How to ensure a long lifespan of the solder pot
A solder pot is a consumable product that is prone to wear and tear over extended or repeated usage. Over time, the solder corrodes the solder pot, causing holes and solder leakage from the pot.
In order to ensure a safe working environment, it is essential to check the the corrosion condition of the solder pot daily, or every time before you begin using it, and replace it as soon as it shows signs of corrosion. Otherwise, the corrosion may get worse and cause the solder to leak out gradually.
Before removing the solder pot for checking, do make sure that the pot is cool to prevent getting burnt.
Checking the Solder Pot
- Loosen the 2 screws on the sides of the machine with the hexagon wrench (included) and pull out the solder pot. When pulling out, take note of the orientation of the solder pot.
- Check that no solder leakage is observed in the solder pot tray inside the main body. If there is solder leakage, immediately replace the pot with a new one.
- Further check that there is no solder leakage at the extreme left and right sections around the heating elements (inside the main unit and around the heat insulator)
- On the solder pot that you have removed, check that there is no solder leakage around the exterior of the pot, or no holes or corrosion marks on the surface. Since the molten solder is dense, it does not flow out easily like water and hence, it may not be obvious that there is a leak. It is important to monitor the decrease in solder inside the pot.
- Once the checks have been completed and no solder leakage is found or solder pot has been replaced, reinstall the solder pot into the main body. You may choose to rotate the pot 90° from its original placement to prevent the heating element from overheating the same part of the pot. This helps to increase the lifespan of the solder pot.
- Be sure to tighten the 2 screws properly with the hexagon wrench. If the mounting screw is loose, heat transfer becomes poor.
- Repeat this check daily or before each session of work. Replace the solder pot when leakage occurs.
Preventing Corrosion
Corrosion of the solder pot occurs easily at high temperatures and when the pot is scratched.
High Temperatures
The higher the temperature, the faster the pot deteriorates. It is recommended to set the temperature as low as possible. Turning the pot before each session of soldering work can also reduce the overheating of the same area by the heating element.
Scratches on the Pot
When a solder bar or spatula is used to melt or remove solder, it is possible that the edges of the tool scratches against the sides of the pot. This may cause the plating of the pot to peel out, losing the protective coating which makes it prone to corrosion.