Question I've been trying to do some soldering making pendants with stain glass. I started practicing with regular 60/40 lead solder that I already had. I ordered the "Silver Gleam" lead free to use. After doing two small pendants, the tip got so bad that it wouldn't pick up any solder. I may have had it turned up too high. I got another tip and it did the same thing. I was trying to keep it cleaned off. I could not seem to get it back to the shiny stage. Am I using it at to high of a heat setting. I think I had it turned up all the way over.
Answer Hi Susan,
Having you iron turned up too high would not cause the problem. I never use a temperature controller so my iron is always on high. The only time it would cause a problem is if you are using an iron that is already temp controlled through the tip. The Weller irons have different tips for different temperatures. On the flat end of the tip you will see a 6 or an 8. The 6 means 60 watts, 8 means 80 watts. If you put the iron on a temp controller you defeat the purpose of the temp controlled tip. That could cause the tip to burn out.
However, I'm inclined to think it's the flux you're using. Some flux is very caustic and will eat up a tip made for stained glass work. Let me know what type and brand of flux you're using.
In the meantime, use your 60/40 solder again and see if that makes any difference.
