Tips for Lead-Free Hand Soldering
Because hand soldering tends to be done at
the end of the line, where the value of a board is at its
highest, switching to lead-free solder may have a
significant effect on your manufacturing yields, costs and
productivity. Simply increasing tip temperature is not the
answer because it can cause flux to evaporate before it's
had time to activate.
The keys to success here are tip shape, tip
condition, the soldering iron's power output and it's time
on the joint. By choosing the tip shape closest to the
component you're soldering, and always selecting the largest
tip, you'll transfer heat more efficiently at lower
settings.
Since lead-free solder's higher tin content
erodes the tip's iron plating faster, Ultratip's thicker
iron plating will significantly extend the tip life. Cleaning
your tips often and immediately re-tinning them will also
keep them in top condition longer.
