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MAINTENANCE/TROUBLESHOOTING/APPLICATION EXAMPLES

Top of Support & Service  >  MAINTENANCE/TROUBLESHOOTING/APPLICATION EXAMPLES  >  Maintenance of a soldering iron with a separate type tip and enclosure pipe

Maintenance of a soldering iron with a separate type tip and enclosure pipe

A soldering iron is a tool that supplies heat to melt solder. An enclosure pipe and a nut are essential parts for heat transfer.
A grounded soldering iron has the function of releasing static.

A soldering iron with a separate type tip and an enclosure pipe  (image of FX-600)

Flux, oxide, and carbide adhere to the enclosure pipe and the nut during soldering.
The adherence of oxide and carbide to the metal parts can negatively affect soldering quality by causing "degradation of heat transfer" and "increase in the tip to ground resistance."

In the case of a soldering iron with a separate type tip and enclosure pipe, maintaining the entire tip parts rather than only the tip end helps keep the original performance.

Perform maintenance once a week in case of heavy use.

Maintenance on a soldering iron with a separate type tip and enclosure pipe

The tools required
  • Long-nose pliers
  • Sandpaper #300 to #500

Make sure to unplug the unit for safety work.

Every part is quite hot just after unplugging the iron.
Please make sure that the metal parts are cool enough before starting the maintenance.

  1. Disassemble the unit to confirm the conditions of the enclosure pipe and the element support pipe.

    Loosen the nut with long-nose pliers to disassemble the soldering iron.
    Disassemble the parts as shown in the photo below and confirm their conditions.

    ( image of FX-600 )

    Nut, enclosure pipe, and soldering tip removed from the soldering iron

    Nut, enclosure pipe, and soldering tip removed from the soldering iron
    * Enclosure pipe and nut of FX-601 and FX-8805 are one integrated part.

    If oxidation becomes severe, seizing occurs in metal parts connections (parts sticking to each other), and disassembly becomes difficult. If disassembly is impossible, replace the seized parts.

    Check here for the information on "seizing" of parts.

    What if the tip replacement becomes impossible? (In case of a soldering iron with a separate type tip and enclosure pipe)

  2. Clean up the disassembled parts.

    If there are oxides and carbide on metal parts, such as the tip enclosure, remove them with sandpaper.

    ( image of an enclosure pipe of FX-600 )
    Polishing the contact area is effective in preventing seizing.

    Do not scrub hard, but polish it with sandpaper gently. 

Enclosure pipe

Contact area with a tip

( image of an enclosure pipe of FX-600 )
Fixing pipe / Nipple

Contact area with a tip

  • ( image of a fixing pipe of FX-600 )
  • ( image of a nipple for FX-8801/FX-8805 )

There is a chance of breaking the heater if polishing the pipe and nipples as assembled. Make sure to disassemble them before the maintenance work.

  • How to remove the fixing pipe

    Slide the fixing pipe as indicated by the photo below and remove it. 

    ( image of FX-600 )
  • How to remove the nipple

    Turn the plastic part of the nipple counterclockwise and remove it.

    ( image of FX-8801 )

  1. Assemble a soldering iron

    After the maintenance, assemble the soldering iron in the reverse order of disassembly.

    ( image of FX-600 )

    Assemble the parts in the order of a fixing pipe/nipple->tip->enclosure pipe->nut, and tighten the nut with fingers.

    The tip will be too unstable for proper soldering if the nut is loose. Avoid getting burned and tighten the nut with fingers.