Mood Iron?!!?

DigiTan

New Member

• Feb 8, 2005

• #1

I recently purchased a new Philmore 40W soldering iron and decided to fire it up to do some circuit work. Throughout the procedure, I couldn't help but notice that one metallic ring on the iron began to change color over the period of about 20 minutes. It started out metallic silver, then shifted to a rusty brown, to blood red, to navy blue. Yeah, blue.

What the heck happened here?!!? I'm guessing this is part of the iron's design, but what is it used for? Does the ring use some form of oxidation?

 

thisistausif

New Member

• Feb 9, 2005

• #2

hello
does the color of the ring again change to silver after cooling

 

pike

Member

• Feb 9, 2005

• #3

I think what happened here is that the metal expanded due to the heat and as a result the metal now reflects the color spectrum blue. The only way to get it off is to grind or sand it off.

In other words it has tarnished...

 

P

pebe

Member

• Feb 9, 2005

• #4

The colour is an indication of temperature. A natural phenomina which is used to good effect when hardening and tempering steel by hand.

 

Optikon

New Member

• Feb 9, 2005

• #5

pebe said:

The colour is an indication of temperature. A natural phenomina which is used to good effect when hardening and tempering steel by hand.

Click to expand...

So it's a feature!

 

S

spuffock

Member

• Feb 9, 2005

• #6

If thats a steel ring, it indicated the temperature as follows:
brown, good for soldering if you're quick,
red, good for showing how to make dry joints,
blue, cigarette lighter.
Buy something with decent temperature control.

 

DigiTan

New Member

• Feb 9, 2005

• #7

So that's what it means. I was afraid I had the bipolar disorder.

:? :x :evil: :twisted:

 

J

Juglenaut

New Member

• Feb 12, 2005

• #8

Weird enough I keep my soldering iron in the brown stage. I have a Weller station and the tip itself reflects operating temp similar to the scale mentioned.

 

Dr.EM

New Member

• Feb 13, 2005

• #9

I don't have a temperature controlled one, think mines only 25watt or so, for PCB. Part of the tip has turned a sort of purple colour, but it stays that colour pernamently now!

 

DigiTan

New Member

• Feb 13, 2005

• #10

The ring on my iron continued to stay light blue after I resumed soldering yesterday. So far it's the exact same shade and everything.

 

P

pebe

Member

• Feb 13, 2005

• #11

DigiTan said:

The ring on my iron continued to stay light blue after I resumed soldering yesterday. So far it's the exact same shade and everything.

Click to expand...

Get rid of the colour with a bit of wire-wool, then the sequence will repeat next time you use the iron.