Anti-seize for soldering tips - needed or not?

[TheKeith]

I was told a while back in this group that I should use anti-seize compound
on my soldering tips because at the time I was having a problem with thread
seizures (screw-on tip) after just one use, and after this happened
repeatedly with the same make of iron (wahl-lenk purchased at lowes), I
realized that I was just using an inferior iron with an inferior tip--and
that was most likely the cause of my problem? Is it recommended that
anti-seize be used even on better irons or is it really not necessary
because better ones don't tend to seize up? The reason I ask is that it
doesn't appear to be that easy to get, so could I do without it? How many of
you even bother with it? Just curious.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

I was told a while back in this group that I should use anti-seize compound
on my soldering tips because at the time I was having a problem with thread
seizures (screw-on tip) after just one use, and after this happened
repeatedly with the same make of iron (wahl-lenk purchased at lowes), I
realized that I was just using an inferior iron with an inferior tip--and
that was most likely the cause of my problem? Is it recommended that
anti-seize be used even on better irons or is it really not necessary
because better ones don't tend to seize up? The reason I ask is that it
doesn't appear to be that easy to get, so could I do without it? How many of
you even bother with it? Just curious.

It doesn't matter what brand of iron, if the tip threads into the
heating element, then you need anti seize.

If it uses a seperate barrel to hold it to the element it is less
likely to seize, but is still cheap insurance against a damaged iron.

Mouser list it for $4.16 for a 1 oz. tube. that should last you for
several years, unless you use a soldering iron all day long, five days a
week.

You might want to buy the tip cleaner and a sponge while you are at
it.

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/616/1146.pdf


--
I say, the boy is so stupid that he tried to make a back up copy of his
hard drive on the Xerox machine!

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Michael Black]

I was told a while back in this group that I should use anti-seize compound
on my soldering tips because at the time I was having a problem with thread
seizures (screw-on tip) after just one use, and after this happened
repeatedly with the same make of iron (wahl-lenk purchased at lowes), I
realized that I was just using an inferior iron with an inferior tip--and
that was most likely the cause of my problem? Is it recommended that
anti-seize be used even on better irons or is it really not necessary
because better ones don't tend to seize up? The reason I ask is that it
doesn't appear to be that easy to get, so could I do without it? How many of
you even bother with it? Just curious.

I once read the suggestion that one apply some heatsink compound before
installing the tip. I can't remember the author's logic for that,
and there must be better choices, but if you've got some already, it
does seem to work.

Michael