Posted by Angel on February 09, 2003 at 23:23:35:
In Reply to: Temperature problem HELP !!!! posted by Chris on February 09, 2003 at 22:14:44:
I'm not familiar with the "Temprite" control. Maybe it's bad....it happens. Could be that the screw collar on your Hakko isn't tight...it tends to work loose and checking it is the first thing I do when I pick mine up. Could be that your Hakko is cruddy inside...in which case you need to take it apart and bump out any loose crud that might be inside (but, I vote for the collar before that).
Chris, you need HEAT to get good seams. If you're not running that Hakko at 85 or 90% full power you'll get lumpy, uneven seams. If you aren't using enough flux and keeping it wet with re-application if necessary, you'll also get bad seams.
Last resort...check the power source. if you're using one that has anything else running on the same circuit, that could drain the temp controller intermittently. Try another source for plugging in the Iron. Only way to test the controller without a voltage tester would be to try using the iron without the control. if it stays hot then it's not the iron. But, you seem hesitant to solder with the Hakko at full power so maybe that wouldn't be easy for you to do. Try the other things first. It's very possible that you're just trying to solder with the Iron set too low and the new solder added to a seam doesn't melt instantly.
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: I am having a big problem soldering. I think it's the electric current inconsistancy coming through my iron. I have a hakko 456 I use a Temprite MTC 1000. What happens is, as I'm doing the bead it just stops and catches. When I try to pick up the line again it drags and sticks so I assume the iron isn't hot enough. I then turn up the iron a touch. The iron starts to move but then it gets too hot and gets dirty quick and black, or the solder runs through or off. To make a long story short the temperature isn't staying even .