Soldering iron tip doesnt stay shinny.

[harkkam08]

Im not sure what I am doing wrong guys but I have a weller Wlc 100 that I just bought and I heat it up and I clean the tip with a wet sponge and then I apply a bit of solder to the tip However within a second the tip changed color from shinny silver to blue or black and starts developing crust. No matter how much I clean it the tip just starts looking gray and dull.

On my radioshack iron the tip stays shinny for at least 10-15 seconds before it starts turning brown

Both are 40 watts

[harkkam08]

I think that the iron was running hot. I dropped the heat and now it stays shinny. I think the radio shack says 40 watts but is very inefficient and doesnt give me the same heat that the weller was giving me

[flemingmras]

I think that the iron was running hot. I dropped the heat and now it stays shinny. I think the radio shack says 40 watts but is very inefficient and doesnt give me the same heat that the weller was giving me

That's definitely the case. On your Weller, I find it best to run it somewhere in the 2-3 range for the best heat.

[TheShaggyFox]

I have this problem too. I just keep the heat down as well.

[gutpile]

when this happens to me I keep a sheet of sandpaper around and clean up the tip...

[AJW]

All you should have to do to clean a soldering iron is use a wet soldering iron cleaning sponge, and apply solder to the tip. Also before you put it away apply solder to the tip to tin and protect it until you use it again. I wouldn't use sandpaper on a Weller iron with a removable tip. I have done that on a cheap Radio shack iron, but if you tin a Weller tip properly it should stay clean.

It's true that if you use too much heat it will turn blue or black. You shouldn't need to use that much heat.

[1moreknob]

Also, Make sure the sponge it just barely damp. Too much moisture will ruin the tip