Should tip of soldering iron be needle sharp?

[Doc]

I'm about to try soldering some pieces onto a circuit board for a
condenser microphone modification. The metallic area on the back side
of the circuit board where the solder joints are supposed to be made
looks like a fairly small target and the tip on my 30 watt iron looks
a bit big, i.e. it's rounded off sort of like a very large turntable
stylus, not sharply pointy. Should it be sanded/filed down to a fine
point?

Thanks for all input.

 

[Leon Heller]

I'm about to try soldering some pieces onto a circuit board for a
condenser microphone modification. The metallic area on the back side
of the circuit board where the solder joints are supposed to be made
looks like a fairly small target and the tip on my 30 watt iron looks
a bit big, i.e. it's rounded off sort of like a very large turntable
stylus, not sharply pointy. Should it be sanded/filed down to a fine
point?

It depends on the size of the joint you require.

The sharpest tip I have for my Metcal system is 0.4 mm diameter. They make a
finer tip but I'd only get one of those for really tiny devices like 0201 Cs
and Rs. The plating doesn't last as long on sharp tips.

Leon

 

[Guy Macon]

I'm about to try soldering some pieces onto a circuit board for a
condenser microphone modification. The metallic area on the back side
of the circuit board where the solder joints are supposed to be made
looks like a fairly small target and the tip on my 30 watt iron looks
a bit big, i.e. it's rounded off sort of like a very large turntable
stylus, not sharply pointy. Should it be sanded/filed down to a fine
point?

As long as you can heat up the one lead without bridging solder to
the next, it's a matter of personal taste.

Be aware that your tip is likely to be iron plated and that if you
file off the plating the solder will start dissolving the copper
underneath.

BTW, you posted to the wrong newsgroup. This doesn't belong in
sci.electronics.design.

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

I'm about to try soldering some pieces onto a circuit board for a
condenser microphone modification. The metallic area on the back side
of the circuit board where the solder joints are supposed to be made
looks like a fairly small target and the tip on my 30 watt iron looks
a bit big, i.e. it's rounded off sort of like a very large turntable
stylus, not sharply pointy. Should it be sanded/filed down to a fine
point?

Thanks for all input.

One trick I learned years ago is to coil-wrap 12-14-16 guage wire
around the tip and then bend (turn out) the last 1/2" or so and
make a tip out of _that_ stub. You can file, shape and tin it to
suit your needs. An added benefit is that it'll run a little
cooler than the 'real' tip -- which may be A Good Thing if
you're doing it to get in at some *really small* stuff.

HTH,
Jonesy

 

[John Miller]

I'm about to try soldering some pieces onto a circuit board for a
condenser microphone modification. The metallic area on the back side
of the circuit board where the solder joints are supposed to be made
looks like a fairly small target and the tip on my 30 watt iron looks
a bit big, i.e. it's rounded off sort of like a very large turntable
stylus, not sharply pointy. Should it be sanded/filed down to a fine
point?

Thanks for all input.

Bear in mind that there is a tradeoff between tip size and ability to
transfer heat (i.e., an infinitely sharp point wouldn't conduct any heat to
the object you're soldering).

So the general rule is probably along the lines of "the tip should be as big
as possible, consistent with the space into which it must fit without
touching anything unintended."

--
John Miller
Email address: domain, n4vu.com; username, jsm

Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
-- Alexander Pope

 

[Jan Panteltje]

I'm about to try soldering some pieces onto a circuit board for a
condenser microphone modification. The metallic area on the back side
of the circuit board where the solder joints are supposed to be made
looks like a fairly small target and the tip on my 30 watt iron looks
a bit big, i.e. it's rounded off sort of like a very large turntable
stylus, not sharply pointy. Should it be sanded/filed down to a fine
point?

Thanks for all input.

You should not file or sand a modern soldering iron tip, these have
a special layer to make it last longer.
JP

 

[DarkMatter]

I'm about to try soldering some pieces onto a circuit board for a
condenser microphone modification. The metallic area on the back side
of the circuit board where the solder joints are supposed to be made
looks like a fairly small target and the tip on my 30 watt iron looks
a bit big, i.e. it's rounded off sort of like a very large turntable
stylus, not sharply pointy. Should it be sanded/filed down to a fine
point?

Thanks for all input.

Only if you are attempting to use it to shoot up solder.

 

[Guy Macon]

Only if you are attempting to use it to shoot up solder.

You can do that?

I think that I am about to end a lifetime of not taking drugs.

Solder in my bloodstream...YES!