up of residue.

If that doesn't work, I'll go for a new tip. There may yet be another year or 2 in the old iron.