How to protect the soldering iron tip
The soldering iron tip of a newly purchased electric soldering iron needs to be tinned before use. For copper soldering iron tips, you can use sandpaper or a file to polish the soldering iron tip first. The color of the soldering iron tip will change after a few minutes of being connected to the power supply, indicating that the soldering iron is hot. Wait until the soldering iron tip is heated. When the temperature rises to the melting point of the solder, use it to dip the rosin solder wire. The surface of the soldering iron tip will be dipped in a layer of bright tin, and the soldering iron tip can be used. If the soldering iron tip is not dipped in tin, it will not be tinned during soldering, and it is impossible to solder.
The soldering iron tip must be kept clean. An unclean soldering iron tip will quickly oxidize and be unable to absorb tin. Over time, it will cause corroded pits on the soldering iron tip, making the welding work more difficult. If the soldering iron is left in the soldering state for a long time and the temperature is too high, it will also cause the soldering iron head to "burn out". When not welding, turn off the power supply of the soldering iron immediately. The oxides and carbides derived from the residual flux on the soldering iron tip will damage the soldering iron tip and reduce its thermal conductivity. Therefore, you should always clean the soldering iron tip with a temperature-resistant wet sponge to prevent damage to the soldering iron tip. After each use, the soldering iron tip should be wiped clean and dipped in a layer of tin to protect the soldering tip.
[Talk from experience]
The soldering iron is a hand-held tool, so you must pay attention to safety when using it. For a newly used soldering iron, the insulation resistance between the power cord and the metal shell of the soldering iron must be checked before use. In order to save costs, some manufacturers use plastic wires instead of fancy wires for the power cords of their soldering irons, which is very unsafe. It is recommended to replace it with floral thread, because the fabric of floral thread is not easy to be burned or damaged. The electric soldering iron should be placed on the soldering iron stand and cannot be placed randomly. Pay attention to the wires not to touch the soldering iron head to avoid burning items and causing fires. Keep the soldering iron dry and do not knock the soldering iron during use to avoid damage. Regularly check whether the power cord of the soldering iron is damaged, whether the terminals in the handle of the soldering iron are loose, and whether the insulation resistance is qualified.
