Good evening everyone,
I'm having a bit of problems soldering.
I have an ERSA soldering iron with 30 W power
I'm using 60/40 rosin core solder that has a diameter of 0.8 mm

The point of my soldering tip doesn't get hot, only the sides do, soldering becomes really difficult when I have to solder decoder cables on the decoder chip itself because everything becomes hot and impossible to do.

Solder does not stick to the cables but on the soldering tip so this too gets difficult in tight spots

I do not use any extra soldering liquids on the parts that need soldering.

Should I try replacing the soldering tip first ?
A more powerful soldering iron would not improve things, I believe, but I may be wrong.

Thank you
M

Try using a file to clean the tip(unplugged)
File off the tin/solder to the base metal(copper) and plug in try again.

The tip should absolutely be hot - if that isnt' the case there is a problem with the heat conduction to the soldering iron tip or the iron. That must get solved first.
A pre-requisite to good soldering is an iron that is has a hot enough tip, and the power to keep the tip hot once applied to the thing you are soldering. For model railroad wiring the 30W should be enough.

With a hot tip, soldering to wires and wires to decoders and boards will require just a brief touching of the iron to the contact area to get the solder to melt and flow, so overheating nearby components becomes a non-issue.
When you don't get proper heat and are holding the iron in contact with the work for a second or more, THEN you will damage nearby stuff.

So get that iron sorted out first.. that is, its failure to heat its tip. Using a damp sponge to clean the tip when hot is a good practice.

Apparently, soldering iron tips have a special plating on them. Cleaning with sandpaper ruins that plating. Without that coating, the solder wont tin onto the tip, and so the tip want transfer heat to the solder joint. You need a new tip. Always clean with a wet sponge after every use. { yes, the recommendation is to clean the tip after every single use, but how many of us go to the trouble of doing this \]

I was having trouble like you. I googled soldering and got the results mentioned. I suggest yo do the same. Buy several tips as well.

I have a soldering iron on which the tip is stuffed but I use it for less finicky jobs. I have a good solder station now which I use for the delicate jobs.

Dereck

You should be constantly wiping your soldering tip on a water soaked sponge during use which will prevent this happening.

Stands are cheap around $10 on Amazon. Tips for your iron make should be similar price.

hi Damon,
you mean before putting it away, correct?

All, I tried soldering again after having cleaned the tip. It is now something extremely neat and easy. I still have to replace the tip though, it resists much better now that I wipe it on the wet sponge as you all suggested. I might have to buy a new soldering iron if I can't find the correct tip though.
Thank you
M

hi Alan what you say, and after what I've read from you guys, this is correct but how do you get rid of the oxidation of the tip after hours of the soldering unit being on ? the oxidation goes on even if you clean the tip on the sponge and leave the iron on all day, or not ?

The tip will always oxidise after a short while. This is why you wipe it before and after each use, to clean the tip.
You should only have the iron on when you are using it and not left on for hours at a time without being used.
If there are some stubborn dull spots, melt a heap of solder under the tip and then wipe it all off again on the pad.

It sounds like there may be nothing wrong with your soldering tip, you just haven't been taught how to use it correctly.