[Simmo]

This may sound weird, but whenever I try to tin my tip, the solder just beads off and wont stick to it, even on a brand new tip. What's up with that?

[cardcollector]

Originally Posted by Simmo

This may sound weird, but whenever I try to tin my tip, the solder just beads off and wont stick to it, even on a brand new tip. What's up with that?

Because the solder won't mix with tip tinner unless they are both the same temperature. You just haveto make sure that all your solder is off the tip

[Simmo]

Oh no I don't use tip tinner I just want to tin my tip with solder at the end of a job but it just doesn't stick at all it's weird.

[Sunrider]

Are you using rosin core?

[Simmo]

Well it doesn't say so on the reel but looking at it it looks like it does have a core of some sort, probably resin..

[Novastar]

Originally Posted by Thaxos

The simple trick is to leave excess solder on the tip to prevent oxidation.
No buying new tips all the times, no using tip tinner.
Nice and simple solution.

This seems to work for me, to a point.

Although, NO... there is no tip that would last "forever". Granted, your mileage may vary. Sometimes, I've found my iron tips to last a year or more. But sometimes--they... magically(?) get ruined and act all strange. Replacing them seems to do the trick.

DEFINITELY:

* Do not leave your tip "untinned", sitting in the holder for... uh... like >=10 minutes

* Do not sand/grind/"rough up" your tip

* Do not get excess materials on the tip (if you can avoid it)... such as getting too close to heatshrink or wire jackets, etc.

* Do not "quench" your iron with a wet sponge (I learned this AFTER making the CF wiring tutorial, btw)

* DO wipe your iron with a soft cotton cloth--using strokes down & away from you--after every 2-3 solders... or maybe more, your pref. But don't "rub"! Just WIPE.

That's all I have learned from folks like Erv... Eandori... Judge... etc.

[Enolmano]

I don't really know that much about all this tip-stuff. But I haven't hade any problems so far...

But I do recommend a Weller or likewise. The main thing the do better (except for being made to work like 1000 years in industri^^) is the cable from the station to the "pen".
They are lot more flexible.