soldering iron tip goes black

[99shassan]

I got a soldering iron (30w). I heated it up and it went black. I tried adding some solder onto the tip and it turns into beads and goes everywhere but the tip. I even tried dipping the solder into some flux with no luck.

[Virtualbody1234]

The tip has to be "tinned". http://www.platoproducts.com/howtotin.htm

[zaphodiv]

You should have got solder onto the tip as soon as it was hot enough to melt it.

Start by repeatly wiping the bit on a damp cellulose spone or damp kitchen towel and applying solder. You may have to scrape the tip but not too much, you don't want to damage the iron plating.

I keep a pot of TTC1 tip cleaner around which works well.

If you are using lead free solder you may have more success getting it to tin if you find some proper lead solder.

[99shassan]

Would this count:

Here

What I would do is this, heat the soldering iron, wipe it onto the above, and then add solder to it? Would the solder stick then? The soldering iron is a 30 watt iron.

[1337shiznit]

I'm guessing you are trying to use lead-free solder? I've never had any luck with cheap soldering irons and lead-free solder.

[Appzalien]

Clean the tip, don't worry about flux on the solder it probably has a flux core, flux the tip as its heating up and wipe it across a damp sponge or cloth and apply the solder then keep fluxing, wiping and applying until you get it tinned.