Based upon hour comments Steve, it sounds like this would be true for most soldering tips regardless of manufacturer.  I'll have to pay closer attention to tip life here.
 
Phil Nutting

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 6:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Care of Metcal tips


Hi Lou! 

No Clean flux is actually the worse flux to use when you're talking tip life. Go to: 

http://www.metcal.com/tips/1.3.2.htm 

There's so little solids (it's mostly alcohol) that it flashes off the tip and doesn't protect the tip the same way a RMA does from oxidation. I think you'll find that you will go through more tips soldering with no clean fluxes than you do with any other flux type. 

-Steve Gregory- 






TechNetters, I've noted with interest the discussion of Metcal and other 
soldering irons over the past few days.  A question has come up here about 
care of Metcal tips.  We've gone to some lengths to eliminate RMA flux from 
the plant.  However, Metcal recommends tinning tips with RMA-flux wire 
solder.  We would like to use no-clean flux to tin tips.  How risky would 
such a practice be?  Any comments would be greatly appreciated.  I called 
Metcal for advice and found the people I talked with to be very pleasant 
and eager to help.  But no data were available, and, frankly, the people 
sounded very youthful.  Lou Hart 

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