Soldering tips

[butters149]

Hi,

I am just wondering about tips for soldering. I bought a 25watt soldering iron at Radioshack the other day but i notice the tip doesn't melt the solder, i have to kind of move the solder a little ways up where it's hotter for it to melt.

Does this mean I need a higher watt soldering iron?

 

[Skiman]

I believe mine is like 25 watts but I might be wrong, funny thing is that I've been soldiering of late for one of my 1/6 customs

It should melt without a problem, maybe not on the side of the iron but on the tip for sure.

I believe the one I got from RS has two settings on hit for high wattage and low wattage.

 

[butters149]

yea mine wouldn't melt on the tip, weird.

 

[Skiman]

yea mine wouldn't melt on the tip, weird.

Check how many watts it is... it should range around the 16-25.

 

[butters149]

i don't have a volt meter, but the solder says 25watt, what does the wattage mean? the higher the hotter?

 

[Skiman]

Yea that would be my assumption, the more power the hotter it will get.

 

[daikkenaurora]

I've never had an issue with my soldering iron (15 watt) not melting the solder. Did the solder come with the soldering iron?

 

[butters149]

no, does it matter which solder i use? just wondering.

 

[Skiman]

Sounds to me like I would return the faulting iron to RS.

 

[daikkenaurora]

no, does it matter which solder i use? just wondering.

Not that I know of... unless you bought aluminum wire. lol

Sounds to me like I would return the faulting iron to RS.

Yeah, I'd return it. Something must be wrong with the soldering iron.