> Ur right about copper corroding fast. Before I turn on the iron, I take out the
> tip hold it in a vise and brush it like hell with a wire brush (brass wires).
> Then, soon as it's hot, i flow solder all over the tip - it wets really good
> after the brush up - & flick off the excess. Seems to minimise the rate of
> corrosion by protecting the core somewhat.
> My 20c worth - Debbie :)

        The black color on the tip is corrosion, but if you are talking about
        the tip shrinking in size (appears to be eaten away), you are
        actually seeing the copper dissolve in the liquid solder. Just as the
        solder alloys into a copper connection when you solder, the copper
        tip alloys into the hot liquid solder. Once the iron tip plating (if any)
        develops a hole, the solder enters through the hole and dissolves
        the tip body. The tip becomes useless when the plated shell fills
        up with solder rather than copper.

        John Power

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