Tip restorer testing

Tool suggestions, soldering tips, general useful electronics knowhow.
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23498
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Tip restorer testing

Post by exxos »

I got one of these to try...
IMG_3671.JPG
IMG_3671.JPG (320.71 KiB) Viewed 5180 times

Before...
IMG_3672.JPG
IMG_3672.JPG (283.4 KiB) Viewed 5180 times

Oddly it smells like fruitcake as its just come out of the oven or something.. :shrug: Probably highly toxic and reduced my lifespan by 6 months...
IMG_3673.JPG
IMG_3673.JPG (307.32 KiB) Viewed 5180 times

Afterwards...
IMG_3674.JPG
IMG_3674.JPG (294.31 KiB) Viewed 5180 times
Its sort of like solder paste but doesn't melt easily.. Its covered my tip and it look super nice again and solder sticks to it just fine.

So will see how long it lasts.. but it looks pretty good so far!
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
sandord
Posts: 673
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by sandord »

Nice! I got the exact same stuff in the mail yesterday but haven't tried it yet. I have an completely oxidised tip laying around, I could try if it's restorable.
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23498
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by exxos »

sandord wrote: Thu Dec 06, 2018 8:57 pm Nice! I got the exact same stuff in the mail yesterday but haven't tried it yet. I have an completely oxidised tip laying around, I could try if it's restorable.
I've got a really old one , not sure which iron it fits though , could be from 10 years ago :lol:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
sandord
Posts: 673
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by sandord »

exxos wrote: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:28 pm I've got a really old one , not sure which iron it fits though , could be from 10 years ago :lol:
You could always heat it up using a blow torch :D
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23498
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by exxos »

sandord wrote: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:31 pm You could always heat it up using a blow torch :D
True, IIRC I am banned from those things :lol: :cry:
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
sandord
Posts: 673
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by sandord »

exxos wrote: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:37 pm True, IIRC I am banned from those things :lol: :cry:
So that's how your previous two psychiatrists got burned out :shock:
User avatar
sandord
Posts: 673
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by sandord »

Here's my completely oxidised tip:

before.jpg
before.jpg (52.22 KiB) Viewed 5146 times

After running it through the restoring process:

after1.jpg
after1.jpg (51.81 KiB) Viewed 5146 times
after2.jpg
after2.jpg (49.88 KiB) Viewed 5146 times

Look quite useable again.

In the second picture you can see there's still a dark cavety that didn't get restored by the process (I tried a few times though).

after3.jpg
after3.jpg (38.05 KiB) Viewed 5146 times

I really wish my phone could make decent macro shots. I'll put my handheld camera next to my computer so I can make a decent shot next time.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Funny, all I ever use is a damp sponge every time I solder, and the iron tip is always clean as a whistle, with no oxidisation.

Worst case scenario I have a pot of plumbers flux which I dip the hot iron into and it comes up lovely.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
sandord
Posts: 673
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:08 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by sandord »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Thu Dec 06, 2018 11:18 pm Funny, all I ever use is a damp sponge every time I solder, and the iron tip is always clean as a whistle, with no oxidisation.

Worst case scenario I have a pot of plumbers flux which I dip the hot iron into and it comes up lovely.
Well, in my case it was the result of improper handling. I used to solder at 430C or something, often I left the iron on unused for half an hour or so and I didn't clean the tip often enough.

Now I solder at 300C and I don't leave the iron on unused for more than a few minutes (stand by set to 5 mins). I always ensure the tip has fresh solder on it and I use copper wool instead of wet sponge cleaning to keep temperature variations at a minimum.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Tip restorer testing

Post by rubber_jonnie »

I usually work at 370 degrees, and if I don't use it for a little while it does oxidise a little, but the sponge always gets it looking like new.

I do want some of the copper wool for my other iron though as it has a little trough for it in the stand. Always clean before, each and every item I solder.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Post Reply

Return to “ELECTRONICS”