[Noisebridge-discuss] new soldering irons for Crucible? - DITCH THE SPONGES

[jim]

what about the copper wool type of wipe surfaces? 


On Mon, 2011-07-04 at 11:28 -0700, Zach . wrote:
> I agree.  I myself never, ever use sponges either.  It is super
> confusing since they come with soldering irons.  What I like to do is
> use a small x-acto knife to gently scrape off excess solder...this has
> been very effective over the years.  We could use more x-acto knives
> at the space anyway...............  especially name brand, which you
> can get very nice sets of for ~$10 and replacement tips (5 packs) are
> only $2 something.  This is at the art stores too, I'm sure it's much
> cheaper online.
> 
> Obviously that idea won't be best for kids learning, but like Jake
> says, you can just tap the iron.  or use anything flat n metal really.
> 
> Zach
> 
> --- On Mon, 7/4/11, Zach . <organic_unity at yahoo.com> wrote:
>         
>         From: Zach . <organic_unity at yahoo.com>
>         Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] new soldering irons for
>         Crucible? - DITCH THE SPONGES
>         To: "Jake" <jake at spaz.org>
>         Date: Monday, July 4, 2011, 6:28 PM
>         
>         I agree.  I myself never, ever use sponges either.  It is
>         super confusing since they come with soldering irons.  What I
>         like to do is use a small x-acto knife to gently scrape off
>         excess solder...this has been very effective over the years.
>         We could use more x-acto knives at the space
>         anyway...............  especially name brand, which you can
>         get very nice sets of for ~$10 and replacement tips (5 packs)
>         are only $2 something.  This is at the art stores too, I'm
>         sure it's much cheaper online.
>         
>         Obviously that idea won't be best for kids learning, but like
>         Jake says, you can just tap the iron.  or use anything flat n
>         metal really.
>         
>         Zach
>         
>         --- On Mon, 7/4/11, Jake <jake at spaz.org> wrote:
>                 
>                 From: Jake <jake at spaz.org>
>                 Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] new soldering irons
>                 for Crucible? - DITCH THE SPONGES
>                 To: "noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net"
>                 <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net>
>                 Date: Monday, July 4, 2011, 4:21 PM
>                 
>                 The reason your soldering irons, and those at
>                 noisebridge, keep wearing 
>                 out, is because we keep teaching people to use a wet
>                 sponge to treat their 
>                 iron-coated tip.  This is a lot of fun for people and
>                 especially kids, 
>                 because it makes a cool sound and steam, but it is
>                 very bad for the iron.
>                 
>                 I never, ever use a wet sponge.  Sometimes I tap the
>                 iron on the holder to 
>                 shake off excess solder, and sometimes if there is
>                 junk floating in the 
>                 solder on the tip of the iron, i wipe it off on an
>                 edge on the holder.
>                 Remember, stuff "sticking" to the iron is only
>                 floating in the liquid 
>                 solder, so it's no more stuck than a poppy-seed to a
>                 wet coffee-mug.
>                 
>                 My advice:  hide the sponges forever.
>                 
>                 -jake
>                 
>                 Lee Sonko lee at lee.org wrote:
>                 
>                 The Kinetics & Electronics department at the Crucible
>                 has several $12 
>                 Stahl soldering irons 
>                 <http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=374-100>, some 
>                 still new in the box, but they sure wear out quick.
>                 Kids take their toll 
>                 on an iron pretty quick. Do you think we'd get 4 times
>                 the value out of 
>                 the new $40 Hakko 936 knockoff from 
>                 Sparkfun<http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9672>?
>                 Better temperature 
>                 control might keep the tips and units alive longer.
>                 Might you have any 
>                 other suggested irons?
>                 
>                 Lee
>                 
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