Hi Blair!

I would say that the pot is too hot. Can't tell you what that "brownish"
stuff is, but I think you're describing what I would call a "goldish" color
to the solder.
Maybe the beginning stages of dross?

Anyways, I've seen it when the solder gets really hot, will see it more when
the temperature starts getting up above 550 C.

Maybe will take a picture of what I think you're seeing and post it on my web
page, and then you can tell me if it's the same thing...can't do that until
tomorrow though...

-Steve Gregory-


> Hello Technetters,
>
> I'll readily admit that I'm not an expert on solder, and something has been
> bothering me lately here at the shop, so I'll see what insight the forum
> can
> yield.
>
> We have a small solder pot used for tinning wires in our harness area.
> Periodically as I walk by this pot I notice fairly thick black dross
> covering the surface of the solder. This gets wiped away before they tin
> wires, but lately I've noticed it turns brownish fairly quickly after
> wiping
> off the dross from the surface.
>
> What can be the typical causes of this? Could the pot be too hot? Could the
> pot be contaminated (e.g. with copper)? Could it be contaminated because
> it's too hot? I'm suggesting heat here because they run this pot at a
> fairly
> high setting, I'm not sure why.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Blair Hogg
> QA Manager
> GAI-Tronics
>


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