I'm just starting soldering, I got a kit for Christmas.
I just do it outside, but sometimes it blows in my face, and on the solder package it says to use a NIOSH approved mask if necessary. So the next time I did it I got a 3M mask that says NIOSH on it. That's all it says. Is that good enough?
If I leave the iron on without using it for very long it becomes black, and if I put some solder on it and leave it for a bit and wipe it off with a sponge it's pretty clean again. Is that because I don't tin it right? I'm having trouble tinning it, as it becomes a big ball quick. From what I understand, it should just be a light coating right? Should it pretty much look like it's just more metal on the tip?
I'm having trouble understanding when to tin it. Should I just do it before I put it up, before I start using it, both, or after every time I solder something, or after I solder a few things, or a little less frequent than that, or what?
I have a point-tipped iron. Should I be using the very tip or the side close to the point?
I saw a video of someone using a flat-tipped one and it seemed like it would be easier. Would that be good for any general soldering?
I just do it outside, but sometimes it blows in my face, and on the solder package it says to use a NIOSH approved mask if necessary. So the next time I did it I got a 3M mask that says NIOSH on it. That's all it says. Is that good enough?
If I leave the iron on without using it for very long it becomes black, and if I put some solder on it and leave it for a bit and wipe it off with a sponge it's pretty clean again. Is that because I don't tin it right? I'm having trouble tinning it, as it becomes a big ball quick. From what I understand, it should just be a light coating right? Should it pretty much look like it's just more metal on the tip?
I'm having trouble understanding when to tin it. Should I just do it before I put it up, before I start using it, both, or after every time I solder something, or after I solder a few things, or a little less frequent than that, or what?
I have a point-tipped iron. Should I be using the very tip or the side close to the point?
I saw a video of someone using a flat-tipped one and it seemed like it would be easier. Would that be good for any general soldering?