Prop-Forge:
I think you just solved a problem I didn't really know I had. I always wondered why I'd clean my tip and immediately have junk on it again.
I gave the brass mesh sponge in a tin a try after the damp sponge method. Brass mesh sponge is indescribably better.
I am NOT considering SMD. All of those tools will not help me hold, place those tiny components. I already have a tough enough time reading labels on DIP sized chips.
DocStein99:
I am NOT considering SMD. All of those tools will not help me hold, place those tiny components. I already have a tough enough time reading labels on DIP sized chips.
I find a cheap USB microscope useful for this.
Placing smd components i find increasingly difficult (shakes).
I wonder how the upcoming generation and new students handle this with fewer components being available in thriough hole packages.
I use a rotisserie jig to hold circuit boards, is nice. Has a spring to move in and out to hold the board, flips around, and holds position. I would show a picture of it here, except the forum won't allow me to insert pictures (with ease). I bought it at a flea market for like $5.00 and had no idea what it was until I looked it up when I got home. It's old and indestructible. They are rare, I've never seen one for sale on any modern electric tool supply.
LarryD:
I have been using this tip shape for the last 10 months.
It is great for getting around and under things you are soldering.
As the tip is bent, you can easily move the contact point on the target to achieve more/less heat transfer.
The version I have is series 936 but it works well on my Hakko F888D iron.
I Run the tip at ~410C.
Highly recommend using this.
(probably invented by someone who dropped the iron on the floor.)
Yes nice idea thanks, for when you cant quite get the right angle with a normal straight tip. I could see this working nicely when you have to solder something that is on a board that is right next to another board so you cant get the iron tip in there right unless you remove one of the boards, but a bent tip would help so you dont have to take out a board.
Great tip for small pads when under a big magnifying glass.
They reduce the distance from soldering iron to board which can disturb the focal distance of the glass.
I like using a chisel tip if I'm doing something that needs to transfer a lot of heat before it wicks, like large wiring. It also works well for soldering SMD, I've used it on 0.5mm pitch packages in a pinch. Dave @ eevblog has some great general soldering tutorials for anyone new to it.