Soldering epiphone..

[Ridwaan Gallow]

Hi.. haven't visited the forum in a while.. so when I needed some advice I realised I know some guys who know their story here on the Forum..

I started dabbling with soldering a while back.. about 20 years back.. still just dabbling with it now so I'm no pro..

Anyhow.. the real question I have here is as follows.. in a recent second hand buy buzz, I bought some good second hand soldering equipment.. problem is, one of the irons has an aluminium tip.. which I never even knew about..

What is this soldering iron used for and have any of you used one before?

 

[neophyte]

I’ve never seen or heard of an aluminum soldering iron tip.
Copper, or steel plated copper are usually standard.
Aluminum is very heat conductive, like copper, and usually if purchased in a hard state, easy to machine or shape, so maybe a Custom tip was needed for some task.

Was the aluminum tinned like a regular soldering iron tip would be?
Solder for aluminum exists, so maybe it’s possible to tin the tip with a solder alloy meant for aluminum, and then use regular solder over it.

Alternatively, maybe someone was using the soldering iron for other tasks, like burnt wood decoration, or Fusing material, So having an aluminum tip didn’t cause issues.

Just guessing.

 

[The Cobbler]

maybe for plastic welding too?

 

[zendriver]

I never hear of one, but that does not mean it does not exist.

 

[Ridwaan Gallow]

There was some plastic on the tip when I got it..

Maybe it "was" a special tip made for plastic welding.. thanks guys..

I thought it was hot when they put it into the crate and maybe the plastic melted onto the tip.. but it all makes sense now..

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I expected this thread to be about an electric guitar.

Is that what your are working on?

Phil